Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,740/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,740 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 2% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$998
+40% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$1,305
+17% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,504
+12% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,881
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$420,700
+0% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$83,198
+2% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$52,710
+3% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
35.6 yr
+1.6 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
46.3%
61.3%
+15.0 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
41.9%
+16.5 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
22.8 min
+4.0 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.5
721.1
+19% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,548.3
3,487.9
+2% 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
49.0°F
+13.6°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
16.5 in
+33.2 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.54/gal
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$1.75
+30% in Atlanta, GA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
16.7
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.41
$11.64
+37% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.37
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$2.10
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in Colorado Springs, CO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$7.23
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.14
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.74
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / CO)
4%
2.9%
+1.1 pp in GA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
4.40%
+0.8 pp in GA

Atlanta vs Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Colorado Springs?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Colorado Springs under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).