Atlanta vs Austin: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Atlanta, GA and Austin, TX, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Austin, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 498,715 | 961,855 |
| Median household income | $77,655 | $86,556 |
| Median home value | $421,200 | $551,200 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,425 | $1,608 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) — SAMPLE. Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
Ad slot:
compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Atlanta, GA and Austin, TX comes down to what you value most. Atlanta has the lower median home value, and Atlanta has the lower median rent.
Austin has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Austin?
- By median home value, Atlanta is the cheaper of the two ($421,200 vs $551,200). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Atlanta or Austin?
- Median household income is $77,655 in Atlanta versus $86,556 in Austin, per the US Census Bureau.