City comparison
San Diego vs Atlanta Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Diego (141.4) and Atlanta (110.5).
San Diego Index
141.4
Atlanta Index
110.5
San Diego Rent
$3,700
Atlanta Rent
$2,375
San Diego Home price
$738,000
Atlanta Home price
$410,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Diego to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Atlanta.
Equivalent salary in Atlanta
$91,432
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Diego and Atlanta.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | San Diego | Atlanta | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 194 | 129 | -65.0 (-33.5%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 101 | -21.0 (-17.2%) |
| Transportation | 109 | 103 | -6.0 (-5.5%) |
| Healthcare | 110 | 97 | -13.0 (-11.8%) |
| Utilities | 108 | 100 | -8.0 (-7.4%) |
| Miscellaneous | 118 | 102 | -16.0 (-13.6%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,650 / $4,990
San Diego / Atlanta
Couple
$11,040 / $8,280
San Diego / Atlanta
Family
$15,560 / $11,680
San Diego / Atlanta
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Diego city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Diego.
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.