Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,780/mo est.

vs
Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH. Overall, Cincinnati, OH is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH — about 37% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Cincinnati, OH

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$791
+53% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$817
+48% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,023
+40% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,228
+21% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$215,300
+49% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$51,707
+37% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$50,170
+2% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
33.0 yr
+1.0 yr in Atlanta, GA
Homeownership
46.3%
38.9%
+7.4 pp in Atlanta, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
41.3%
+17.1 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
23.1 min
+3.7 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.7
856.5
+42% in Cincinnati, OH
Property Crime
3,548.3
3,877.7
+9% in Cincinnati, OH

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
54.3°F
+8.3°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
41.9 in
+7.8 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.18/gal
+8% in Cincinnati, OH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Ohio.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
19.5
+23% in Cincinnati, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$22.83
+31% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Cincinnati, OH
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Atlanta, GA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Cincinnati, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Cincinnati, OH
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Cincinnati, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / OH)
4%
5.75%
+1.8 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
2.75%
+2.4 pp in GA

Atlanta vs Cincinnati — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Cincinnati?
Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Atlanta, GA's $1,780, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Cincinnati?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $33,000 in Cincinnati.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Cincinnati?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Cincinnati under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).