Finding a New Home and Community When Moving From Georgia to Pennsylvania

So, you are planning to move from Georgia to Pennsylvania and trying to find a perfect place to settle down? Well, finding a new home and community when moving from Georgia to Pennsylvania can be a complicated task, especially since the cost of living in Pennsylvania is significantly higher than in Georgia. Luckily for you, Best Long Distance Movers is here to help you with your task. In the following article, we will compare some of the biggest cities in Georgia and Pennsylvania with an emphasis on the cost of living.

If you are thinking about finding a new home and community when moving from Georgia to Pennsylvania, focus on affordability

The cost of living is one of the most important factors people pay attention to when relocating these days. And if we focus only on this factor, we can see that both states are affordable. However, Georgia stands much better than Pennsylvania. Georgia is the fifth most affordable state in the country while Pennsylvania is ranked eighteenth. But what this actually means in numbers?

Cost of living in Georgia

According to some of the best long distance movers Georgia has to offer, affordability is the number one factor for people moving to this state. The average cost of living for one person in Georgia is $1,880 per month. For a family of four, this means around $4,265 per month. The costs include rent, food, utility, and transportation expenses. Let’s break this down and how much each of these individual items actually costs in Georgia.

Housing costs in Georgia

Housing costs are the biggest item in every family’s budget. And when it comes to housing, Georgia is among the most affordable states in the country even though prices here increased significantly since 2022. The average home value in Georgia in 2023 was $319,431, which is more than a 25% year-to-year increase. When it comes to renting the average rent, especially for a person living alone, is quite affordable. Here are the average rents depending on the size of the home:

• Studio apartment – $602
• 1-bedroom apartment – $606
• 2-bedroom apartment – $772
• 3-bedroom apartment – $1,097
• 4-bedroom apartment – $1,123

As far as utility costs are concerned, the average utility bill for one person in Georgia is $117 while a family of four can expect to pay around $181 for utilities per month.

Food costs in Georgia

When it comes to food costs, the average monthly expenses for one person are $533 while a family of four typically spends around $1,386 on food. For example, a lunch menu in a mid-range restaurant in Georgia usually costs around $15.3. An average boll for a restaurant dinner for two is $56.6. If you are more of a fast food type of person an average fast food meal combo costs around $8.2.

Transportation costs in Georgia

Transportation costs are also becoming a major factor to consider when relocating. Simply, fuel is not cheap as it used to be, especially in the last couple of years. And even though prices are slowly going down, fuel is still several times more expensive than in 2020, for example. In February 2023, the average fuel cost for regular gas in Georgia was $3.226, which is important if you are using your own vehicle to commute. If you are using public transportation, a one-way ticket in Georgia averagely costs around $2.1. A monthly pass for public transportation, on the other hand, costs around $60.9, depending on the city.

Cost of living in Pennsylvania

We took a brief look at the average cost of living in your current state. This will present a good reference point before finding a new home and community when moving from Georgia to Pennsylvania. Now let’s take a look at how those numbers look in Pennsylvania. Some of the best long distance movers Pennsylvania has to offer, tell us that most people that move to this state come because of the affordability. However, this mostly refers to people moving to Pennsylvania from New York, California, Maryland, Massachusetts, etc. But will you experience the same drop in the cost of living when you come here from Georgia?

Unfortunately, a brief look at the overage average cost comparison between the two states doesn’t suggest that your cost of living will decrease – quite the opposite in fact. The average cost of living for one person in Pennsylvania is $2,207, which is right around the national average. On the other hand, the average cost of living for a family of four here is much higher – $5,096. Let’s break this down further and see what this means in reference to housing, food, and transportation costs.

