Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,780/mo est.

vs
Augusta

Georgia

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,780 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,120 in Augusta, GA. Overall, Augusta, GA is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $53,134 in Augusta, GA — about 35% higher in Atlanta, GA. Both cities are in Georgia, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Augusta, GA

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$784
+53% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$916
+42% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,035
+39% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,230
+21% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$162,900
+61% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$53,134
+35% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$45,990
+10% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
34.9 yr
+0.9 yr in Augusta, GA
Homeownership
46.3%
50.9%
+4.6 pp in Augusta, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
24.2%
+34.2 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
20.6 min
+6.2 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.7
546.7
+9% in Atlanta, GA
Property Crime
3,548.3
3,652
+3% in Augusta, GA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
65.2°F
+2.6°F in Augusta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
46.5 in
+3.2 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

Adult base one-way fare — MARTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
15.8
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$33.28
about equal

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / GA)
4%
4%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
5.19%
about equal

Atlanta vs Augusta — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Augusta?
Augusta, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Atlanta, GA's $1,780, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Augusta?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $37,000 in Augusta.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Augusta?
Neither — both are in Georgia, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).