CostIndexUSA

Atlanta, GA vs Lansing, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

GA
Atlanta
100.1
overall index
$1,800/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Lansing
95
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Lansing is moderately cheaper than Atlanta — 5.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Atlanta, you would need $75,900 in Lansing. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing24.8%
Atlanta
111
Lansing
83.5
🛒 Groceries6.7%
Atlanta
100.4
Lansing
93.7
🚗 Transportation+3.0%
Atlanta
101.5
Lansing
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+2.9%
Atlanta
91.9
Lansing
94.6
Utilities0.7%
Atlanta
96.2
Lansing
95.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lansing, MI
$75,900
$4,100 less needed in Lansing

Formula: salary × (95 ÷ 100.1) = salary × 0.9491. 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×

Lansing, MI

Median Home Price
$234,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.0×

Atlanta has 24.8% lower housing costs compared to Lansing.

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

Lansing, MI

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
112,644
Top Industries
GovernmentAutomotiveHealthcareEducationFinance

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)

Lansing, MI
4.5×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.