Housing costs in Pennsylvania

If you are a homeowner in Georgia trying to sell a home and buy one if Pennsylvania, you might be on the right track. This is one of the factors that might actually be in your favor when moving between two states. The median home value in Pennsylvania in September 2022 was $269,000, which is a 9,4% decrease since the peak in June of the same year. This is 50,431 lower than in Georgia. Just think about what you can do with all that money. Not only that you can significantly expand your living space, but you could also start a business or put that money in your kids’ college fund. On the other hand, if you are renting a home in Georgia and planning to do the same after the move, things are not looking that bright. Here are the average rent costs in Pennsylvania:

• Studio apartment – $747
• 1-bedroom apartment – $917
• 2-bedroom apartment – $1,117
• 3-bedroom apartment – $1,483
• 4-bedroom apartment – $1,677

As far as utility costs are concerned, the average utility bill for one person in Pennsylvania is $114 while a family of four spends around $175 for electricity, water, heating, and gas.

Food costs in Pennsylvania

If you are moving from Georgia to Pennsylvania your food costs will increase. The average food cost for one person in Pennsylvania is $598 while a family of four spends around $1554 per month. The average lunch menu in a mid-range restaurant for one person here is $18.2. A dinner for two here costs around $63.4, while a fast food meal combo is around $8.74.

Transportation costs

Unfortunately for you, Pennsylvania is among the 10 most expensive states in the country right now when it comes to gas prices. The average price for a regular gas here is currently $3.698. This, naturally, transfers to public transportation costs as well. A one-way ticket in public transportation here averagely costs $2.33 while a monthly pass costs $78.5 – significantly more than in Georgia. When it comes to overall transportation costs, one person in Pennsylvania spends around $160 on transport, while a family of four needs around $428 per month.

Now let’s compare the biggest cities in Georgia and Pennsylvania and help you with finding a new home and community without increasing your monthly expenses

Those are the overall living costs in both states. As you can see, you can expect a significant increase in the cost of living if you move to Pennsylvania. So what can you do to make this move a good investment? Well, you need to compare individual cities. As we already mentioned these are the general numbers on a state level. If you look at individual cities, we are sure that finding a new home and community when moving from Georgia to Pennsylvania will not be impossible. Especially if you are currently living in Atlanta or some other expensive Georgia city.

Biggest cities in Georgia vs biggest cities in Pennsylvania

Let’s now take a look at some of the biggest cities in Georgia and compare them with some major cities in Pennsylvania. We will compare

• Atlanta with a population of 492,204 vs. Philadelphia with a population of 1,596,865
• Augusta with a population of 205,772 vs. Pittsburgh with a population of 303,207
• Columbus with a population of 204,366 vs. Allentown with a population of 125,250
• Macon with a population of 156,711 vs. Reading with a population of 94,161

Cost of living in Atlanta, GA

According to some of the best long distance movers Atlanta has to offer, Atlanta is one of the most popular moving destinations in Georgia despite the fact that it is not an affordable place to live. The average cost of living for one person in Atlanta is $2,482. A family of four needs around $5,689 per month. This is a bit higher than the national average. So, what city in Pennsylvania would be a good choice for you considering the size of the city as well as living costs? The answer is Philadelphia.

Cost of living in Philadelphia, PA

According to some of the best long distance movers Philadelphia has to offer, this city is the most popular move-to destination in Pennsylvania. Especially for people that are looking to move to a major city. If finding a new home and community when moving from Georgia to Pennsylvania is your goal but you do not want to increase living expenses or move to a smaller city than Atlanta, move to Philadelphia. The average living cost for one person in Philadelphia is $2463 – $20 less than in Atlanta. For a family of four, this means around $5795 of monthly expenses – more than $100 less than in Atlanta.

Cost of living in Augusta, GA

If you are living in Augusta, Georgia, you will have a problem finding a new home and community in Pennsylvania that is more affordable. According to some of the best long distance movers Augusta has to offer, this city is one of the cheapest major cities in Georgia, which is one of the main reasons why people move here. The average cost of living for one person in Augusta is $1,461, while a family of four here spends only around $3,539 per month. The closes monthly expenses in Pennsylvania, considering the size of the city, you can find in Pittsburg.

