Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,740/mo est.

vs
Columbus

Ohio

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Columbus, OH. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $65,327 in Columbus, OH — about 20% 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
Columbus, OH

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$1,014
+39% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$1,059
+33% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,276
+25% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,369
+12% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$234,500
+44% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$65,327
+20% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$51,340
+0% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
33.0 yr
+1.0 yr in Atlanta, GA
Homeownership
46.3%
44.3%
+2.0 pp in Atlanta, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
38.2%
+20.2 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
21.8 min
+5.0 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.5
484.8
+20% in Atlanta, GA
Property Crime
3,548.3
3,092.7
+13% 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
52.7°F
+9.9°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
40.1 in
+9.6 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.56/gal
+6% in Columbus, OH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Ohio.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$2.00
+20% in Atlanta, GA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
18.8
+25% in Columbus, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.41
$13.75
+25% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.14
+1% in Atlanta, GA
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.79
+4% in Columbus, OH
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Columbus, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.97
+6% in Columbus, OH
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.15
+13% in Columbus, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.63
+3% in Columbus, OH

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 Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Columbus?
Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Columbus?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $42,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Columbus?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Columbus 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).