1. First steps before moving to Georgia
Find a reliable moving company, truck rental or moving container
For your move to Georgia, you will need to hire a reliable moving company or take on the move yourself. To find the best moving company in Georgia, look for helpful reviews, a professional-looking website, and years of experience.
Planning a move to Georgia? Take a look at our selection of:
Finding a job
As of September 2023, Georgia had an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is the highest from 3.1% in April 2023.
Jobs that are often in high demand are registered nurses, retail sales associate, and nursing assistants.
Finding a job in Georgia is easier if you search online for job openings. Popular websites for this include LinkedIn, Indeed, and SimplyHired.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics (Oct 2023)
Getting there
Below are some travel options to get to Georgia from different parts of the country include:
Flying: Flying is the most convenient way to move to Georgia. Book a flight from your departure city to Atlanta International Airport, depending on your destination within Georgia.
Train: You can also take the train with Amtrak as an alternative.
Bus: If you want another way to travel, Georgia cities have bus services like Greyhound, and Flixbus, that can get you there.
If you are flying and require assistance with moving your belongings, you can explore options provided by reputable moving companies.
Must dos before your arrival
Moving to Georgia may be exciting and will challenge you in many ways. By knowing these things beforehand, you will be better prepared for your new life in the city.
- If you are moving to Georgia permanently, and you receive a lot of mail (excluding packages), you may want to sign up with USPS’s mail forwarding service. Mail forwarding allows your mail to be redirected to the right address for a given period of time. The fee for regular mail forwarding is only a little over a dollar for 6 months. If you want to extend the service, you will have to pay around $20 for 6 months more. You can begin your mail forwarding process by signing up on USPS’s website or directly at your local Post Office.
- Moving to a new place is an opportunity to start afresh. If you’re moving to Georgia, selling or donating the items you won’t need will go a long way in making your move easier. You can sell your old household items and personal possessions, and anything that will not be useful. Pick out the items that will not be useful for you in Georgia, then decide if you want to sell them on websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace or donate them to a non-profit organization.
2. Upon your arrival in Georgia
Must dos right upon your arrival
- Get familiar with your neighborhood, and make sure to take note of the important emergency numbers.
- If you roam around the city for work or just simply checking on it, it would be great to purchase a daily pass to save money.
- Locate the essential facilities like the nearest hospital, police station, and fire department for your safety and in case of emergency.
Atlanta, Georgia, is known for its major traffic jams. While having a car is practical, if you work downtown, you may want to get around using public transportation.
- The public transit system is called MARTA which includes various modes of transportation like buses, rails, and streetcars.
Exchanging your driver’s license
As a new resident, another thing you need to know is to get a new driver’s license within the first 30 days of moving to Georgia. You are to visit the Department of Driver Services and show them proof of identification, current license, two proofs of residency, and your social security number. Drop the out-of-state license and pay the license fee.
Register your vehicle
If you have just moved to Georgia, you’ll have to register your out-of-state vehicle. Complete the vehicle registration application and provide proof of ownership.
Change your address
Along with mail forwarding, you will also have to update your new address with the concerned authorities in Georgia like The DMV and your voter registration.
Changing your address with your employer, bank, doctor, insurer, and service providers so that you can avoid any complications further down the road.
Setting up a bank account
Obtaining a bank account in Georgia is a straightforward process. You only need to present a copy of your valid state or government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. The bank with most branches in Georgia for easy access is Truist Bank, however, its checking account with paper checks has a higher monthly service fee. Georgia’s residents has access to a whopping 223 offices of Truist Bank in the state.
Getting health insurance
Getting health insurance is an excellent way to get peace of mind when it comes to your health. With health insurance, you will not have to worry about spending a ton of money in case of a health-related emergency. The state of Georgia proposes a website to help you with your health insurance search. Simply choose Georgia as your state and create an account.
|
Type of healthcare |
Cost |
|
Employer-sponsored health insurance |
$141.33 |
|
Non-employer-sponsored health insurance |
$585.00 |
|
Gym |
$69.84 |
Numbeo (Oct 2023) & EHealthInsurance (Oct 2023)
3. Best places to live in Georgia
If you have a family, and you all are moving to Georgia, consider settling in Milton. Milton is a suburb of Atlanta with top-rated schools, affordable cost of living and low crime rates.
As a single person, you should consider Atlanta as it is the state’s capital, and it is so full of life. With a booming economy and exciting nightlife, Atlanta is the perfect option for a single person.
