Cost of Living in Duluth
Duluth runs modestly above the national average on cost of living -- not dramatically expensive, but not a bargain either -- with rent estimates that vary widely across sources depending on methodology and building mix.
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Learn moreA modestly above-average cost-of-living index
BestPlaces scores Duluth at 102.2 on its cost-of-living index -- 2.2% above the national average and about 8.1% above the Georgia state average (BestPlaces, retrieved 2026-08-22). This is a meaningfully more moderate cost profile than Johns Creek elsewhere in this dataset, consistent with Duluth's more moderate housing prices.
Rent estimates disagree substantially across sources
Average rent figures for Duluth varied widely this session: RentCafe cited an overall average around $1,398, Rent.com cited a range of $1,395-$1,855, and a separate aggregator cited $1,995 as a current average -- a genuine, disclosed spread of roughly $600 rather than one settled number (Rent.com, RentCafe, Zumper aggregation, retrieved 2026-08-22). By unit size, one-bedroom units were cited around $1,395 and two-bedrooms around $1,696. Pull current listings directly for budgeting rather than anchoring on any single cited average.
Income has kept pace with, but not dramatically outpaced, costs
Duluth's $95,331 median household income (2024, Neilsberg/ACS) sits above both the Georgia and national medians, giving most working households real cushion against the area's modestly above-average costs -- though the income figure was essentially flat year over year, so that cushion isn't visibly growing.
Key takeaways
- Duluth's BestPlaces cost-of-living index is 102.2 -- 2.2% above the national average and 8.1% above the Georgia average, a moderate rather than extreme premium.
- Rent estimates disagreed meaningfully across sources this session, from roughly $1,395 to $1,995 for an average unit -- a real, disclosed spread rather than one settled figure.
- Median household income ($95,331 in 2024) sits above state and national medians but was essentially flat year over year.
- More moderate overall cost profile than Johns Creek elsewhere in this Atlanta-metro batch, tracking Duluth's more moderate housing prices.
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