Since the start of the pandemic up to the summer of 2022, it’s estimated that New York City has lost 5.3% of its population. According to data collected in 2022 by MoveBuddha, 40% of people leaving New York State are headed to Florida, California, and Texas, in that order.

However, these aren’t the only sunnier states that New Yorkers are moving to. In fact, in 2019, Georgia had the fifth largest number of new residents that were coming from out of state, with New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles sending the most people to Atlanta.

If you’re considering moving to Atlanta from NYC, you aren’t alone. Thanks to a robust and diverse economy, a relatively low cost of living, warmer weather, and more, Atlanta has been a popular destination for individuals from higher-cost-of-living U.S. metros.

Let’s look at what you’ll need to know about moving from NYC to Atlanta and what to expect once you get here.

Atlanta Population Growth: An Overview

Between April 2022 and April 2023, the Atlanta region grew by nearly 67,000 residents, according to a report from The Atlanta Regional Commission. With this added population included in the mix, this puts the population of the Atlanta area at about 5.16 million.

The parts of the region that experienced the fastest growth were the City of Atlanta, Forsyth County, Cherokee County, and Henry County. The report links the growth in population to pandemic field migration, particularly related to strong employment growth. 

Where’s Everybody Coming From?

The metro Atlanta area has been growing quickly, which leads to a natural question: where’s everyone coming from?

According to a study that was conducted between 2015 and 2019, the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area is the source of most of the migration to Atlanta from within the United States. This is followed by the Miami metro area, the Chicago metro area, and Athens-Clarke County, Georgia.

Moving to Atlanta From NYC: What to Expect

When you’re moving roughly 1000 miles away, you’re going to have a lot of questions. What should you expect when moving to Atlanta from NYC, and what are the most important things to know before you pack up the moving van? Let’s take a look at the most notable differences to help you prepare for your big move.

Cost of Living

One of the perks of moving from New York City to Atlanta is that you’ll enjoy a noticeable reduction in the cost of living. According to the NerdWallet cost of living calculator, an individual making $100k in Manhattan will only need a household income of $41,507 in order to maintain the same standard of living.

Food, entertainment, healthcare, transportation, and housing are all, on average, cheaper in Atlanta than in New York City. For example, transportation costs are 15% lower, food costs are 30% lower, and entertainment costs are 25% lower. You’ll likely notice this cost savings the most in housing– the cost of housing in Atlanta is a whopping 79% lower than in Manhattan.

It’s worth noting, however, that the housing cost comparisons offered by this calculator use average costs across the entire metro area. What this means is that the region you move to in Atlanta will have a big impact on just how much money you’re saving renting an apartment or buying a home compared to doing so in the NYC metro.

Public Transportation

Another place where you’re going to notice a difference in your life after your move is public transportation. Commuting is likely going to look a lot different in Atlanta than it did in NYC, as the public transportation system in New York is much more extensive. Many more people commute using their personal vehicles in Atlanta than they do in NYC, with people coming into the city from suburbs on all sides to work.

During rush hour, the major interstates can get very congested in Atlanta. If sitting in traffic is the bane of your existence, prioritizing living in the city so you can use the MARTA system might be worthwhile. Though there is an extensive public transportation system within the city, people living out of the i285 loop are largely left to their own devices when it comes to getting around.

One of the things you’ll learn quickly about Atlanta is that people are constantly referring to places as either ITP or OTP. This means “Inside the Perimeter” and “Outside the Perimeter,” respectively. “The Perimeter” refers to Interstate 285, which makes a loop around the city. Though it isn’t a precise or perfect border, the general idea is that locations inside the loop are a part of the city, while those outside the loop are in the suburbs.

Climate

Moving to the south from the northeast will likely be a bit of a shock to individuals who have spent their whole lives as Yankees. Atlanta has a humid subtropical climate and enjoys warmer weather from early May to mid-October most years. While there are four distinct seasons in the Atlanta area, the winters will be notably milder and shorter compared to NYC.

While New York City can certainly get unbearably hot in the summer months, the combination of the heat and humidity on some days during Atlanta summers is something you’ll have to get used to.

The average high in Atlanta during the summer is about 89 degrees, with an average relative humidity of 75%. The average low for the coldest month of the year, January, is 35, while the average high for the same month is 53.

Home Prices

While housing costs are significantly lower in the Atlanta area compared to NYC, it’s important to recognize the localized variation within the Atlanta metro. In-demand, centralized neighborhoods will have houses that fetch higher prices than less desirable spots far outside the city.

That being said, the median home price is 162% higher in NYC than in the Atlanta area, by some accounts. Associated costs, such as utilities, groceries, and transportation, are also cheaper in Atlanta than in New York City.

Culture and Lifestyle

Another big difference between NYC and Atlanta is less objectively quantifiable. This one has to do with the culture and vibe of these two East Coast cities and the variety of home styles that help create your lifestyle.

