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Atlanta vs Tokyo

Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.

Atlanta, GA vs Tokyo, JP at a glance — Tokyo, JP is 7% more expensive than Atlanta, GA overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $1,300/mo versus $1,650/mo. Top income tax: 45% vs 37%.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Tokyo, JP, you'd need

$80,222 / year

Tokyo, JP is 7% more expensive overall

Category breakdown (Tokyo, JP vs Atlanta, GA)

  • Housing+9%
  • Food & groceries+11%
  • Transport-8%
  • Utilities+24%
  • Healthcare-11%
  • Goods & services+9%

◎ How Atlanta, GA and Tokyo, JP compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Atlanta, GATokyo, JP

Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.

▤ Full comparison

Atlanta, GATokyo, JP
Cost of living
Overall cost index101108
Housing112122
Food95105
Transport9890
Utilities93115
Healthcare9685
Goods & services97106
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$1,650/mo$1,300/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$1,300/mo$900/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$3,000/mo$2,800/mo
Buy price / m² centre$4,200$11,000
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$990$926
Inexpensive meal$17$8
Monthly transit pass$95$90
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)37%45%
VAT / sales tax0%10%
Social security (employee)7.7%—
Corporate tax21%30%
Capital gains20%20.3%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$4,300/mo$2,600/mo
Minimum wage$1,257/mo✓$1,300/mo
GDP per capita$90,027✓$35,951✓
Inflation (annual)—3.2%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoYes
English proficiencyNativeLow
Coworking spaces5590
Time zoneUTC-5UTC+9
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)6081
Safety index4882
Healthcare index7885
Pollution index4545
Internet speed200 Mbps220 Mbps
Walkability4892
Public transport4898
Family-friendly6272
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Health insurance$450/mo$40/mo
Life expectancy79 yr✓84 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighModerate
Climate
January avg+7 °C+6 °C
July avg+27 °C+27 °C
Sunny days / year217130
Rainfall / year1,270 mm1,520 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1 h1 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: United States vs Japan. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

✓ = official statistics (US DOL (federal), World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

Cost of living: Atlanta vs Tokyo — in your currency

AtlantaTokyo
1-bed rent, city centre$1,650$1,300
1-bed rent, outside centre$1,300$900
Inexpensive meal$17$8
Monthly transit pass$95$90
Utilities (monthly)$170$200

Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).

Good to know before you move to Atlanta

The South's business and culture capital — green, affordable and fast-growing, if car-bound.

Currency
US dollar ($ USD)
Languages
English
Time zone
UTC-5
Internet
200 Mbps
English
Native language
Safety
48/100
Climate
❄ 7°C · ☀ 27°C · 217 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
A/B · 120V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Midtown · Old Fourth Ward · Buckhead

Good to know before you move to Tokyo

Astonishingly safe, clean and well-connected for a megacity — and, thanks to a weak yen, cheaper than most Western capitals right now.

Currency
Japanese yen (¥ JPY)
Languages
Japanese
Time zone
UTC+9
Internet
220 Mbps
English
Rarely spoken
Safety
82/100
Climate
❄ 6°C · ☀ 27°C · 130 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
A/B · 100V
Driving
Left-hand side
Popular areas
Shibuya · Shinjuku · Setagaya

? Frequently asked questions

Moving from Atlanta to Tokyo: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Atlanta to Tokyo, your cost of living will be roughly 7% more expensive. Tokyo’s cost-of-living index is 108 versus 101 for Atlanta (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Atlanta cheaper than Tokyo?

Tokyo is about 7% more expensive than Atlanta overall — its cost-of-living index is 108 versus 101 for Atlanta.

Which is more expensive, Atlanta or Tokyo?

Tokyo is more expensive than Atlanta. Its cost-of-living index is 108 vs 101 (US = 100) — about 7% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Atlanta or Tokyo?

Rent is cheaper in Tokyo — about $1,300/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $1,650 in Atlanta.

How much do you need to earn in Tokyo to live like in Atlanta?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Atlanta is worth about $80,222 in Tokyo. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Tokyo?

United States has the lower top income-tax rate — 37% versus 45% in Japan.

◷ More comparisons from Atlanta

How we calculate these figures →

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.