Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,780/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/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 $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Atlanta, GA is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 2% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$1,468
+12% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$1,688
+7% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$2,148
+26% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$2,489
+60% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$879,500
+109% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$80,366
+2% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$55,850
+9% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
36.9 yr
+2.9 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
46.3%
36.3%
+10.0 pp in Atlanta, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
37.8%
+20.6 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
31.1 min
+4.3 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.7
730.3
+21% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
3,548.3
1,501.4
+58% 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
67.0°F
+4.4°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
21.2 in
+28.5 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$5.40/gal
+40% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
33.3
+110% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$20.72
+38% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Atlanta, GA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Los Angeles, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / CA)
4%
7.25%
+3.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
13.30%
+8.1 pp in CA

Atlanta vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Los Angeles?
Atlanta, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Los Angeles?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Los Angeles under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).