City comparison
Yes. Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 202 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Atlanta is cheaper. Median rent is $1,711 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles and Atlanta are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,933 in Los Angeles and $1,711 in Atlanta, and median household income lands at $81,939 versus $85,652. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Los Angeles wins on safety and Atlanta wins on cost of living and the job market. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Los Angeles and Atlanta are 1,933 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, down $222 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $3,713 (5%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 197 in Atlanta, up 39 points (25%).
The move
Atlanta and Los Angeles are 1,933 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $222 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $81,939 in Los Angeles, down $3,713 (4%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 158 in Los Angeles, down 39 points (20%).
Los Angeles, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Los Angeles and Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Atlanta rent is 11% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Atlanta
Winner$1,711/mo
Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Atlanta versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Atlanta is 11% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,664, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Atlanta still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Los Angeles.
Planning to buy in Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Atlanta's median income is 5% higher than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$81,939
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $81,939 in Los Angeles, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Atlanta (about $3,713 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
20% lower crime
Los Angeles's crime index is 20% lower than Atlanta
Los Angeles
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% lower in Los Angeles. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Los Angeles is the easier city. Atlanta can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Los Angeles and Atlanta are about even on typical weather.
Los Angeles
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Los Angeles averages about 76°F (83°F highs); Atlanta averages about 68°F (76°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Atlanta sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Los Angeles is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than Atlanta (158 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Atlanta is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,711 a month. Choose Atlanta if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Atlanta is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($85,652). Start with Atlanta if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Los Angeles: Los Angeles scores 46/100 versus 39/100 in Atlanta, with typical rent at $1,933 versus $1,711. I would vet the exact ZIP in Atlanta before trading 7 safety points for housing savings.
Median income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $81,939 in Los Angeles.
Pick Los Angeles when you want the stronger safety signal (46/100). Otherwise, Atlanta's case rests on a Atlanta ZIP you trust at $1,711 rent.
Typical rent stays $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Common questions
Ready to move to Atlanta?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Atlanta when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Los Angeles and Atlanta, plus other cities in CA and GA.
