Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,790/mo est.

vs
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Hartford, CT. Overall, Hartford, CT is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 45% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$973
+42% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$1,042
+34% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,296
+24% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,433
+8% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$217,200
+48% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$45,300
+45% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$59,940
+17% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
33.4 yr
+0.6 yr in Atlanta, GA
Homeownership
46.3%
25.7%
+20.6 pp in Atlanta, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
18.3%
+40.1 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
22.8 min
+4.0 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.7
527.5
+13% in Atlanta, GA
Property Crime
3,548.3
2,949.2
+17% 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
51.2°F
+11.4°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
43.6 in
+6.1 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/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)
16.4
24.3
+49% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$38.60
$23.33
+40% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Hartford, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Hartford, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Atlanta, GA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Hartford, CT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / CT)
4%
6.35%
+2.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
6.99%
+1.8 pp in CT

Atlanta vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Hartford?
Hartford, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Atlanta, GA's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Hartford?
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 Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Hartford?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).