CostIndexUSA

Macon, GA vs Rochester, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableGA
Macon
88.5
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
MN
Rochester
90.8
overall index
$1,625/mo rent

Macon is slightly cheaper than Rochester — 2.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Macon, you would need $82,100 in Rochester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+33.4%
Macon
58.9
Rochester
78.6
🛒 Groceries0.9%
Macon
96.3
Rochester
95.4
🚗 Transportation6.6%
Macon
103.6
Rochester
96.8
🏥 Healthcare6.5%
Macon
93.7
Rochester
87.6
Utilities2.3%
Macon
89.5
Rochester
87.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Macon to see what you'd need to earn in Rochester to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Rochester, MN
$82,100
$2,100 more needed in Rochester

Formula: salary × (90.8 ÷ 88.5) = salary × 1.0260. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Macon, GA

Median Home Price
$190,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
58.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.2×

Rochester, MN

Median Home Price
$324,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,625
Housing Index
78.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

Rochester has 33.4% higher housing costs compared to Macon.

Income & Job Market

Macon, GA

Median Household Income
$59,800
Per Capita Income
$34,100
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Population
157,346
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentLogisticsEducation

Rochester, MN

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
121,395
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Macon, GA
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Rochester, MN
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.