Question 1

Is Arlington or Atlanta cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Arlington, TX is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $328/month less than in Atlanta, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,723/mo in Arlington versus $1,820/mo in Atlanta.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Arlington vs Atlanta?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $72,000/year before tax in Arlington, TX and $84,500/year in Atlanta, GA — a difference of about $12,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Arlington or Atlanta cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Arlington, the same answer as for a single person. A four-person household runs about $7,857/month in Arlington and $7,875/month in Atlanta, with rent scaled to household size using each city's own bedroom spread.

Question 4

Should I move to Arlington or Atlanta?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Arlington costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Arlington73	Atlanta65
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,111	$4,439
Est. monthly cost (household of 4)	$7,857	$7,875
Salary for comfort	$72,000/yr	$84,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,723	$1,820
Median home value	$276,400	$420,600
Median household income	$73,519	$81,938
Unemployment	4.1%	3.5%
Housing score	60	49
Jobs score	58	81
Safety score	65	26
Climate score	96	100
Amenities score	73	68
Population	394.8K	499.3K
Summer high / winter low	94° / 35°	90° / 33°

Arlington, TX vs Atlanta, GA