Thinking about moving from New York to Atlanta? There are a few things you need to know before moving to this fast-growing metro area. In Atlanta, a cultural hub with a low cost of living, job opportunities abound, and the dating scene isn’t too shabby, considering that singles comprise half the population. A great place to start a career, raise a family, or provide a much needed change of pace, Atlanta offers a little bit of everything: revitalized neighborhoods, warm weather in every season, a lively art and music scene, and a bustling TV and film industry.
Already planning to move from NYC to Atlanta? Call AptAmigo; we’ll match you with your dream apartment in The ATL.
Related: Apartment Locating in Atlanta with AptAmigo
What to Know About Moving from NYC to Atlanta
Lifestyle
Atlanta and NYC alike contain numerous great little neighborhoods, hidden gems, and local mom-and-pop vintage stores. If you feel homesick while in Atlanta, check out the city’s many establishments that resemble places in NYC. Missing Chelsea Market? Check out Ponce City Market for a popular place to grab a bite to eat. Missing Central Park? Spend your Saturday in Atlanta’s expansive, lush green space: Piedmont Park.
Despite their similarities, Atlanta is still quite different than NYC in terms of geography and transportation. Many Atlanta neighborhoods are walkable, but the city itself sprawls more, and unlike New York, most people use a car to get between places. The Beltline, a repurposed walking trail that once served as a major railway corridor, connects many central neighborhoods and functions as go-to resource for meeting a new friend or finding a new hobby. Many locals and tourists frequent the skate parks, walking trails, and green spaces located along the Beltline. If you prefer to go somewhere a little more secluded for a quick getaway from the city, Silver Comet Trail offers great biking and horseback riding.
As for culture, Atlantans appreciate old-fashioned Southern hospitality, but the hustle mentality is real here. Arrive ready and willing to put in the hard work, or you’ll find it hard to fit in. New Yorkers will find comfort in this familiar energy, but can enjoy a slower pace as well.
The typical Atlantan likes to unwind on the weekends, focusing their activities around family and food. You’ll see residents sipping cocktails on rooftop bars and filling their bellies with Southern staples. Locals never skip out on the chance to feast on world-class chicken and waffles, collard greens, and fried okra. We love a good time here in Atlanta, so expect tons of exciting nightlife options. The nightlife sets the perfect stage for Atlantans who love a little flash and glamour. You won’t have trouble finding a great time out on the town, from celebrity-owned bars and restaurants to pop up events, exclusive lounges, and clubs.
Housing Situation
As more developers flock to Atlanta, the housing market continues to grow and become even more competitive. This situation benefits any renter thinking about moving from NYC to Atlanta.
While apartments in New York may require you to tour with a deposit and 2-4 months rent in hand, Atlanta renters are met with amazing specials, waived application fees, move-in concessions, and free parking. The average rent price in Atlanta remains dramatically lower, yet offers the same (sometimes more) luxury amenities than a New York apartment. Central air conditioning, washers and dryers in-unit, assigned parking, and a fully equipped kitchen pretty much come standard in most Atlanta apartment complexes.
However, there are so many centrally located buildings to choose from that it can feel a bit confusing and daunting for someone new to Atlanta. Luckily, AptAmigo exists to roll out the red carpet and make relocating from New York City a breeze.
Weather Differences
If you’re tired of the harsh and sometimes long winters of NYC, Atlanta provides shorter and milder cold months. You’ll enjoy the many green outdoor spaces far longer than you could in New York.
With warmer weather typically stretching from early May to mid-October, it’s not uncommon to spend a Fall weekend brunching along the Beltline or strolling through Piedmont Park. Whatever you do though, don’t call this city “Hotlanta.” Locals aren’t too keen on that name even though it can get pretty humid and hot in the summer months and sometimes in the fall. It goes without saying that you need to stay hydrated and wear plenty of sunblock here.
Nevertheless, on average, the weather stays pretty moderate with highs around 89 degrees in the summer, cool fronts in the fall, and the occasional dip into the 30s during the winter months, nothing to break out a snow plow for (unless you lived here during the “Snowpocalypse” of 2014).
Traffic
When you move from NYC to Atlanta, commuting will look a lot different than what you’re used to. NYC is a city of public transportation, but Atlanta is pretty massive, especially for a metro area, and commuters come from dozens of surrounding counties.
Prepare to get familiar with your interstates “ITP” (Inside the Perimeter) and “OTP”(Outside the Perimeter). These major highways get jam-packed fast because most Atlantans rely on their cars as their main means of transportation. If you live intown or “ITP,” you might commute a shorter distance or possibly take the MARTA, but the buck stops short for our train system if you live anywhere outside of the I-285.
Job Market
The booming job market makes the move from NYC to Atlanta an attractive option. Sixteen Fortune 500 companies maintain their headquarters within the city limits. Local universities, such as Georgia Tech and Emory, foster so much talent that the tech and startup industries took notice. Marketing platform Mailchimp and scheduling software Calendly both call Atlanta home, and many more companies plan to move here in the coming years. As large companies move in, places like Atlanta Tech Village thrive, and hubs for like-minded entrepreneurs, startup incubators, and tech communities continue to grow. As a result, new job openings as well as new resources for local small and medium-sized businesses flourish.
Atlanta is also home to some of the largest TV and film productions in the United States. Numerous actors, film makers, directors, and producers have filmed in studios across the metro Atlanta area. Pinewood Studios, Tyler Perry Studios, and Screen Gems, among others, all shoot feature films. These iconic studios employ many New York and Los Angeles creatives with dreams of working in the film industry. Turner Broadcasting, also headquartered in Atlanta, provides great opportunities to work in animation, sports, and news reporting. Lights, camera, Atlanta!
Moving to Atlanta Soon?
If you’re moving from NYC to Atlanta, reach out to AptAmigo and get the support of local apartment experts who care. Let us know what you want in an apartment, and we will find the places that check all your boxes.
To get a feel for your options, check out our list of the best apartment co-working spaces in Atlanta. Or, explore apartments in the popular Midtown neighborhood.
* The original version of this article was first published on February 13, 2020.
