City comparison
No. Atlanta's crime index is 197 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 193 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Atlanta is cheaper. Median rent is $1,711 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and Atlanta is significant: $123,860 median household versus $85,652. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle and $1,711 in Atlanta.
Atlanta is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Seattle makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Atlanta is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Atlanta at $1,711 average has pockets that run $1,511 and others at $2,111: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Seattle and Atlanta are 2,178 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, down $319 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $85,652 in Atlanta, down $38,208 (31%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 197 in Atlanta, down 55 points (22%).
The move
Atlanta and Seattle are 2,178 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $319 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $123,860 in Seattle, up $38,208 (45%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 252 in Seattle, up 55 points (28%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Atlanta rent is 16% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Atlanta
Winner$1,711/mo
Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Atlanta versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Atlanta is 16% 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 $3,828, 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 Seattle.
Planning to buy in Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
45% higher
Seattle's median income is 45% higher than Atlanta
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Atlanta
$85,652
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $85,652 in Atlanta, so typical pay runs 45% higher in Seattle (about $38,208 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Seattle is the stronger labor market on paper. Atlanta can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
22% lower crime
Atlanta's crime index is 22% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Atlanta
Winner197 (100 = avg)
Atlanta's crime index is 197 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in Atlanta. 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, Atlanta is the easier city. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
24% more comfortable
Atlanta weather is 24% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Atlanta
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Atlanta averages around 61°F. Atlanta scores 24% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Seattle if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 45% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Atlanta is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% 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.
Pick Atlanta if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (61°F) beat Seattle on this page's weather index by 24%. Seattle may pay more or cost less, but Atlanta is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Atlanta is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 22% lower than Seattle (197 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.
Bottom line
Pay is the headline: Seattle median income is $123,860 versus $85,652 in Atlanta (31% higher). Rent still runs $2,030/month in Seattle and $1,711/month in Atlanta, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Seattle rates.
Seattle still pays more locally ($123,860 median income vs $85,652), which can offset the lease if your field pays Seattle rates.
Typical rent stays $1,711 in Atlanta and $2,030 in Seattle.
Pick Seattle when your field pays toward $123,860 median income. Otherwise, Atlanta's case rests on a $1,711 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Atlanta when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Seattle and Atlanta, plus other cities in WA and GA.
