Cost of Living and Other Atlanta Facts

Cost of Living
According to Homefair.com, Atlanta has a lower cost of living than at least nine other major U.S. cities, including New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, and Miami.

Atlantas cost of living is most comparable to that in Dallas or Miami-a $50,000 salary in Atlanta equals about $52,000 in those two cities, depending on location, rent versus ownership, and other factors. Low interest rates, available land for expansion, and relatively low gas prices help keep Atlantas cost of living down.

Housing
Affordable housing is one of Atlantas major attractions, and contractors race to meet the citys incredible demand for accommodation. Ten thousand new condo units have either been built or planned since 1992. Most newcomers have no major difficulties finding a place to crash, since the city and its surrounding areas are so widely spread out.

Rent in the main part of the city-downtown, midtown, and northeast Atlanta-tends to be fairly uniform. Expect to pay around $800 a month for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, and between $1,000 and $1,300 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. High-rises are more pricey, while outer areas of Atlanta-including Norcross, Smyrna and Alpharetta-are less expensive, around $650 for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, or about $800 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment.

Atlantas new home market has been explosive in recent years, and despite the sagging economy, shows minimal decline. The citys Southside has become especially popular for new starter homes. The average home price in the Atlanta metropolitan area is about $250,000. Depending on the county, prices can range between $150,000 and $1,000,000.

Education
The Atlanta area is home to more than 20 degree-granting institutions, including the Atlanta University system, the largest concentration of historically black colleges in the United States. These include Morehouse College (Spike Lees alma mater), Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College, and the all-women Spelman College. Other Atlanta schools include Emory University, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, and Oglethorpe University. Atlanta has 27 public school systems-20 run by the county and seven independent city systems. There are also more than 200 private schools in the area.

Transportation
Atlanta is not a walking city, and it lacks the more sophisticated transportation systems of New York, Chicago, or Washington, D.C. MARTA, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, works well for quick trips, but its buses and linear north-south and east-west train lines fall short of meeting most Atlantans commuting needs. The limited public transit system coupled with the citys sprawling metro area means increasing amounts of pollution, traffic, and general frustration.

Atlanta is home to the Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, which is Delta Airlines hub, and one of the busiest airports in the world