New York City is an enormous metropolis that is well known for its fast-paced, direct, and ambitious culture. Atlanta, on the other hand, is known for its southern hospitality. While each neighborhood in both cities is going to have its own cultural vibe, and you certainly can’t paint with a broad brush without over-generalizing, people moving from NYC to Atlanta will likely notice a slower-paced, more laid-back culture in their new hometown. 

One of the hardest things about moving (after the actual move itself, of course) is finding your routine in a new city and ironing out all of the small details about your new life. Make sure you check out our posts about the best country clubs and golf courses, family-friendly attractions, the historic districts and landmarks of Intown Atlanta, and the best private schools in Atlanta.

Population

New York City is the biggest city in the U.S. by population, with more than 8.8 million people recorded in the 2020 census. When talking about the largest metro area by population, the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ MSA still wins the prize, with more than 20 million people in 2020.

When talking about the city proper, Atlanta is significantly smaller than NYC. Atlanta is the 38th largest city in the U.S., with nearly 500,000 residents in the 2020 census. However, the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metropolitan area is only number 8 in terms of size on the national scale, with more than 6 million residents as of the 2020 census.

Born and bred New Yorkers will likely notice a difference when it comes to just how many people are milling about. While Atlanta is certainly an active and vibrant city, there’s simply no comparison when talking about the largest city in the U.S. and the eleventh-largest city in the world.

Job Market

As mentioned earlier, Atlanta has an incredibly strong job market right now. Large companies have been moving into the area, with sixteen Fortune 500 companies calling Atlanta their home. The headquarters of corporations, including The Coca-Cola Company, AT&T Mobility, The Home Depot, Delta Airlines, Mercedes-Benz USA, and many more can be found in Atlanta.

Beyond that, large universities like Emory and Georgia Tech provide ample employment opportunities and a robust broadcasting economy. Those involved in the I.T. industry can also find plenty of opportunities here, with the city boasting the fourth-largest concentration of I.T. jobs in the entire country.

If all that isn’t enough, Atlanta has also become a film and T.V. production center in recent years. Thanks to the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act, filmmakers receive ample tax credits when they produce films and T.V. shows in the state.

In order to make your move to Atlanta more streamlined and stress-free, we’ve put together a complete Atlanta resource directory specifically for new residents. 

Tips For a Smooth Move From NYC to Atlanta

There’s no way around it: moving is stressful. That being said, starting to prepare for your move early can go a long way in reducing the headaches associated with moving. When you’re moving hundreds of miles to a totally different part of the country, it can be hard to know precisely where to begin.

Here are some tips to keep in mind as you plan out your move:

• Create and use a moving checklist: There are a million things to keep track of when you’re moving– everything from selling your treadmill on Facebook Marketplace to getting a new driver’s license when you arrive in your new home state. Create a moving checklist or modify the one you find online to keep all of your essential tasks in one central location.

• Start decluttering earlier than you think: When you hire a moving company to transport your belongings from NYC to Atlanta, they’re going to charge you by weight. For this reason, it’s essential to ensure you get rid of things you no longer want before loading the truck. 

• Don’t wait to make travel arrangements: Whether you’re flying down to Atlanta or driving the UHaul yourself, don’t wait until the last minute to figure out all of your travel details.

• Start packing up lesser-used belongings early: While you don’t necessarily want to live amongst boxes of your stuff for months before you move, there’s a good chance you have some belongings that you won’t need to call upon until you arrive in Atlanta. 

• Get quotes from several moving companies: Rates for moving companies vary quite a bit between companies and depend on the time of year, whether it’s a weekend and other factors. Make sure to shop around, as it could save you hundreds, if not thousands, during your move.

• Make sure any company you hire is licensed and insured: It can be tempting to save money by hiring amateur movers, but the last thing you want is to put unqualified, uninsured movers in charge of your belongings.

Ready to Find Your Dream Home in Atlanta?

When it comes to neighborhoods and housing stock, Atlanta has a little of something for everyone. Whether you are interested in the hustle and bustle of urban life or you’re looking for a quiet suburb where your kids and dogs can play in the yard, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for.

At the same time, the Atlanta housing market is still a tricky landscape to navigate, particularly for first-time buyers. Redfin still places Atlanta firmly in a seller’s market, with home prices up 4.2% since the summer of 2022 and homes sitting on the market for, on average, 30 days. Of course, in the most desirable markets, houses will go pending much more quickly than that.

In order to make sure you can snag the house of your dreams, you’ll want to make sure you have an all-star real estate team working on your behalf. At the Justin Landis Group, our world-class team of experts would be thrilled to help you achieve your real estate goals.

Whether you’re just contemplating what it would mean to move from NYC to Atlanta or you’ve already got a shortlist of houses saved, we’d love to chat with you about your real estate options in the Atlanta area. To get started, contact us today!