Cost of living in Atlanta: rent, homes and salary
BEA's 2024 regional price parity (RPP) put the metro area of Atlanta, GA at 100.1, while the US index stood at 100. Housing alone was 111.0, and overall the cost of living in Atlanta was 0.1% higher than the US average.
- Level of prices
- 100.1US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- 111.0 for rents, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Atlanta
A regional price parity compares local prices for an identical basket of goods and services with the US average, which is set at 100. Atlanta falls inside the metro area of Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA, which BEA prices as one region. Housing (rents) has the largest gap from the US average. Its index is 111.0, or 11.0% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Atlanta, GA metro | Georgia | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.1 | 96.3 | +0.1% |
| Goods | 100.4 | 98.9 | +0.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 111.0 | 88.7 | +11.0% |
| Utilities | 96.2 | 92.8 | −3.8% |
| Other services | 96.7 | 97.3 | −3.3% |
Price parities for metro areas and states, 2024, from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (U.S.). BEA regional price parities
Atlanta rent prices
The Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) covers homes listed now. It puts Atlanta's typical asking rent at $1,942 a month, with a change of +3.2% on a year. In the US it is $1,932. Census reports median gross rent at $1,765. This measure includes every renting household, not just those on new leases. Asking rent for one year equals 26% of median household income.
| Rent | Atlanta | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $1,942 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +3.2% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,765 | $1,487 |
| Asking rent for a year, share of median income | 26% | 28% |
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 provides one-year estimates; Zillow Observed Rent Index.
Atlanta home prices
According to the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), a typical Atlanta home was worth $380,331 in September 2026. The index tracks what a typical home is worth at the middle of the market. Year over year the figure is −1.9%, and the US figure is $366,157. The price equals 4.3 years of median household income in Atlanta, compared with 4.5 for the US.
| Home prices | Atlanta | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $380,331 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | −1.9% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +58.2% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 4.3 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 16.3 | 15.8 |
Days on market, the forecast and the price chart since 2000: Atlanta housing market.
Salary required for living in Atlanta
Your current pay and where you live set the Atlanta salary that keeps your buying power the same.
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Atlanta cost of living compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | Typical rents | Typical value of a home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 100.1 | 111.0 | $1,942 | $380,331 |
| Augusta | 91.9 | 70.6 | $1,344 | $187,663 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
| Philadelphia | 102.6 | 113.1 | $1,757 | $231,584 |
| San Antonio | 94.7 | 94.6 | $1,381 | $244,623 |
BEA regional price parities from 2024 provide these price levels, with the US set at 100. Zillow ZORI provides the rent figures. Home value data: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
All cities ranked: city cost of living comparison. Each state: state cost of living.