Advantages & Disadvantages of Moving to Atlanta

You think about moving to Atlanta but want to get additional information about the city, infrastructure, crime rate, unemployment and many other important things before making your final decision in this regard?

Great! Stick with me since I will show you all the pros and cons of living in Atlanta in the following chapters.

Living in Atlanta – Overview

Advantages of Living in Atlanta

1. Unemployment rate in Atlanta is pretty low
2. Atlanta has a strong economy
3. Many big corporations to work for in Atlanta
4. Decent income level in Atlanta
5. Good medical infrastructure in Atlanta
6. Atlanta has decent schools and colleges
7. Many nice bars to hang out after work
8. People in Atlanta are friendly
9. Atlanta is a tolerant city
10. Easy to socialize in Atlanta
11. Atlanta is surrounded by nature
12. Many recreational spaces to relax in Atlanta
13. Property prices are still moderately low
14. Rents in Atlanta are still affordable for the average person
15. Atlanta is not as crowded as other major cities yet
16. Traffic jams are not a big problem in Atlanta
17. Easy to get to other parts of the city
18. You can build a strong business network in Atlanta
19. Interesting architecture in Atlanta
20. Atlanta has a decent art scene
21. You can visit many museums in Atlanta
22. You will find everything you need in Atlanta
23. Population in Atlanta is growing
24. Good future outlook for Atlanta

Unemployment rate in Atlanta is pretty low

One advantage of moving to Atlanta is that unemployment rate in Atlanta is far lower compared to national average and this means that you will most likely find a decent job and also don’t have to worry about getting laid off much since even in case this happens, chances are that you will find a new one pretty quickly.

Atlanta has a strong economy

Atlanta is also the biggest city in Georgia and therefore a pretty important economic region where people can make really good money and have many job options and you can also work self-employed in many different ways in a profitable manner.

Many big corporations to work for in Atlanta

There are also some of the biggest corporations in the world located in Atlanta and moving to Atlanta can therefore make sense if you want to start a fancy career and want to climb the corporate ladder rather quickly.

Decent income level in Atlanta

Another benefit of moving to Atlanta is that the average income level is above national average and this means that you will have the potential to make more money than the average person out there.

Thus, as long as you have good education and are also willing to work hard, you can make a really good living in Atlanta while many other people in low-income regions often struggle in this regard.

Good medical infrastructure in Atlanta

You should also know that Atlanta has a pretty decent medical infrastructure with many good doctors and hospitals.

Hence, in case you get sick, you will find good medical support and will find experts who will do everything to cure your disease or health condition as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Atlanta has decent schools and colleges

Another upside to moving to Atlanta is that you will also find many good schools and colleges so that your kids can get decent education and get a start for their future lives to succeed in the job market in the long run.

Many nice bars to hang out after work

Atlanta is also a great place to hang out after work since there are many nice bars where you can have a drink with your coworkers or with your favorite people and you will therefore never run out of options in this regard.

People in Atlanta are friendly

Another benefit of living in Atlanta is that most people are pretty friendly, helpful and outgoing and this makes it really easy for you to start conversations and to make many new social contacts during various situations of daily life.

Atlanta is a tolerant city

You should also know that Atlanta is one of the most tolerant cities in Georgia and this means that you will be welcome by most people no matter where you come from as long as you are friendly and tolerant and also willing to adjust to local customs and traditions.

Easy to socialize in Atlanta

Since people in Atlanta are outgoing and tolerant, you will be able to make many good friends rather quickly and therefore don’t have to worry about getting socially isolated once you move to Atlanta since you will be able to meet many new people rather soon.

Atlanta is surrounded by nature

Another reason to move to Atlanta is that the city is surrounded by nice lakes and forests and this gives you the opportunity to go fishing, hunting, hiking, camping or to do many other things in nature.

Not only can this help you relax but it also makes your life pretty awesome since you can reload your batteries and experience some exciting things at the same time.

