Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Cambridge?

Atlanta, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,790 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $100,000 in Cambridge.

Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Cambridge?

Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Atlanta vs Cambridge Cost of Living 2026

Atlanta

Georgia

$1,790/mo est.

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,790 in Atlanta, GA versus $2,810 in Cambridge, MA. Overall, Atlanta, GA is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $126,469 in Cambridge, MA — about 35% higher in Cambridge, MA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA

Cambridge, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,669

$2,236

+34% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,576

$2,496

+58% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,701

$2,980

+75% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,557

$3,325

+114% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$420,600

$1,040,500

+147% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$81,938

$126,469

+54% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,170

$66,620

+30% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.0 yr

30.5 yr

+3.5 yr in Atlanta, GA

Homeownership

46.3%

33.7%

+12.6 pp in Atlanta, GA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.4%

80.2%

+21.8 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.8 min

26.1 min

+0.7 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

603.7

436.7

+28% in Atlanta, GA

Property Crime

3,548.3

2,657.6

+25% 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

62.6°F

51.5°F

+11.1°F in Atlanta, GA

Annual Precipitation

49.7 in

43.8 in

+5.9 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.07/gal

+3% in Cambridge, MA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Massachusetts.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

29.6

+81% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$38.60

$30.66

+21% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Cambridge, MA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Atlanta, GA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / MA)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.19%

9.00%

+3.8 pp in MA

Atlanta vs Cambridge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Cambridge?: Atlanta, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,790 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Cambridge?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $100,000 in Cambridge.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Cambridge?: Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).