Washington vs Atlanta
Washington, DC · Atlanta, GA
Atlanta is 27% cheaper than Washington overall.
Home Price
Washington: $575,000
Atlanta: $385,000
Monthly Rent
Washington: $2,195/mo
Atlanta: $1,576/mo
COL Index
Washington: 154
Atlanta: 113
Median Income
Washington: $98,700
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 Washington has the same purchasing power as $73,377 in Atlanta — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Atlanta cost 33% more (-$190,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Atlanta saves you $619/month — $7,428 per year. Median rent: $2,195/mo in Washington vs $1,576/mo in Atlanta.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Washington owners pay roughly $3,278/year in property taxes vs $3,542/year in Atlanta. That's a $265 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $98,700 in Washington and $71,400 in Atlanta. Atlanta residents earn 28% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 34 minutes in Washington vs 31 minutes in Atlanta. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Washington to Atlanta, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Washington | Equivalent in Atlanta | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $36,688 | -$13,312 |
| $75,000 | $55,032 | -$19,968 |
| $100,000 | $73,377 | -$26,623 |
| $150,000 | $110,065 | -$39,935 |
| $200,000 | $146,753 | -$53,247 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
See monthly payments for homes in either city
Rent vs Buy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in these markets?
Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
Project future home value growth
Affordability Calculator
How much home can you afford?
Property Tax Calculator
Estimate taxes in Washington or Atlanta
Washington Calculators
Atlanta Calculators
Related Comparisons
Washington vs Atlanta: Common Questions
Is Washington or Atlanta cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Atlanta is cheaper overall. Washington has a COL index of 154 while Atlanta scores 113 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Washington and Atlanta?
The median home price in Washington is $575,000 vs $385,000 in Atlanta — a difference of $190,000 (33%).
What salary do I need in Atlanta to match my Washington income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Washington is equivalent to $73,377 in Atlanta in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Washington has a lower property tax rate (0.57% vs 0.92%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $3,278/year vs $3,542/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.