Many recreational spaces to relax in Atlanta

Not only will you find many nice spots near Atlanta, but you will also find many recreational spaces within city borders and can hang out in many bars to relax during lunch break or just to be on your own during times you want to think about problems and how to solve them without being distracted by other people.

Property prices are still moderately low

Another advantage of living in Atlanta is that property prices are still relatively low.

In fact, compared to people living in San José, you will have to spend far less money on buying a property and your mortgage rates will also be much lower which gives you room to spend more money on other things.

Rents in Atlanta are still affordable for the average person

While rents have been increasing quite a lot over the past decade, they are still far lower compared to many other regions and this means that the average person is still able to find a decent place to rent without having to spend a high fraction of his or her income on housing in Atlanta yet.

Atlanta is not as crowded as other major cities yet

You should also know that Atlanta is not the most crowded and hectic city and you will therefore be able to live your life in a rather relaxed manner.

In fact, while people in other cities often just care about their careers, people in Atlanta are often more outgoing and willing to get into conversations with you and life will be a bit slower compared to NYC or other major regions in general.

Traffic jams are not a big problem in Atlanta

Another upside to living in Atlanta is that traffic is not a serious problem yet and your risk of getting stuck in traffic jams will be much lower compared to people living in L.A. or other places that are more crowded and rush hour would be a real nightmare.

Easy to get to other parts of the city

Since you will not get stuck in traffic jams in Atlanta as often as in other major regions, it will also be easier for you to get around in this city and you will also be able to visit your friends in different parts of the city without having to spend lots of time commuting from one end of the city to the other but can rather get to your destination rather quickly.

You can build a strong business network in Atlanta

Since unemployment rate in Atlanta is pretty low and the city is known for its strong economy, you can also meet many important and influential people and can build a strong business network in Atlanta which can help you climb the corporate ladder quicker in the long run.

Interesting architecture in Atlanta

There are also many interesting buildings and architectural highlights in Atlanta and if you are interested in this stuff or even want to become an architect or just looking for inspiration, you will find many interesting things in this regard.

Atlanta has a decent art scene

You should also know that Atlanta has a pretty decent art scene and you can therefore meet many artists from all over the world and can have a great time together and some of those people will most likely also become really good friends in the long run.

You can visit many museums in Atlanta

You can also visit many interesting museums in Atlanta and this can not only be great for yourself but it also makes it easy to teach your kids a lot about art and other things and your kids may therefore learn a lot in a rather playful manner.

You will find everything you need in Atlanta

Atlanta also offers the comfort of many other big cities and thanks to good public infrastructure, you will just find everything you need in this city and will also find most things for daily life within walking distance so that you don’t have to drive to other cities to get what you want as would often be the case if you moved to smaller cities or villages.

Population in Atlanta is growing

Another indication that Atlanta is a great place to stay is that population has been growing significantly over the past decade and this trend will most likely also continue in the future since many people from other states consider moving to Atlanta and the city may become even more popular in the long run.

Good future outlook for Atlanta

Since Atlanta is the biggest city in Georgia and population is growing significantly, the city also has a pretty good future outlook and chances are that Atlanta will be an important place to work and live for many decades.

As you can see, there are many reasons for moving to Atlanta.

However, you should also not forget the drawbacks of living in Atlanta that I want to address in the following chapters so that you get a more realistic picture of reality and can better decide whether you still want to move to Atlanta or rather want to live in a different region instead.

Disadvantages of Living in Atlanta

1. Atlanta has pretty poor public transport
2. Atlanta is not the most bike-friendly city
3. Crime rates in Atlanta are pretty high
4. Poor tap water quality in Atlanta
5. Air pollution is a problem in Atlanta
6. Housing becomes increasingly expensive
7. Many people are no longer able to pay rent
8. Gap between the poor and the rich is about to increase
9. Homelessness is a serious problem in Atlanta
10. Cold winters may be annoying
11. Atlanta is not located at the coast
12. Atlanta is not a great city for shopping
13. Hard to meet celebrities in Atlanta

Atlanta has pretty poor public transport

One downside to moving to Atlanta is that public transport is pretty poor and it is almost impossible to get around by bus or other means of public transport in an efficient manner, especially if you don’t live in the city center but rather in the outskirts of Atlanta.

