Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Raleigh?

Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Raleigh?

Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Atlanta vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Atlanta

Georgia

$1,740/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Raleigh, NC is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 1% higher in Raleigh, NC. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$1,669

$1,301

+22% in Atlanta, GA

1 Bedroom

$1,576

$1,323

+16% in Atlanta, GA

2 Bedroom

$1,701

$1,462

+14% in Atlanta, GA

3 Bedroom

$1,557

$1,715

+10% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$420,600

$377,800

+10% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income

$81,938

$82,424

+1% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,170

$51,990

+2% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.0 yr

34.7 yr

+0.7 yr in Raleigh, NC

Homeownership

46.3%

51.2%

+4.9 pp in Raleigh, NC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.4%

52.9%

+5.5 pp in Atlanta, GA

Avg Commute

26.8 min

23.4 min

+3.4 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

603.5

491.5

+19% in Atlanta, GA

Property Crime

3,548.3

2,838

+20% 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

60.6°F

+2.0°F in Atlanta, GA

Annual Precipitation

49.7 in

46.0 in

+3.7 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.30/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

$1.25

+50% in Atlanta, GA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.0

16.0

+7% in Raleigh, NC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.41

$17.50

+5% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.73

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / NC)

4.75%

+0.8 pp in NC

Income Tax (top rate)

5.19%

3.99%

+1.2 pp in GA

Atlanta vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Raleigh?: Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Raleigh?: Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).