The short version
- Social Security taxed?
- No
- Income tax
- Flat 5.19%, scheduled to fall
- Property tax on a $300,000 home
- ≈ $2,370 / yr ($198 / mo)
- Everyday cost index (U.S. = 100)
- 92
- January / July high
- 52°F / 89°F
- Sales tax (state + local avg)
- 7.56%
Retiring in Georgia
A generous $65,000 retirement exclusion means many retirees owe little state tax. Watch out: the exclusion doesn't help before age 62, and Atlanta traffic is rough.
How Georgia taxes your retirement income
Social Security: not taxed at all.
Pensions: $65,000 retirement income exclusion per person 65+ ($35,000 ages 62–64).
401(k) and IRA withdrawals: The same $65,000 exclusion covers 401(k)/IRA withdrawals at 65+.
The setup: Flat 5.19%, scheduled to fall.
Property tax & senior breaks
The average effective property tax rate is about 0.79% — roughly $2,370 a year ($198 a month) on a $300,000 home. Your county sets the real number.
Help for seniors: Homestead exemption statewide; many counties add senior school-tax exemptions.
Try your own home value in the Property Tax Estimator.
Everyday costs & sales tax
Overall cost of living runs about 8% below the U.S. average. The combined state and average local sales tax is 7.56%.
Weather
January days top out around 52°F and July days around 89°F, with roughly 217 sunny days a year. Watch out for: Tornadoes; hurricanes and flooding near the coast.
Healthcare
Excellent care in Atlanta (Emory); rural south Georgia access is weaker.