In such a case, you will often have to rely on your car and this will cost you lots of money and will also be pretty harmful to our environment in the long run.

Atlanta is not the most bike-friendly city

You should also know that Atlanta is not a bike-friendly city and many cyclists get involved in traffic accidents.

Hence, if you plan to get around by bike on a regular basis, you may rather want to move to San Francisco or other bike-friendlier cities instead.

Crime rates in Atlanta are pretty high

Another problem with moving to Atlanta is that crime rates are pretty high compared to national average and many people in the Atlanta region just don’t feel safe anymore and this lowers overall quality of life quite a lot in the long run.

Poor tap water quality in Atlanta

You should also note that Atlanta has pretty poor tap water and while people living in many other cities can just drink water from the tap, you will often have to rely on bottled water from the store which will cost you lots of money in the long run and is also pretty bad for our environment.

Air pollution is a problem in Atlanta

Another disadvantage of moving to Atlanta is that air quality is pretty poor and you will therefore be at greater risk of suffering from serious pulmonary problems compared to people living in a region with better air quality and less pollution.

Housing becomes increasingly expensive

While property prices and rents in Atlanta are still lower compared to NYC and L.A., they are also already much higher compared to Indianapolis or other cheaper regions and in case the trend of increasing housing prices continues even further, many people may no longer be able to afford to live in this city anymore.

Many people are no longer able to pay rent

Due to increasing rents, many people are also no longer able to pay rent in a reliable manner and may get evicted sooner or later and many locals who don’t make good money may leave the Atlanta region sooner or later.

Gap between the poor and the rich is about to increase

Another downside to living in Atlanta is that due to increasing property prices and other factors, the overall level of inequality is about to increase which may lead to all sorts of social problems in the long run.

Homelessness is a serious problem in Atlanta

You should also know that homelessness is a serious problem in Atlanta and you will therefore have to deal with this unpleasant picture on a regular basis and you may therefore feel guilty and may not be able to enjoy your own life due to that.

Cold winters may be annoying

You should also know that winters can be annoying and you will often have to deal with rain or even snow in the Atlanta region and if you rather want to live in a warmer region, you should move to Austin instead of Atlanta.

Atlanta is not located at the coast

Since Atlanta is not located at the coast, you will also not be able to go surfing or do other water sports on a daily basis while you might envy your friends living in Long Beach or other places directly at the coast who can do those nice things on a regular basis.

Atlanta is not a great city for shopping

While you will find everything you need for daily life, you will still not find as many fancy shopping opportunities as in other major cities and if you are a shopping victim, you may be better off moving to a more glamorous city instead.

Hard to meet celebrities in Atlanta

Another disadvantage of living in Atlanta is that you will also have a hard time meeting celebrities in Atlanta since most of those famous people rather stay in NYC or L.A. and if you want to have the chance of meeting your idols, you may be better off moving to bigger and more popular cities.

Top 10 Moving To Atlanta Pros & Cons – Summary List

Is Atlanta A Good Place To Live?

While Atlanta has a strong economy, unemployment rate is low and people can make good money in Atlanta, you should also know that Atlanta also has pretty high crime rates and many locals are no longer able to make a living in Atlanta anymore and may have to leave the region sooner or later.

Alternative Cities To Live In

If you don’t want to move to Atlanta anymore, you should also have a look at the following articles:

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Kansas City

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Mesa

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Chicago

Sources

https://www.atlantaga.gov/

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/atlantacitygeorgia

About the author

This site is about living, moving and traveling to various parts of our fascinating planet.

My name is Andreas and when I was younger, I traveled the world and learned a lot about different cultures and countries.

Thus, I want to share my experiences with you so that you can benefit from them and avoid common mistakes in this regard.

In my articles, you will find everything you need to find the best location for a happy and successful life.