Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Portland?

Portland, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,600 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Portland?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $58,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Portland?

Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Atlanta vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Atlanta

Georgia

$1,740/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,600/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 $1,600 in Portland, OR. Overall, Portland, OR is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 8% higher in Portland, OR. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,669

$1,294

+22% in Atlanta, GA

1 Bedroom

$1,576

$1,440

+9% in Atlanta, GA

2 Bedroom

$1,701

$1,741

+2% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,557

$2,053

+32% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$420,600

$557,600

+33% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$81,938

$88,792

+8% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,170

$60,690

+19% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.0 yr

38.6 yr

+4.6 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

46.3%

52.8%

+6.5 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.4%

53.5%

+4.9 pp in Atlanta, GA

Avg Commute

26.8 min

24.6 min

+2.2 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

603.5

731.7

+21% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

3,548.3

5,605.5

+58% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+8.1°F in Atlanta, GA

Annual Precipitation

49.7 in

42.9 in

+6.9 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.30/gal

$5.57/gal

+29% in Portland, OR

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

$2.80

+12% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.0

14.9

+1% in Atlanta, GA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.41

$17.98

+2% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.37

+5% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$2.10

+21% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Portland, OR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$7.23

+10% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.14

+12% in Portland, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.74

+21% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / OR)

None

+4.0 pp in GA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.19%

9.90%

+4.7 pp in OR

Atlanta vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Portland?: Portland, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,600 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Portland?: Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).