← Compare My City
Cost of living · head to head

Atlanta, GA is approximately 2% cheaper than Philadelphia, PA, using Philadelphia, PA as the comparison base.

Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average. Figures represent the wider Philadelphia, PA and Atlanta, GA metropolitan areas, not city limits.

⇄ Swap / reverse this comparison
Philadelphia, PAoverall index
102.6
Atlanta, GAoverall index
100.1
Estimated salary equivalent based on regional price levels
in Philadelphia, PA
A salary of $100,000 in Philadelphia, PA has approximately the same purchasing power as $97,563 in Atlanta, GA, based on regional price levels.
In plain terms: Atlanta, GA is cheaper than Philadelphia, PA, so you’d only need about $97,563 there to match the lifestyle $100,000 buys in Philadelphia, PA same groceries, same rent level, same everyday spending. That’s ~$2,400 less you’d need to earn, not a step down.
Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

The headline gap is 2%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing rents in Atlanta, GA run 2% lower than in Philadelphia, PA (111.0 vs 113.1), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people, housing rents move the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.

CategoryPhiladelphia, PAAtlanta, GADifference
Overall102.6100.1-2%
Goods96.8100.4+4%
Housing rents113.1111.0-2%
Utilities114.496.2-16%
Other services103.196.7-6%

Atlanta, GA differs from Philadelphia, PA the most in utilities — about 16% lower in Atlanta, GA — while the closest is housing rents.

$50,000 in Philadelphia, PA$48,782
$75,000 in Philadelphia, PA$73,173
$100,000 in Philadelphia, PA$97,563
$150,000 in Philadelphia, PA$146,345
$200,000 in Philadelphia, PA$195,127

Each row shows the estimated salary equivalent in Atlanta, GA, based on regional price levels, for the amount earned in Philadelphia, PA.

Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

Is Atlanta, GA cheaper than Philadelphia, PA?

Yes — Atlanta, GA has an overall cost-of-living index of 100.1 versus 102.6 for Philadelphia, PA, making it about 2% cheaper.

What is the estimated salary equivalent for $100,000 in Philadelphia, PA if you moved to Atlanta, GA?

About $97,563, based on regional price levels — a $100,000 salary in Philadelphia, PA has approximately the same purchasing power as $97,563 in Atlanta, GA. This is an estimate and does not account for taxes, household size, or personal spending habits.

Is housing cheaper in Atlanta, GA than in Philadelphia, PA?

Housing rents in Atlanta, GA score 111.0 versus 113.1 in Philadelphia, PA — about 2% cheaper. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

What is the cost of living difference between Philadelphia, PA and Atlanta, GA?

Overall, Atlanta, GA is about 2% cheaper than Philadelphia, PA (index 100.1 vs 102.6), with housing 2% lower. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.