How Much Do You Have To Make To Live Comfortably In Atlanta? — Here’s The Salary You Need To Live In The ATL

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Of course, we all wish we made a little more money, but do you make the average to “live comfortably” in the ATL? According to a new study conducted by GoBankingRates, you might. And you might not. Keep scrolling to see how much you need to make to live comfortably in the ATL.

How much do you have to make to live comfortably in Atlanta?

Atlanta ranks #17 for how much you have to make to live comfortably, coming in just below Las Vegas. To live comfortably in the ATL, you need to make at least $112,702.

That might seem a little steep, but it’s because of the average cost of homes, average cost of necessities, and average cost of enjoyment.

In fact, according to the study, an average home in Atlanta, GA is valued at $450,085, with a monthly mortgage cost of $2,521. That takes quite a bit out of your paycheck, after all!

How did GoBankingRates come up with this data?

Here’s what they say about their methodology,

GOBankingRates analyzed data from the US Census to find the 50 biggest cities by population. Using data from Sperlings BestPlaces, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Zillow Home Value Index, and the Federal Reserve Economic Data to find the necessities cost of living. Using the 50/30/20 finance rule, the necessities cost of living was doubled to find the salary needed to afford the largest US cities. The livability was sourced from Areavibes and included as supplemental information. All data was collected on and is up to date as of September 12th, 2025.

Which U.S. cities have the highest salary rates to live comfortably?

Atlanta actually doesn’t crack the top 10, however unexpected that might be. Here are the top 10, and what you’d need to make to live comfortably, if you lived there:

1. San Jose, California – $264,946
2. San Francisco, California – $251,398
3. San Diego, California – $206,353
4. Los Angeles, California – $194,920
5. New York, New York – $184,420
6. Long Beach, California – $179,359
7. Seattle, Washington – $178,520
8. Boston, Massachusetts – $169,155
9. Oakland, California – $163,559
10. Washington, District of Columbia – $157,960

To see the full list and all the details of the study, check out GoBankingRates, here.