Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,780/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 33% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$1,103
+34% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$1,024
+35% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,213
+29% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,394
+10% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$224,500
+47% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$55,269
+33% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$54,310
+6% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
37.0 yr
+3.0 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
46.3%
46.0%
+0.3 pp in Atlanta, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
33.1%
+25.3 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
23.0 min
+3.8 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.7
1,138.2
+89% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
3,548.3
3,182.4
+10% 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
54.9°F
+7.7°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
43.1 in
+6.6 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/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)
15.8
19.4
+22% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$22.51
+32% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / DE)
4%
None
+4.0 pp in GA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
6.60%
+1.4 pp in DE

Atlanta vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Wilmington?
Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Atlanta, GA's $1,780, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Wilmington?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).