Nearly 50% of Georgia families struggle to cover essentials, study reports

Food Insecurity

June 24th, 2026

About half of Georgia households struggle to keep up with the rising cost of basic necessities like utilities and food. That’s despite earning above the federal poverty level.

A United Way study found that a family of four in Georgia needed more than $77,000 in 2024 to cover the essentials.

It also shows that about 44% of Georgia households are having a hard time affording expenses like gas and electricity as prices have gone up. That’s higher than the national average, placing Georgia near the bottom among all states.

Meanwhile, those working families have no room for unexpected and costly expenses like car repairs or medical bills.

Despite Black and Hispanic households showing the highest percentage of financial hardship, the United Way of Greater Atlanta says all demographic groups in Georgia are impacted.

According to the consumer price index report, U.S. prices rose to their highest level in three years.

Figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for May show prices rose more than 4% compared to last year. That means Georgians are seeing increases in rent, medical services and even used cars.

Saloni Firasta-Vastani with Emory University’s Goizueta Business School says that for a car-dependent state like Georgia, rising fuel costs mean having to cut back in other areas.

“We’ve seen a gas price increase … in the last year for like 40%. So it’s felt a little more acutely here in that respect because we don’t have good, extensive public transit,” said Firasta-Vastani.

Firasta-Vastani recommends shopping at discount grocery stores and setting aside days to prepare meals at home as simple ways to save money.