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Atlanta, GA Relocation Guide (2026)

Cost of living, housing, and income data for Atlanta, sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Salary needed to live in Atlanta →

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.

With a population near 494,838, Atlanta, Georgia sits roughly in line with the multi-city income median: households earn a typical $77,655 per year (+8% vs. that benchmark).

Home values in Atlanta run a median $395,600, above the benchmark across cities in our dataset (+21%). Renters see a median monthly cost of $1,512. Mortgage rates and property taxes are worth checking before you commit either way.

Home values run about 5.1× median income in Atlanta, putting it squarely in the balanced range among the cities we cover. Prices in the area have gained 1.24% year over year, a moderate pace that suggests a stable market around Atlanta. FEMA classifies Atlanta's hazard risk as Relatively High. That elevated rating is a major driver of home insurance premiums in the area.

Personal Affordability Check

Cost of housing in Atlanta

Median home value is $395,600 and median gross rent is $1,512/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.

FHFA's county-level home price index for Fulton rose 1.24% over the past year (as of 2025).

HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,820/month.

Climate & home insurance

FEMA rates Atlanta's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.

Safety

Atlanta reported a violent crime rate of 736.2 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.

Moving to Atlanta

Planning a move to Atlanta? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.

Cost estimates for moving between Atlanta and nearby popular destinations:

• Moving from Atlanta to Miami
• Moving from Atlanta to Charlotte
• Moving from Atlanta to Orlando
• Moving from Atlanta to Washington
• Moving from Atlanta to Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance)
• Moving from Atlanta to New York
• Moving from Atlanta to Boston
• Moving from Atlanta to Philadelphia
• Moving from Atlanta to Chicago
• Moving from Atlanta to Detroit
• Moving from Atlanta to Minneapolis
• Moving from Atlanta to Denver
• Moving from Atlanta to Austin
• Moving from Atlanta to Dallas
• Moving from Atlanta to Raleigh

Frequently asked questions

What is the cost of living in Atlanta, GA?

Atlanta's key cost-of-living figures: $395,600 median home value, $1,512 median monthly rent, and $77,655 median household income, per the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).

How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Atlanta?

Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording Atlanta's median rent of $1,512/month takes an income of roughly $60,480 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Atlanta.

Is it better to rent or buy in Atlanta?

In Atlanta, comfortably renting the median unit ($1,512/month) takes about $60,480 in annual income, while buying the median home ($395,600) takes roughly $90,511 a year in principal and interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates).

Is Atlanta safe?

Per FBI Crime Data Explorer figures, Atlanta's violent crime rate was 736.2 per 100,000 residents in 2025.

See the full salary breakdown for Atlanta →

Compare Atlanta to similar cities

• Atlanta vs Miami: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
• Charlotte vs Atlanta: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
• Orlando vs Atlanta: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
• Atlanta vs Washington: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
• Nashville vs Atlanta: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
• Atlanta vs New York: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

Cities with a similar cost of living

Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Atlanta's.