CostIndexUSA

Atlanta, GA vs Harrisburg, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

GA
Atlanta
100.1
overall index
$1,800/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Harrisburg
98.7
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Harrisburg is slightly cheaper than Atlanta — 1.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Atlanta, you would need $78,900 in Harrisburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing13.2%
Atlanta
111
Harrisburg
96.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Atlanta
100.4
Harrisburg
100.7
🚗 Transportation+1.1%
Atlanta
101.5
Harrisburg
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+1.0%
Atlanta
91.9
Harrisburg
92.8
Utilities+12.4%
Atlanta
96.2
Harrisburg
108.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Atlanta to see what you'd need to earn in Harrisburg to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Harrisburg, PA
$78,900
$1,100 less needed in Harrisburg

Formula: salary × (98.7 ÷ 100.1) = salary × 0.9860. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Atlanta, GA

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Housing Index
111
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.3×

Harrisburg, PA

Median Home Price
$298,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
96.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.7×

Atlanta has 13.2% lower housing costs compared to Harrisburg.

Income & Job Market

Atlanta, GA

Median Household Income
$86,500
Per Capita Income
$49,300
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
498,715
Top Industries
FinanceTechnologyMediaHealthcareLogistics

Harrisburg, PA

Median Household Income
$76,800
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
49,192
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceEducationManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Atlanta, GA
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Harrisburg, PA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.