Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Atlanta leads 12 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838
Seattle
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Homes cost $484k less ($395,600 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $433/mo less ($1,512 vs $1,945)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 47°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $38,413/yr
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 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $38,413 more per year on average
8% less violent crime than Atlanta
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Home Value
$484k less
$395,600 vs $879,900
Atlanta
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$38,413
$116,068 vs $77,655/yr
Seattle
Violent Crime
8% lower
775.1 vs 840.6 per 100k
Seattle
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Atlanta leads 12 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 12 and Seattle wins 11. 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $879,900 median home), income ($77,655 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Seattle, WA are about 2,177 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.