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Columbus vs Atlanta

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

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Atlanta, GA, you'd need

$83,190 / year

Atlanta, GA is 11% more expensive overall

Category breakdown (Atlanta, GA vs Columbus, OH)

  • Housing+28%
  • Food & groceries+4%
  • Transport+4%
  • Utilities0%
  • Healthcare+3%
  • Goods & services+5%

Full comparison

Columbus, OHAtlanta, GA
Cost of living
Overall cost index96107
Housing92118
Food96100
Transport100104
Utilities9898
Healthcare99102
Goods & services98103
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$1,200/mo$1,650/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$950/mo$1,300/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$2,100/mo$3,000/mo
Buy price / m² centre$3,200$4,200
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$1,039$937
Inexpensive meal$15$17
Monthly transit pass$62$95
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)37%37%
VAT / sales tax0%0%
Social security (employee)7.7%7.7%
Corporate tax21%21%
Capital gains20%20%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$4,300/mo$4,300/mo
Minimum wage$1,257/mo$1,257/mo
GDP per capita$82,000$82,000
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoNo
English proficiencyNativeNative
Coworking spaces2555
Time zoneUTC-5UTC-5
Quality of life
Safety index5548
Healthcare index7878
Pollution index4045
Internet speed200 Mbps200 Mbps
Walkability4248
Public transport4048
Family-friendly6662
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Health insurance$450/mo$450/mo
Life expectancy79 yr79 yr
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighHigh
Climate
January avg-2 °C+7 °C
July avg+23 °C+27 °C
Sunny days / year178217
Rainfall / year1,000 mm1,270 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1.5 h1 h

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

? Frequently asked questions

Is Columbus cheaper than Atlanta?

Atlanta is about 11% more expensive than Columbus overall — its cost-of-living index is 107 versus 96 for Columbus.

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

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Columbus is worth about $83,190 in Atlanta. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Atlanta?

Both cities are in the same country, so national income tax (37%) and VAT are identical; only local cost of living differs.

More comparisons from Columbus

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