City comparison
Houston vs Atlanta Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Houston (105.8) and Atlanta (110.5).
Houston Index
105.8
Atlanta Index
110.5
Houston Rent
$2,175
Atlanta Rent
$2,375
Houston Home price
$390,000
Atlanta Home price
$410,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Houston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Atlanta.
Equivalent salary in Atlanta
$87,732
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Houston and Atlanta.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Houston | Atlanta | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 118 | 129 | +11.0 (+9.3%) |
| Groceries | 97 | 101 | +4.0 (+4.1%) |
| Transportation | 104 | 103 | -1.0 (-1.0%) |
| Healthcare | 96 | 97 | +1.0 (+1.0%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 100 | -1.0 (-1.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 99 | 102 | +3.0 (+3.0%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$4,740 / $4,990
Houston / Atlanta
Couple
$7,870 / $8,280
Houston / Atlanta
Family
$11,090 / $11,680
Houston / Atlanta
Frequently Asked Questions
Related comparisons
Houston vs Charlotte
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Houston and Charlotte.
Houston vs Tampa
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Houston and Tampa.
Houston vs Dallas
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Houston and Dallas.
View Houston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Houston.
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.