Example household · Tuscaloosa, AL · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

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Tuscaloosa vs Atlanta

Tuscaloosa and Atlanta

Photo: JJonahJackalope / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Atlanta are above the US rate in this release, 9.2 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Tuscaloosa to Atlanta

In 2022-2023, 136 households filed a move from Tuscaloosa to Atlanta (about 222 people, average adjusted gross income $62,485). 72 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $930 in Tuscaloosa and $1,399 in Atlanta. Tuscaloosa has a state tax on wages. Atlanta has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Atlanta is 101% of the national level for the same work, against 84% in Tuscaloosa.

Atlanta averages 217 sunny days, with July highs around 89°F and January nights around 34°F. Tuscaloosa is 223 sunny days, 90°F in July, 38°F in January. Commutes average 31 minutes in Atlanta and 24 in Tuscaloosa.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 136 households moved Tuscaloosa → Atlanta (about 222 people, average AGI $62,485). 72 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Tuscaloosa and Atlanta changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 242 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,800–$3,350
Container or pod
$1,200–$2,300
Rent a truck
$500–$900

Movers in Atlanta and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Atlanta cheaper than Tuscaloosa after tax and rent?

No. Atlanta leaves about $424 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $930 in Tuscaloosa and $1,399 in Atlanta.

Does Atlanta have state income tax?

Atlanta is in Georgia, which taxes wage income.

Did people actually move from Tuscaloosa to Atlanta?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.