Houston vs Atlanta
Houston, TX · Atlanta, GA
Houston is 12% cheaper than Atlanta overall.
Home Price
Houston: $320,000
Atlanta: $385,000
Monthly Rent
Houston: $1,262/mo
Atlanta: $1,576/mo
COL Index
Houston: 101
Atlanta: 113
Median Income
Houston: $67,800
Atlanta: $71,400
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Houston has the same purchasing power as $111,881 in Atlanta — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Atlanta are 20% cheaper (-$65,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Renting in Houston saves you $314/month — $3,768 per year. Median rent: $1,262/mo in Houston vs $1,576/mo in Atlanta.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Houston owners pay roughly $6,080/year in property taxes vs $3,542/year in Atlanta. That's a $2,538 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $67,800 in Houston and $71,400 in Atlanta. Houston residents earn 5% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 29 minutes in Houston vs 31 minutes in Atlanta. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Houston to Atlanta, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Houston | Equivalent in Atlanta | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $55,941 | +$5,941 |
| $75,000 | $83,911 | +$8,911 |
| $100,000 | $111,881 | +$11,881 |
| $150,000 | $167,822 | +$17,822 |
| $200,000 | $223,762 | +$23,762 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Houston Calculators
Atlanta Calculators
Related Comparisons
Houston vs Atlanta: Common Questions
Is Houston or Atlanta cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Houston is cheaper overall. Houston has a COL index of 101 while Atlanta scores 113 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Houston and Atlanta?
The median home price in Houston is $320,000 vs $385,000 in Atlanta — a difference of $65,000 (20%).
What salary do I need in Atlanta to match my Houston income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Houston is equivalent to $111,881 in Atlanta in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Atlanta has a lower property tax rate (0.92% vs 1.9%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $3,542/year vs $6,080/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.