Thinking about moving to a new city can be both thrilling and nerve-wracking, and if you’re considering a new home in Georgia’s capital, you may be curious about the pros and cons of living in Atlanta. You might wonder where the best neighborhood is, how expensive the city will be, and what there is to do for fun. And, of course, you want to know the insider secrets that only locals are privy to.

In Atlanta, Georgia, pros and cons exist, just like any major city. However, as a Southern city that's becoming a hot spot for people to call home, Atlanta offers a long list of advantages.

Summary:

• Living in Atlanta, Georgia
• Pros and Cons of Living in Atlanta, Georgia
• New Construction Homes in Atlanta, Georgia
• Final Thoughts on the Pros & Cons of Living in Atlanta, Georgia

Living in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is Georgia’s capital and a booming, populated city. Its history spans centuries, including an active role in the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement and hosting the 1996 Olympics.

Downtown and midtown Atlanta are the quintessential metro areas, but the region has numerous sprawling suburbs. You could live almost 30 miles away from the city center and still say you live in Atlanta. Bring plenty of patience for navigating the highways and roads during the early morning commute and evening rush hour, or you can plan to travel at a different time.

The city offers proximity to several major employers, plenty of Southern charm and hospitality, and countless opportunities for fun, including eating out at the newest restaurant, catching a Braves™ baseball game, strolling the BeltLine, or exploring the aquarium.

Pros and Cons of Living in Atlanta, Georgia

It’s safe to say that whatever the cons of living in Atlanta are, the hefty list of pros outweighs them.

Pros of Living in Atlanta, Georgia

Among the pros and cons of moving to Atlanta, one of the greatest benefits of living in this city is that everything you could ever need, desire, or want to experience is within easy reach. You can find quirky restaurants, the hippest bars, the perfect rainy day activity to occupy your attention, a new experience, a beautiful home, and much more:

• Tech industry: As Atlanta grows, it’s becoming quite the tech center and has gained significant recognition as a tech hub. In 2017, Forbes® labeled Atlanta as a future “tech mecca.” The city is often referred to as the “Silicon Valley of the South,” cites KNOWAtlanta® in 2023. Atlanta’s renowned tech scene now boasts prestigious universities that produce top-tier IT and technology-related graduates and start-ups.
   
• Future of film: Atlanta is also gaining popularity in the film industry as an affordable location to shoot TV shows and movies due to Georgia’s Entertainment Industry Investment Act which offers several tax incentives. In fact, the city has gained traction as the “Hollywood of the South,” according to the Associated Press® in 2023.
   
• Commuter-friendly: Locals are familiar with Spaghetti Junction, where major highways meet and intersect in Atlanta. There are six interstate highways (I-20, I-75, I-85, I-285, I-575, and I-675) offering suburbanites a convenient commute. Atlanta also has MARTA, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, with both buses and a subway system. If you plan on driving, scope out the parking before you get to where you’re going.
  
  
• International airport: Another benefit of living in Atlanta is having easy access to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (just 10 miles south of downtown Atlanta), a significant perk for avid adventure seekers, visiting friends and family, or work travel. One of the biggest airports in the world, Hartsfield-Jackson, along with more than 15 airlines, bringing travelers to over 150 locations around the country and globally, according to Atlanta Airport Information in January 2024.
  
  
• Northern Georgia: If you want to take a break from the metro area, Atlanta is near the beautiful, natural hidden gems of north Georgia, like Lake Lanier (a great spot to cool off in the summer), the Chattahoochee River (where locals rent kayaks and tubes to “Shoot the Hooch”), and numerous mountains and trails to explore in the fall (complete with picture-perfect leaf colors, too).
  
  
• Unique neighborhoods: There’s no better way to get to know your new city than by exploring all its quirky and distinct neighborhoods. Atlanta’s neighborhoods are known for their singular characteristics and attractions. For example, you’ll find high-end shops mixed with clubs and bars in Buckhead. Midtown has Piedmont Park and museums. The Old Fourth Ward has Ponce City Market, while Little Five Points has boutique shops and vintage stores.
   
• Vibrant food scene: For every neighborhood and suburb, Atlanta has a rich culinary history with numerous unique food and beverage options. Atlanta magazine lists the 75 best restaurants to help take some of the guesswork out of where to eat.

• Fun activities abound: Another perk of living in Atlanta is the city’s wide variety of delightful attractions and activities, from the Georgia Aquarium and the Fernbank Museum of Natural History to the Children’s Museum of Atlanta, among many other attractions.
  
  
• Abundant options for finding a home: Atlanta’s metro region encompasses more than 8,000 miles and 29 counties, according to the Atlanta Real Estate Forum’s October 2023 data. With those numbers, it’s safe to say that there’s a home for everyone in one of Atlanta’s suburbs that’s also a convenient drive to wherever you need or want to go.

Cons of Living in Atlanta, Georgia

Here are the few drawbacks you’ll have to contend with if you move to Atlanta: 

• Summer heat: There’s no escaping the hot and humid Georgia summers. Unlike coastal cities to the south like Savannah, Atlanta summers don’t have daily thunderstorms. Average temperatures in the summer hovered around 90 degrees in 2023, according to Google’s® weather average.
   
• Traffic: Unfortunately, there are few days and times when drivers don’t experience some degree of traffic while traveling in and around Atlanta. The city has multiple major highways that fill with morning and after-work traffic. Off-highway roads and side streets can also back up heavily during those times.
   
• Cost of living: Atlanta’s cost of living can be higher than average, which is often typical of a massive, ever-growing city. Generally speaking, the cost of living may be more affordable the further you are from the city’s center. If suburban living is more your pace, you can find several neighborhoods with a potentially lower cost of living and still within driving distance to Atlanta.
  

New Construction Homes in Atlanta, Georgia

City living isn’t for everyone. However, since Atlanta is a commuter-friendly city, the greater metro area has plenty of new construction communities to consider:

• New construction homes in Atlanta, GA
• New construction homes in Auburn, GA
• New construction homes in Covington, GA
• New construction homes in Cumming, GA
• New construction homes in Dacula, GA
• New construction homes in Flowery Branch, GA
• New construction homes in Grayson, GA
• New construction homes in Hoschton, GA
• New construction homes in Johns Creek, GA
• New construction homes in McDonough, GA
• New construction homes in Powder Springs, GA
• New construction homes in South Fulton, GA
• New construction homes in Villa Rica, GA

Final Thoughts on the Pros & Cons of Living in Atlanta, Georgia

If your job or next life chapter has you moving to Atlanta, pros and cons are helpful to be aware of, but this city has plenty of exciting experiences to fill your days and weekends and stunning new homes ideal for your lifestyle. 

Explore new construction homes in Atlanta, GA, today, or browse more Pulte® blogs. You can also find affordable home builders in Atlanta with Centex, 

Written By: Alexandra Shimalla, Georgia-Based Freelance Journalist