City comparison
Boston vs Atlanta Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Boston (144.3) and Atlanta (110.5).
Boston Index
144.3
Atlanta Index
110.5
Boston Rent
$3,775
Atlanta Rent
$2,375
Boston Home price
$722,000
Atlanta Home price
$410,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Boston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Atlanta.
Equivalent salary in Atlanta
$91,892
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Boston and Atlanta.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Boston | Atlanta | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 198 | 129 | -69.0 (-34.8%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 101 | -21.0 (-17.2%) |
| Transportation | 114 | 103 | -11.0 (-9.6%) |
| Healthcare | 113 | 97 | -16.0 (-14.2%) |
| Utilities | 106 | 100 | -6.0 (-5.7%) |
| Miscellaneous | 121 | 102 | -19.0 (-15.7%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,790 / $4,990
Boston / Atlanta
Couple
$11,270 / $8,280
Boston / Atlanta
Family
$15,890 / $11,680
Boston / Atlanta
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Boston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Boston.
View Atlanta city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Atlanta.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.