Route comparison
Atlanta, GA vs Columbia, SC: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Atlanta, GA and Columbia, SC. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Atlanta, GA
GA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 98.8
- Housing RPP
- 107.4
- Goods RPP
- 99.3
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,844/mo
Georgia income tax 5.49% flat. No city income tax.
Columbia, SC
SC
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 93.6
- Housing RPP
- 78.9
- Goods RPP
- 94.6
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,246/mo
South Carolina income tax up to 6.5%.
Equivalent salary
Columbia, SC is cheaper than Atlanta, GA by about 5.3% (RPP 98.8 to 93.6).
$60,000 in Atlanta, GA
-> $56,842
in Columbia, SC
$100,000 in Atlanta, GA
-> $94,737
in Columbia, SC
$150,000 in Atlanta, GA
-> $142,105
in Columbia, SC
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.
Migration signal: Atlanta, GA vs Columbia, SC
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Atlanta, GA
- Net people
- +17,865
- Net rank
- #10 of 65
- Top origin share
- 1%
- Top destination share
- 2%
Largest source: Hall County, GA. Largest destination: Hall County, GA.
Columbia, SC
- Net people
- +5,576
- Net rank
- #19 of 65
- Top origin share
- 2%
- Top destination share
- 2%
Largest source: Mecklenburg County, NC. Largest destination: Mecklenburg County, NC.
Rent delta: Columbia, SC is $598/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Atlanta, GA. Housing RPP moves from 107.4 to 78.9.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Columbia, SC cheaper or more expensive than Atlanta, GA?
- Columbia, SC (RPP 93.6) is cheaper than Atlanta, GA (RPP 98.8) by about 5.3%.
- What salary do I need in Columbia, SC if I earn $100,000 in Atlanta, GA?
- You would need approximately $94,737 in Columbia, SC to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Atlanta, GA. Formula: $100,000 x (93.6 / 98.8).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Atlanta, GA or Columbia, SC?
- For 2021-2022, Atlanta, GA had a net gain of 17,865 people, while Columbia, SC had a net gain of 5,576 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.