Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Atlanta?

Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Atlanta?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $63,000 in Atlanta.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Atlanta?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Atlanta under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Atlanta Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,370/mo est.

Atlanta

Georgia

$1,740/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,370 in Arlington, TX versus $1,740 in Atlanta, GA. Overall, Arlington, TX is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $81,938 in Atlanta, GA — about 10% higher in Atlanta, GA. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Atlanta, GA

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$1,669

+53% in Atlanta, GA

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,576

+33% in Atlanta, GA

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,701

+21% in Atlanta, GA

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,557

+14% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$420,600

+52% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$81,938

+11% in Atlanta, GA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$51,170

+1% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

34.0 yr

+0.4 yr in Atlanta, GA

Homeownership

54.8%

46.3%

+8.5 pp in Arlington, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

58.4%

+25.3 pp in Atlanta, GA

Avg Commute

26.7 min

26.8 min

+0.1 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

492.4

603.5

+23% in Atlanta, GA

Property Crime

2,433.5

3,548.3

+46% in Atlanta, GA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

62.6°F

+2.8°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

49.7 in

+10.1 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$4.30/gal

+9% in Atlanta, GA

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs MARTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

15.0

+8% in Arlington, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$18.41

+25% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.73

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / GA)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.19%

+5.2 pp in GA

Arlington vs Atlanta — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Atlanta?: Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Atlanta?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $63,000 in Atlanta.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Atlanta?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Atlanta under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).