Cost of Living in Brookhaven
Brookhaven runs meaningfully above the national average on cost of living, driven overwhelmingly by housing. A sharp 2026 property tax increase adds a real, disclosed new cost factor on top of the underlying housing premium.
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Learn moreA real housing-driven premium
The cost-of-living index for Brookhaven is cited at 142 (42% above the national average), with a cited housing sub-index of 246 -- by far the largest driver of the overall figure (base record).
A sharp, first-time property tax increase in 2026
The City of Brookhaven's millage rate rose from 2.74 mills in 2025 to 3.85 mills in 2026 -- the first increase since the city's 2012 incorporation, described as a 40.5% increase against the prior year's rate or a 47% increase against the rollback rate depending on framing (both disclosed in the base record). For a homesteaded $800,000 property, this adds roughly $394.56/year.
Homeowners insurance: a wide, unreconciled range
Homeowners insurance is cited in a $1,600-$3,200/year range depending on home age, roof condition, and coverage level, against a Georgia state average cited at roughly $2,286-$2,323/year -- a genuinely wide range rather than one settled figure. Get an address-specific quote before budgeting.
Key takeaways
- Brookhaven's cost-of-living index is cited at 142 (42% above the national average), with housing as the clear dominant driver (housing sub-index of 246).
- The city's 2026 property tax millage rose sharply (2.74 to 3.85 mills) -- its first increase since 2012 incorporation, adding a real new cost on top of the housing premium.
- Homeowners insurance is cited in a wide $1,600-$3,200/year range -- get an address-specific quote rather than relying on a single figure.
- Housing costs remain the dominant driver of Brookhaven's overall cost-of-living premium -- see the housing topic for the full, disclosed price-snapshot spread.
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