Cost of living · head to head
Los Angeles, CA is 13% pricier than Atlanta, GA.
Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average.
Atlanta, GAoverall index
100.1
Los Angeles, CAoverall index
113.6
Try your own salary
in Atlanta, GA
To live the same in Los Angeles, CA, you’d need about $113,487.
That’s about $13,487 more — Los Angeles, CA is pricier.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 13%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Los Angeles, CA runs 54% higher than in Atlanta, GA (170.4 vs 111), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people the rent or mortgage line moves the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.
Salary you’d need in Los Angeles, CA
| $50,000 in Atlanta, GA | $56,743 |
| $75,000 in Atlanta, GA | $85,115 |
| $100,000 in Atlanta, GA | $113,487 |
| $150,000 in Atlanta, GA | $170,230 |
| $200,000 in Atlanta, GA | $226,973 |
Each row shows the salary in Los Angeles, CA that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Atlanta, GA.
Atlanta, GA · housing
111
Los Angeles, CA · housing
170.4
Common questions
Is Los Angeles, CA cheaper than Atlanta, GA?
No — Los Angeles, CA has an overall cost-of-living index of 113.6 versus 100.1 for Atlanta, GA, making it about 13% more expensive.
How much do you need to earn in Los Angeles, CA to match $100,000 in Atlanta, GA?
About $113,487. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Atlanta, GA costs roughly $113,487 in Los Angeles, CA.
Is housing cheaper in Los Angeles, CA than in Atlanta, GA?
Housing in Los Angeles, CA scores 170.4 versus 111 in Atlanta, GA — about 54% more expensive. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Atlanta, GA and Los Angeles, CA?
Overall, Los Angeles, CA is about 13% pricier than Atlanta, GA (index 113.6 vs 100.1), with housing 54% higher. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.