Cost of living in Pittsburg, PA

Pittsburg is the second most populous city in Pennsylvania. According to some of the best long distance moving companies Pittsburg has to offer, it is the number one destination for people moving to Pennsylvania mostly because of the low cost of living. The average cost of living for one person in Pittsburg is $1,852. On the other hand, a family of four here spends around $4,308 per month. Not as cheap as in Augusta. But close enough if you want to live in a similarly sized city.

Cost of living in Columbus, GA

Pittsburg on the other hand can be a great destination if you are coming from Columbus. This city has the same population as Augusta, yet, it is much closer to Pittsburg when it comes to the cost of living. However, as some of the best long distance movers Columbus has to offer report, this city is also a pretty affordable place to live. The average cost of living for one person in Columbus is $1,945, while a family of four needs around $4,251. We already went through the cost of living in Pittsburg. But are there any other options for someone who is thinking about finding a new home and community when moving from Georgia to Pennsylvania but doesn’t want to move to a smaller place? The only place, besides Pittsburg that has a similar number of people as Columbus is Allentown.

Cost of living in Allentown, PA

Allentown is the only logical option for someone who is thinking about finding a new home and community when moving from Georgia to Pennsylvania and looking for a similarly sized city. But is it cheaper or more expensive to live here than in Columbus? According to some of the best long distance moving companies Allentown has to offer, this city is one of the most popular moving destinations in Pennsylvania. However, that is not because of its particular affordability. The average cost of living for one person in Allentown is $2,248 – $300 more than in Columbus. On the other hand, a family of four here spends around $4,308 – which is closer to the average family expense in Columbus but still more expensive.

Cost of living in Macon, GA

The fourth most populous city in Georgia is Macon. And even though some of the best long distance movers Macon tell us that there are many people who are moving out of the city, that is not because of its affordability, since it is one of the cheapest places to live in Georgia. The average living cost for one person in Macon is $1,755 while a family of four needs around $4,158 per month to make a living. Unfortunately, this place has one of the highest crime rates in the country, regardless of the size of the city, which is the main reason why people are leaving.

Cost of living in Reading, PA

If you are living in Macon and you are looking for a similarly sized city in Pennsylvania, you can move to Allentown. However, Reading can also be a good option. We already saw numbers in Allentown. Now let’s take a look at the cost of living in Reading. First, it is important to know that some of the best long distance movers Reading has to offer for inbound moves, tell us that this city is particularly popular because of its affordability. It is not cheap as Pittsburg but it can be a pretty good option nevertheless. The average cost of living for one person in Reading is $1,964 while a family of four needs around $4,741 per month.

If you are coming from Atlanta, you will have no trouble finding a new home in Pennsylvania

As you can see, finding a new home and community when moving from Georgia to Pennsylvania can be challenging. Especially if you are mostly concerned about the living costs. However, if you are coming from the city of Atlanta, moving to either Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Allentown, or Reading will be a good investment. If, on the other hand, you are coming from Augusta, finding a similarly affordable place will be difficult. And you will most likely have to settle down in some smaller community.

References:

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/cheapest-states-to-live-in

https://livingcost.org/cost/united-states/ga

Georgia Housing Market: Prices, Trends, Predictions 2022-2023

https://www.rentdata.org/states/georgia/2023

State Gas Price Averages

https://livingcost.org/cost/united-states/pa

Pennsylvania Housing Market 2023 Report

https://livingcost.org/cost/united-states/pa/philadelphia

https://livingcost.org/cost/united-states/ga/atlanta

https://livingcost.org/cost/united-states/ga/macon

https://livingcost.org/cost/united-states/ga/columbus

https://livingcost.org/cost/united-states/pa/reading

https://livingcost.org/cost/united-states/pa/allentown

https://livingcost.org/cost/united-states/pa/pittsburgh

https://livingcost.org/cost/united-states/ga/augusta