Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,740/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,130/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 $2,130 in Washington, DC. Overall, Atlanta, GA is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 23% higher in Washington, DC. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$1,763
+6% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$1,885
+20% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,949
+15% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$2,249
+44% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$724,600
+72% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$106,287
+30% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$71,060
+39% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
34.9 yr
+0.9 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
46.3%
41.1%
+5.2 pp in Atlanta, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
63.6%
+5.2 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
26.8 min
30.3 min
+3.5 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.5
936
+55% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
3,548.3
3,627.1
+2% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+4.4°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
39.7 in
+10.0 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.30/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
25.0
+67% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.41
$18.01
+2% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / DC)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
10.75%
+5.6 pp in DC

Atlanta vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Washington?
Atlanta, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Washington?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).