Rent vs buy in Atlanta, GA
In Atlanta, Georgia, the typical rent is $1,942 /mo, and the typical home value is $380,331.
Renting is ahead by $13k over 7 years
Today's mortgage rate applies with 20% down and Atlanta's typical rent and home value. Renting and owning cost the same in year 9.
Our view, clearly labelled. The math is shown, and the figures are estimates rather than quotes. If you change a number, the stamp updates.
- Renting leads by
- $13k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 9 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of owning
- $3,341 /mo year 1, against $1,942 rent
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Atlanta?
Over 7 years, renting saves $13,402 after counting the money you receive when you sell. For the first 8 years, renting costs less. In year 9, owning catches up.
Renting. Owning. Net cost by year so far.
Average rent compared with the mortgage payment in Atlanta
Rent and mortgage payments aren't the full cost, so here's every monthly expense for year 1 at Atlanta's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,942 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,074 | $1,828 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $304 | 0.96% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $115 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $317 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,810 | $246 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $618 | At 8.3% a year, this is what the cash would earn |
| Buying costs, spread out | $158 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,341 | Cash out, minus the equity portion, plus the two lines above |
Numbers behind Atlanta's result
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $380,331
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,942 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, Georgia, 1995 to 2025
- 4.4% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Atlanta
- 0.96% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Atlanta
- $115 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
In Atlanta, what would flip it?
Each line marks where Atlanta's 7-year result changes, with all other factors unchanged.
Renting is cheaper when
- Home prices grow by less than 4.8% a year. We use Georgia's long-run rate of 4.4%.
- The mortgage rate remains above 6.62%.
- For a home like this, rent comes in under $2,090 a month ($1,942 is typical here).
- You make your move before year 9.
Conditions that make buying win
- Home prices rise by more than 4.8% a year.
- A mortgage rate under 6.62% is what you lock in (today's is 7.24%).
- The same home would cost more than $2,090 a month to rent.
- You remain in the home for 9 years or more.
Atlanta compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Atlanta | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $380,331 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,942 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 16.3 (#532 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4.7% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 1.8% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.96% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 54% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Other Georgia cities
- Buy. Columbus, GA. Buying is ahead by $31k.
- Buy. Augusta, GA. Buying is ahead by $27k.
- Buy. Macon, GA. Buying is ahead by $19k.
- Toss-up. Savannah, GA. Renting is ahead by $1k.
- Rent. Athens, GA. Renting is ahead by $5k.
- Rent. Sandy Springs, GA. Renting is ahead by $184k.
- Rent. Roswell, GA. Renting is ahead by $159k.
- Buy. Warner Robins, GA. Buying is ahead by $21k.
- Rent. Johns Creek, GA. Renting is ahead by $107k.
- Buy. Mableton, GA. Buying is ahead by $7k.
- Rent. Alpharetta, GA. Renting is ahead by $154k.
- Buy. Albany, GA. Buying is ahead by $15k.