Updated November 7, 2026 · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Cost of Living in Atlanta, GA

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.

Salary comparison calculator

What would you need to earn in Atlanta, GA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?

How expensive is Atlanta, GA?

With a price level of 100.1 (U.S. average = 100), Atlanta, GA is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs run 11% above average; everyday goods cost about the same as the national average; utilities are 4% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 3% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.

Prices in Atlanta, GA vs. the U.S. average

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Rent in Atlanta, GA

HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.

Salary needed to live in Atlanta, GA

To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:

Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Georgia 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.

A monthly budget on the median wage

A single worker earning Atlanta, GA's median wage of $51,170 takes home about $3,439 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,646, which is 48% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $1,793 a month for everything else.

Take-home pay in Atlanta, GA

Highest-paying jobs in Atlanta, GA

*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.

Atlanta, GA vs. similar-size cities

Frequently asked questions

Top salaries by field in Atlanta, GA

Management Occupations

• Chief Executive — $239,200+
• Computer and Information Systems Manager — $177,970
• Financial Manager — $171,240
• Sales Manager — $166,920
• Purchasing Manager — $165,910
• Marketing Manager — $163,500
• Human Resources Manager — $161,250
• Medical and Health Services Manager — $137,260

Business and Financial Operations Occupations

• Personal Financial Advisor — $103,990
• Project Management Specialist — $103,400
• Management Analyst — $101,220
• Financial and Investment Analyst — $100,830
• Insurance Underwriter — $95,430
• Accountant and Auditor — $85,820
• Cost Estimator — $82,870
• Financial Specialists, All Other — $81,300

Computer and Mathematical Occupations

• Computer Network Architect — $133,890
• Software Developer — $132,960
• Information Security Analyst — $131,490
• Computer Systems Analyst — $119,090
• Data Scientist — $108,940
• Computer Occupations, All Other — $108,730
• Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $105,800
• Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $101,000

Architecture and Engineering Occupations

• Engineers, All Other — $122,570
• Industrial Engineer — $102,300
• Mechanical Engineer — $102,020
• Civil Engineer — $88,000

Community and Social Service Occupations

• Health Education Specialist — $112,450
• Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $67,730
• Healthcare Social Worker — $65,280
• Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $60,880
• Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $49,720
• Social and Human Service Assistant — $41,340

Legal Occupations

• Lawyer — $138,210
• Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $64,080

Educational Instruction and Library Occupations

• Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $130,880
• Instructional Coordinator — $81,520
• Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $77,960
• Postsecondary Teachers, All Other — $77,570
• Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $77,210
• Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $77,180
• Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $76,570
• Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education — $75,690

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

• Producer and Director — $79,950
• Public Relations Specialist — $78,920
• Interior Designer — $72,490
• Graphic Designer — $62,680
• Coach and Scout — $49,750
• Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $37,440

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations

• Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
• Pharmacist — $139,870
• Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other — $133,060
• Nurse Practitioner — $132,500
• Physician Assistant — $111,810
• Physical Therapist — $103,440
• Speech-Language Pathologist — $102,860
• Registered Nurse — $100,490

Healthcare Support Occupations

• Phlebotomist — $49,370
• Dental Assistant — $47,210
• Medical Assistant — $46,060
• Nursing Assistant — $39,350
• Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker — $36,110
• Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $29,920

Protective Service Occupations

• First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $81,860
• Detective and Criminal Investigator — $69,900
• Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $60,910
• Correctional Officer and Jailer — $49,380
• Firefighter — $47,300
• Security Guard — $35,150

Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations

• Chef and Head Cook — $74,660
• First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,240
• Cooks, Restaurant — $37,230
• Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,080
• Food Preparation Worker — $36,090
• Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $33,560
• Dishwasher — $31,780
• Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,470

Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations

• First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers — $58,960
• First-Line Supervisor of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers — $48,200
• Pest Control Worker — $38,920
• Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $38,500
• Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $35,940
• Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $33,580

Personal Care and Service Occupations

• Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $47,960
• Recreation Worker — $36,080
• Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $34,640
• Animal Caretaker — $30,090
• Childcare Worker — $28,840
• Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $26,960

Sales and Related Occupations

• Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $126,330
• First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers — $90,140
• Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $78,950
• Insurance Sales Agent — $75,990
• Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $64,990
• Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $63,610
• Sales and Related Workers, All Other — $52,080
• First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $48,300

Office and Administrative Support Occupations

• Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $72,090
• First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $69,990
• Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk — $62,710
• Postal Service Mail Carrier — $59,400
• Cargo and Freight Agent — $58,750
• Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $58,310
• Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $51,170
• Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators — $50,770

Construction and Extraction Occupations

• First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $80,500
• Construction and Building Inspector — $72,410
• Electrician — $58,650
• Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $58,380
• Carpenter — $50,680
• Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $49,430
• Construction Laborer — $42,010

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations

• Aircraft Mechanic and Service Technician — $98,300
• Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer — $83,570
• First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $78,310
• Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers — $70,790
• Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist — $62,270
• Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $62,000
• Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines — $60,730
• Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $58,970

Production Occupations

• First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $71,310
• Machinist — $56,270
• Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $49,630
• Food Batchmaker — $48,780
• Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $46,930
• Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $46,870
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $46,310
• Printing Press Operator — $44,610

Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $239,200+
• First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $65,290
• Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,100
• Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $47,840
• Bus Drivers, School — $47,310
• Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $46,430
• Light Truck Driver — $44,960
• Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $44,710

Other cities in Georgia

• Augusta, GA
• Savannah, GA
• Columbus, GA
• Gainesville, GA
• Athens, GA
• Macon, GA
• Warner Robins, GA
• Dalton, GA
• Albany, GA
• Valdosta, GA

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