Posted on: October 02, 2023
Three times a year, the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) studies pricing for select goods and services in 271 metros around the country and uses this data to create its annual Cost of Living Index (COLI). This index features a base of 100, corresponding to a national average cost of living. This Regional Snapshot (which you can view / download here (PDF)) dives into data from the index and considers the metro area’s cost of living compared to the country’s other most populous metros. Select “peer” metros to Atlanta are highlighted in the slide deck and include Charlotte (NC), Dallas (TX), Houston (TX), Nashville (TN), and Washington, D.C.
The main takeaways of the study are as follows:
- Atlanta’s COLI composite score is 100.4, which is almost exactly at the national average.
- If an Atlanta resident earning $50,000 moved to Manhattan (NY) and wanted to enjoy a similar purchasing power in their new home, they would need to earn $110,558 to compensate for the higher cost of living.
- Housing is one of the chief causes of discrepancies found in the cost of living across the country. When compared to its peer metro areas, Atlanta’s housing index is roughly the same or higher (with the exception of Washington, D.C.).
- Atlanta’s health care costs are higher than its peer metros with the exception of Charlotte, NC. Our health care costs are 11.4% higher than the national average.
- Atlanta’s utility costs, however, are quite low – even compared to otherwise low cost-of-living metros – which defrays the expense of housing, health care, and other items that see comparatively higher prices locally.
Explore the findings below!
