Atlanta, GA
A big-city economy, a 4.99% flat income tax, and a major airline hub.
Atlanta gives you a true big-city economy at a very different price point. For anyone moving from LA to Atlanta, the headline is housing: in the most recent Redfin data (May 2026) the typical Atlanta home sold for about $415K, versus about $904K for the typical LA County zip code.
The money picture
| Typical LA County zip | Atlanta, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $904K | $415K |
| Median price per sq ft | $588 | $284 |
| Median days on market | n/a | 48 |
| State income tax on wages | Progressive, top rate 13.3% | 4.99% flat rate (tax year 2026) |
Market figures: Redfin Data Center. Atlanta: May 2026, all residential. LA: median of LA County zip-code medians, Mar 2026 to May 2026. Medians are a rough guide and hide a wide range of homes. Tax rates as published by each state for tax year 2026; rates change, so verify with the state's revenue department.
Atlanta homes recently sold for about $284 per square foot, compared with about $588 in the typical LA zip. The typical detached house sold for about $480K, and the typical condo for about $315K. The median home took 48 days to sell and closed at about 98.1% of list price (Redfin, May 2026). These figures are for the city itself; the wider metro spreads across many counties with their own price ranges.
On taxes, Georgia has a 4.99% flat income tax for tax year 2026. Georgia cut its rate from 5.19% to 4.99% for 2026, and current law sets up further annual reductions only if state revenue targets are met, so future cuts are not a sure thing. Details are on the Georgia Department of Revenue site, and our California to Georgia guide covers the state in more depth.
On $200,000 of taxable income, a 4.99% flat rate works out to about $9,980 in Georgia income tax. This is a simplified illustration: the real number depends on deductions, credits, filing status and the tax year, and the year of a move often means part-year returns in both California and Georgia. A CPA can run the actual numbers.
For LA owners, the real question is what the equity in a Los Angeles home turns into once it lands in Georgia. At these prices, many sellers can choose between more space, a smaller mortgage, or a cushion of cash, and the right mix depends on goals rather than headlines. Timing matters too: selling first gives clarity on the budget, while buying first takes more planning. Our guide to selling your LA home and moving out of state covers the sequence step by step.
What people tend to weigh
- Climate. Long, hot, humid summers, short mild winters, and a lot of tree cover. Spring and fall are the highlights, and summer storms can be dramatic.
- Housing stock. Historic intown homes, high-rise condos in Midtown and Buckhead, and large suburban lots across the metro.
- Travel back to LA. Hartsfield-Jackson is one of the busiest airports in the world, with frequent nonstop flights to LAX.
- Commute. The metro is large and car-oriented, so where you buy relative to work matters a lot for day-to-day life.
Still comparing Southeast cities? Our Charlotte guide and Nashville guide run the same numbers side by side with LA, so the tradeoffs are easy to line up.
Common questions
How much does a home cost in Atlanta compared with Los Angeles?
The typical Atlanta home sold for about $415K ($284 per square foot) in Redfin's May 2026 data, versus about $904K ($588 per square foot) for a typical LA County zip code. Medians hide a wide range of homes.
Does Georgia have a state income tax?
4.99% flat rate (tax year 2026). California's top marginal rate is 13.3%. Tax rules change, so confirm current rates with the state's revenue department and a CPA.
How fast are homes selling in Atlanta?
Homes in Atlanta had a median of 48 days on market and sold for about 98.1% of list price on average (Redfin, May 2026).
What could $1 million from an LA sale buy in Atlanta?
As a rough illustration, $1 million at Atlanta's median of $284 per square foot works out to about 3,520 square feet, compared with about 1,700 at the LA median. Use the calculator on this page for your own numbers.
The move starts with the sale.
Before you land anywhere, your LA home has to sell, and how it sells sets your budget for everything after. The seller's playbook covers timing, California withholding at closing, transfer taxes and the questions to bring your CPA.