Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
East Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Atlanta leads 15 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
East Los Angeles
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,222
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Homes cost $187k less ($395,600 vs $582,400)
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $13,536 more per year on average
15% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
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 rents — median is $1,512/mo
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Atlanta
Rent averages $143/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,512)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 54°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Atlanta by $13,536/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Income
$13,536
$77,655 vs $64,119/yr
Atlanta
Median Home Value
$187k less
$395,600 vs $582,400
Atlanta
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Atlanta
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 82.0°F
East Los Angeles
Violent Crime
34% lower
558.4 vs 840.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | East Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $582,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $64,119 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 11.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 55.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 117,222 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% ✓ Higher | 34.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs East Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Atlanta leads 15 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 15 and East Los Angeles wins 8. 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 East Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $582,400 median home), income ($77,655 vs $64,119), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and East Los Angeles, CA are about 1,927 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.