If you’re moving as a couple, Johns Creek is perfect for you because the cost of living is quite affordable and there are many parks with trails to take walks on as a couple.
Setting up home services
Setting up essential home services like electricity, water, and internet in Georgia is a straightforward process.
- Electricity in Georgia is affordable as the state generates electricity from hydroelectric and wood-derived sources. To find the electricity provider in your area, visit Georgia Power’s website. To set up water in Georgia, you can apply online on Atlanta Watershed’s website. You can check for gas service in your area on Georgia Natural Gas’s website.
- The best internet providers in Georgia will have bundling options, various speeds, and multiple package options at reasonable prices.
Should you rent or buy?
The average Georgia home value is $320,082, increased by 1.3% from 2022. Georgia’s price per square foot to buy an apartment outside the center is $333.63.
Finding an apartment for rent in Georgia is easy, utilize websites like Zillow, Apartmentguide, and Apartments.com. When seeking a house, these websites—Zillow, Realtor, and Century21—will assist you in your search for a home in Georgia.
Cost of rent in Georgia
|
Area/Neighborhood |
1-bed apartment |
3-bed apartment |
|
Atlanta (Outside of Center) |
$1,802.59 |
$2,893.53 |
Cost of buying a property in Georgia
|
Area/Neighborhood |
Average home price |
|
Atlanta |
$320,082 |
Numbeo (Oct 2023) & Zillow (Oct 2023)
Consider getting home insurance
Home insurance is not mandatory in Georgia. However, if your property is mortgaged with a lender, the lending company may contractually obligate you to purchase insurance to safeguard the amount outstanding on the loan. The state of Georgia is quite prone to tornadoes, tropical storms, floods, wildfires, and landslides. Getting insurance to protect you from spending on the damages caused by these natural disasters is a great way to get peace of mind when it comes to your home.
4. Cost of living in Georgia
|
Category |
Monthly cost |
|
1 bed apt rent outside city center |
$1,802.59 |
|
Groceries Numbeo’s grocery list ($69.08 multiplied by 4) |
$276.32 |
|
Utilities Electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage |
$261.68 |
|
Internet with 60 Mbps |
$76.34 |
|
Transit pass |
$72.00 |
|
Entertainment Meal, taxi, movie |
$110.00 |
|
Gym membership |
$69.84 |
|
Total |
$2,668.77 |
5. The weather in Georgia
The weather in Georgia is hotter than cold as its climate is a humid subtropical one. The state experiences long hot summers and short mild winters. Georgia experiences precipitations with the average temperature being 70°F to 82°F. The state is prone to droughts, floods, and thunderstorms.
6. What to do as a local in Georgia
After you are done settling into your new home in Georgia, you will probably want to familiarize yourself with the state and all its attractions. Some of the most popular activities and locations in Georgia include:
If you are a nature lover, then you will enjoy Driftwood Beach, Long Creek Falls and Rock City Gardens.
Other must-see places are the World of Coca-Cola Museum and the Atlanta Zoo.
When it comes to the entertainment scene, you should check out Sister Louisa’s CHURCH of the Living Room & Ping-Pong Emporium and the Atlanta Magic Theatre.
Some common grocery stores in Georgia are: Trader Joe’s, Kroger and Publix.
The two most popular big chain stores are Target and Walmart.
Must-visit food places in Georgia are Home grown, Heirloom Market BBQ, and The Busy Bee Cafe.
Visit the popular cities in Georgia: Atlanta, Milton and Columbus.
7. Fun facts about Georgia
- Fun Fact #1: The Coca-Cola syrup originated from Atlanta, Georgia.
- Fun Fact #2: It is nicknamed ‘The Peach State’ because the state is the largest producer of pecans, peanuts, and peaches in the US.
- Fun Fact #3: Stars like Tyler Perry, Usher, and Ludacris are from Georgia. Including the activist Martin Luther King.
Conclusion
Iowa is home to several top-ranked universities and colleges, including the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. The state’s commitment to education is very evident in its strong public school system, making it an excellent place to raise children.
The state is also home to the Loess Hills and the beautiful Mississippi River where locals can enjoy activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, and water sports.
While moving to Georgia has its pros and cons, checking the cost of living is essential to making sure you will live comfortably in this city and call it home. It’s a good idea to research specific neighborhoods within the state and consider your priorities to determine if Georgia is the right fit for you and your family.
Need a trusted moving company for the area? Discover the 5 best movers in Georgia.
