Compare states
Georgia vs Tennessee for retirement
On the 8 lines this page tracks, Tennessee comes out lower or more retiree-friendly on 4 of them. That is a starting point, not a verdict: your own spending, housing, income mix, and the city you pick still decide the real number.
A green check marks the more retiree-friendly side on that line (lower cost, lower tax, or Social Security not taxed). Lower is not always better for you; these are state averages, not your plan.
Common questions
Georgia vs Tennessee, answered.
Is Georgia or Tennessee cheaper to retire in?
On the BEA cost-of-living index, Tennessee sits at 92 and Georgia at 96, where 100 is the U.S. average. So the same basket of goods tends to cost less in Tennessee. Housing and your own budget still decide the real number.
Which has lower taxes for retirees, Georgia or Tennessee?
Georgia uses about a 4.5% blended retirement-income planning rate. Tennessee has no state income tax. Georgia's average combined sales tax is 7.5% and its property-tax planning rate is 0.9%; Tennessee is 9.6% and 0.7%.
Does Georgia or Tennessee tax Social Security?
Georgia does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here. Tennessee does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here.
Where is long-term care cheaper, Georgia or Tennessee?
In the CareScout and Genworth 2025 medians, assisted living runs about $63,600 a year in Georgia and $70,140 in Tennessee; a semi-private nursing-home room is about $105,850 versus $113,150.