The Real Value Of $100 In Georgia Might Surprise You

A $100 bill will get $100 worth of goods no matter where you go, but the true value it carries can vary from state to state. And apparently, the state of Georgia has the right balance of salaries and expenses that make a $100 bill worth a bit more than its face value. According to a recent report from GoBankingRates, the real value of $100 in Georgia is $103.30. 

Per the report, the median annual household salary in Georgia is $74,664, while the annual cost of living is $41,159. By contrast, Georgia's neighbor to the south, Florida, has an annual cost of living of $53,525, while its median household income comes in at $71,711. As a result, per GOBankingRates' calculations, crossing the border into the Sunshine State drops the value of $100 to $96.55. In Alaska, the state where residents may have a stimulus payment coming their way but the annual cost of living is $59,801, $100 is worth only $98.29. And in California, one of the least affordable states to live in the United States, $100 is worth $87.42.

While not paying the highest salaries in the U.S., Georgia's cost of living is pretty low. Georgia ranks as the 12th cheapest state to live in the U.S. by another GOBankingRates report, while WalletHub placed the Peach State as the 18^th most affordable state to reside in. In terms of housing, Georgia's average listed rent is around $1,970, per Zillow Rentals, which is 6% lower than the national average. As for purchasing a home or condo, a typical Georgia home is worth roughly $334,830 as of July 2025, per Zillow, while the national average is $368,581. 

Georgia's housing costs also appear to be on a downward trend, with home values down 2% year over year and rental rates down $25 from the previous year and $12 lower from the previous month, according to the latest Zillow figures. Yet, most other items are growing more expensive in Georgia. In July 2025, inflation went up 4.3% from the previous year in Georgia, while the national average increased by only 2.7%, according to Trading Economics.

In terms of its economy, Georgia is ranked near the middle of the U.S. by WalletHub at No. 24. Its 3.4% unemployment rate is tied for 14th lowest with Maryland as of July 2025, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Although in Maryland, a state where the median household income is $101,652 a year, $100 is worth just $96.04, per GOBanking Rates. 

Still there are plenty of other states in the U.S. where $100 can go a lot further than Georgia. The unexpected value of $100 in South Carolina, for instance, is $106.82. And in North Dakota, a state with an unemployment rate of just 2.5%, $100 is worth an impressive $111.43.But the state that gets you the most value from $100 is Arkansas, where the median household income is $58,773 and the annual cost of living is $37,067. There, $100 is valued at $113.49. Coming in at second place is Mississippi, the state with the lowest average income. In Mississippi, where the median household income is $54,915 and the annual cost of living is $35,580, the value of $100 is $112.71.