Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Charleston, SC
🏆 Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Charleston
South Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Homes cost $43k less ($395,600 vs $438,900)
Cons
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.7%)
Median income trails Charleston by $6,236/yr
Charleston, SC
Pros
57% less violent crime than Atlanta
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,236 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Home Value
$43k less
$395,600 vs $438,900
Charleston
Median Income
$6,236
$83,891 vs $77,655/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
57% lower
357.6 vs 840.6 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $438,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,517⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 | $83,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 14.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 95.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 52.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 149,960 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Charleston's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 9 and Charleston wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Atlanta to Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $438,900 median home), income ($77,655 vs $83,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Charleston, SC are about 265 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.