New York vs Atlanta
New York, NY · Atlanta, GA
Atlanta is 40% cheaper than New York overall.
Home Price
New: $750,000
Atlanta: $385,000
Monthly Rent
New: $3,600/mo
Atlanta: $1,576/mo
COL Index
New: 187
Atlanta: 113
Median Income
New: $76,607
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 New York has the same purchasing power as $60,428 in Atlanta — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Atlanta cost 49% more (-$365,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Atlanta saves you $2,024/month — $24,288 per year. Median rent: $3,600/mo in New York vs $1,576/mo in Atlanta.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, New York owners pay roughly $12,750/year in property taxes vs $3,542/year in Atlanta. That's a $9,208 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $76,607 in New York and $71,400 in Atlanta. Atlanta residents earn 7% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 36 minutes in New York vs 31 minutes in Atlanta. Over a year, that's 2500 extra minutes (42 hours) of commuting in New York.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from New York to Atlanta, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in New York | Equivalent in Atlanta | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $30,214 | -$19,786 |
| $75,000 | $45,321 | -$29,679 |
| $100,000 | $60,428 | -$39,572 |
| $150,000 | $90,642 | -$59,358 |
| $200,000 | $120,856 | -$79,144 |
* 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
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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New York Calculators
Atlanta Calculators
Related Comparisons
New York vs Atlanta: Common Questions
Is New York or Atlanta cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Atlanta is cheaper overall. New York has a COL index of 187 while Atlanta scores 113 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between New York and Atlanta?
The median home price in New York is $750,000 vs $385,000 in Atlanta — a difference of $365,000 (49%).
What salary do I need in Atlanta to match my New York income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in New York is equivalent to $60,428 in Atlanta in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Atlanta has a lower property tax rate (0.92% vs 1.7%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $3,542/year vs $12,750/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.