Cost of living in the Athens Metro Area
4 counties across GA. Population: 218,190.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Athens Metro Area
Average rent across the Athens-Clarke County metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Athens Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 4 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Athens Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Athens Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 4 counties in the Athens Metro Area
The Athens-Clarke County metro area includes 4 counties. Sorted by population.
- Clarke County GA$2,922/moPop129,267 Rent$1,106/mo Income$52,267/yrClarke County GA 129,267 $1,106/mo $52,267/yr $2,922/mo
- Oconee County GA$3,456/moPop42,788 Rent$1,106/mo Income$115,925/yrOconee County GA 42,788 $1,106/mo $115,925/yr $3,456/mo
- Madison County GA$3,121/moPop30,914 Rent$1,106/mo Income$58,784/yrMadison County GA 30,914 $1,106/mo $58,784/yr $3,121/mo
- Oglethorpe County GA$3,153/moPop15,221 Rent$1,106/mo Income$69,784/yrOglethorpe County GA 15,221 $1,106/mo $69,784/yr $3,153/mo
Compare counties in the Athens Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Athens Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Athens Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Athens-Clarke County metro area is approximately $3,071 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 4 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Athens Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Athens-Clarke County metro area is $1,106 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Athens Metro Area?
Clarke County, GA is the most affordable county in the Athens-Clarke County metro area at approximately $2,922 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Athens Metro Area?
Oconee County, GA is the most expensive county in the Athens-Clarke County metro area at approximately $3,456 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Athens Metro Area?
The Athens-Clarke County metro area covers 4 counties. The five largest by population are Clarke County, Oconee County, Madison County, Oglethorpe County.
Use this research
Journalists, researchers and bloggers are welcome to cite and share this analysis. Please include a follow link back to this page when referencing our data. For bespoke analysis, expert comment, or high-resolution graphics, get in touch via our press office.
About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.