City profile
Atlanta, GA cost of living
GA · BLS RPP 98.8
Overall RPP
98.8
US = 100
Housing RPP
107.4
Housing component
Goods RPP
99.3
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,844/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Atlanta, GA sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#30 of 67
-1.2 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
+0.4
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#21 of 67
+238/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Atlanta, GA
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Atlanta, GA metro.
Moved in
445,367
people · 249,828 households
Moved out
427,502
people · 240,890 households
Net
+17,865
net gain of residents
Net migration rank
#10 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
+17,969
median -104 people
Largest flow share
1% in / 2% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Hall County, GA 4,042
- Los Angeles County, CA 3,821
- Broward County, FL 3,327
- Cook County, IL 2,908
- Miami-Dade County, FL 2,771
Where residents moved to
- Hall County, GA 7,434
- Jackson County, GA 3,774
- Los Angeles County, CA 2,026
- Harris County, TX 1,865
- Clarke County, GA 1,856
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Atlanta, GA?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Atlanta, GA | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $49,400 | $50,000 x (98.8/100) |
| $75,000 | $74,100 | $75,000 x (98.8/100) |
| $100,000 | $98,800 | $100,000 x (98.8/100) |
| $125,000 | $123,500 | $125,000 x (98.8/100) |
| $150,000 | $148,200 | $150,000 x (98.8/100) |
| $200,000 | $197,600 | $200,000 x (98.8/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Georgia income tax 5.49% flat. No city income tax.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Atlanta, GA?
- Atlanta, GA has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 98.8 (US average = 100). It is 1.2% less expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Atlanta, GA?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $98,800 in Atlanta, GA to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Atlanta, GA?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is approximately $1,844 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Atlanta, GA?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 445,367 people moved into the Atlanta, GA metro and 427,502 moved out — a net gain of roughly 17,865 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Hall County, GA.
Curated nearby & similar cities
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These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to Atlanta, GA, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
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