Atlanta vs Washington: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

Atlanta's median home value is $395,600 — 44% lower than Washington's $705,000.

Atlanta's median household income runs $77,655, against $101,722 in Washington.

Monthly rent typically costs $1,512 in Atlanta and $1,817 in Washington.

FEMA rates both cities' overall hazard risk as "Relatively High."

Metric	Atlanta, GA	Washington, DC
Population	494,838	670,587
Median home value	$395,600	$705,000
Median household income	$77,655	$101,722
Median gross rent	$1,512	$1,817
Climate risk (FEMA)	Relatively High	Relatively High

Atlanta, GA beats Washington, DC on both housing metrics we track — home value and rent — though this doesn't capture the full cost of living.

Moving between Atlanta and Washington

Atlanta and Washington are 544 miles apart in a straight line.

What changes when you move	Atlanta → Washington	Washington → Atlanta
Median rent	+$305/mo (+20%)	−$305/mo (−17%)
Median home value	+$309,400 (+78%)	−$309,400 (−44%)
Median household income	+$24,067 (+31%)	−$24,067 (−24%)

Estimated moving cost (either direction)

Home size	Estimated cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	$971 – $1,523
2-3 bedroom	$2,486 – $3,854
4+ bedroom house	$4,344 – $6,706

Estimates based on typical per-mile and per-room moving-industry rates; actual quotes vary by mover, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Atlanta, GA Washington, DC

625 miles estimated driving distance · 10.4 hours of highway driving

DIY Truck Rental

$877 – $1,120

Includes an estimated $219 in fuel (63 gal at ~10 mpg) over 2 driving days.

Professional Movers

$3,439 – $6,143

Full-service crew, loading and unloading included.

Estimates based on typical rental-truck, fuel, and professional-mover industry rates; actual quotes vary by carrier, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; FEMA National Risk Index

Data last updated July 2026.