Cost of living · head to head
Atlanta, GA is 2% pricier than Houston, TX.
Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average.
Houston, TXoverall index
98.6
Atlanta, GAoverall index
100.1
Try your own salary
in Houston, TX
To live the same in Atlanta, GA, you’d need about $101,521.
That’s about $1,521 more — Atlanta, GA is pricier.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 2%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Atlanta, GA runs 6% higher than in Houston, TX (111 vs 104.5), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people the rent or mortgage line moves the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.
Salary you’d need in Atlanta, GA
| $50,000 in Houston, TX | $50,761 |
| $75,000 in Houston, TX | $76,141 |
| $100,000 in Houston, TX | $101,521 |
| $150,000 in Houston, TX | $152,282 |
| $200,000 in Houston, TX | $203,043 |
Each row shows the salary in Atlanta, GA that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Houston, TX.
Houston, TX · housing
104.5
Atlanta, GA · housing
111
Common questions
Is Atlanta, GA cheaper than Houston, TX?
No — Atlanta, GA has an overall cost-of-living index of 100.1 versus 98.6 for Houston, TX, making it about 2% more expensive.
How much do you need to earn in Atlanta, GA to match $100,000 in Houston, TX?
About $101,521. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Houston, TX costs roughly $101,521 in Atlanta, GA.
Is housing cheaper in Atlanta, GA than in Houston, TX?
Housing in Atlanta, GA scores 111 versus 104.5 in Houston, TX — about 6% more expensive. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Houston, TX and Atlanta, GA?
Overall, Atlanta, GA is about 2% pricier than Houston, TX (index 100.1 vs 98.6), with housing 6% higher. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.