Athens-Clarke County, GA at a glance
Median household income
$52,974$4,415 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Athens-Clarke County, GA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Athens-Clarke County, GA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,159 | $13,908 | $46,360 | 26.3% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,183 | $14,196 | $47,320 | 26.8% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,331 | $15,972 | $53,240 | 30.2% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,734 | $20,808 | $69,360 | 39.3% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,831 | $21,972 | $73,240 | 41.5% |
Rent in Athens-Clarke County, GA, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Athens-Clarke County, GA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $52,974 a year ($4,415 a month before tax).
What $52,974 leaves after Georgia taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Georgia tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Georgia
Living in Athens-Clarke County, GA: common questions
What is the median household income in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Athens-Clarke County, GA is $52,974 per year (approximately $4,415 per month).
What is the average rent in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,159 for a studio, $1,183 for one bedroom, $1,331 for two, $1,734 for three and $1,831 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Athens-Clarke County, GA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 6.7% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 93.3, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
To keep a $1,331 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $53,240 a year, or $4,437 a month. That is 101% of what the typical household in Athens-Clarke County, GA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
On the local median income of $52,974 ($4,415 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,207 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,324 for everything else and $883 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,331 takes 60% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
Homes in Georgia paid 16.4¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $147. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.