How much does it cost to rent in Atlanta, GA?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Atlanta, GA is $1,936. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Atlanta cheaper than other Georgia cities?

Atlanta is one of the pricier cities in Georgia, ranking #43 out of 133 cities tracked at $1,936/mo.

When was Atlanta rent data last updated?

Atlanta rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Atlanta, GA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Atlanta, GA at $2,048 per month, which is 6% above the $1,936 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

Stephen Cook / Unsplash

City Report · GA

Atlanta

Name: Average Rent Prices in Atlanta, GA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 505,268·43rd most expensive in Georgia·Rental market data updated monthly for Atlanta, GA

Median rent (all units)

$1,936/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.1%

Month-over-Month

+1.3%

vs US Median

-$26

Reported rents (2)

$1,650/mo median

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Atlanta rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Atlanta · $1,936

More expensive than 55% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

68/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 9% below what Atlanta's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,936/mo

Expected by trend

$2,133/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Atlanta's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,780

1 BR

$1,851

2 BR

$2,048

3 BR

$2,468

4 BR+

$2,970

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,048/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,936 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$23,232/yr

At $1,936/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 4.1% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.1% YoY, +1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Atlanta, GA is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 59.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

505,268

Median income

$85,652

Median age

34.2

Renters

53.6%

Age distribution

16.6%

35%

26.3%

12.3%

Under 1816.6%

18–3435%

35–5426.3%

55–649.8%

65+12.3%

Gender

49%

51%

Male49%

Female51%

Race & ethnicity

39.1%

46%

White39.1%

Black46%

Hispanic6.3%

Asian5.3%

Other3.4%

Education (25+)

15.7%

18.5%

59.2%

No HS diploma6.6%

HS diploma15.7%

Some college18.5%

Bachelor's+59.2%

Housing tenure

46.4%

53.6%

Owner46.4%

Renter53.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Atlanta, GA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,576 → $1,936

up 22.8%

Income

$69,164 → $85,652

up 23.8%

Population

492,204 → 505,268

up 2.7%

Renter share

54.8% → 53.6%

-1.2 pts

Bachelor's+

55.6% → 59.2%

+3.6 pts

Median age

33.4 → 34.2

+0.8 yrs

Rent in Atlanta, GA has climbed 22.8% since 2021, going from about $1,576 per month to roughly $1,936 today. Household income in the area moved from $69,164 to $85,652 across the same window, up 23.8% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 492,204 to 505,268 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.7% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 55.6% to 59.2%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Atlanta, GA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Atlanta

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View Atlanta rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Atlanta on your salary?

At $1,936/mo, how Atlanta rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $89,756/yr · Rent = 25.9% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,726/yr · Rent = 36.5% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $73,407/yr · Rent = 31.6% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $131,205/yr · Rent = 17.7% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $167,647/yr · Rent = 13.9% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,670/yr · Rent = 38.9% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $53,875/yr · Rent = 43.1% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $66,405/yr · Rent = 35% income

stretched

By apartment size

Atlanta rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Atlanta. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Atlanta

About renting in Atlanta, GA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Atlanta is $1,936/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,780/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,048/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,851/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,468/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($85,652/yr), Atlanta ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Atlanta an affordable city for renters?

Atlanta is considered affordable for renters. At $1,936/mo, rent takes approximately 27% of the local median household income ($85,652/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Atlanta falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Atlanta?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $77,000/year (~$37/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,936/mo in Atlanta. The local median household income is $85,652/yr, meaning the typical Atlanta household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Atlanta?

Rent in Atlanta has increased 4.1% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Atlanta neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Atlanta are 30340 ($1,489/mo), 30314 ($1,610/mo), and 30345 ($1,614/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Atlanta is $1,936/mo.

How does Atlanta rent compare to other cities in Georgia?

Atlanta is one of the pricier cities in Georgia for rent, ranking #43 out of 133 tracked cities at $1,936/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Atlanta?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Atlanta ($1,936/mo): East Point ($1,598/mo), Gresham Park ($1,654/mo), Vinings ($1,810/mo).

What percentage of Atlanta residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 53.6% of Atlanta households are renters, while 46.4% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Atlanta has a strong rental market.