Single person salary in Atlanta (apartment, rentals, condo)

[southkakkatlantan]

In your opinion, what would be a good salary for a 25-35 single person living in Atlanta in order to live a comfortable lifestyle (comfortable meaning...the ability to consistently contribute ~20% to savings, eating out maybe once a week, domestic travel maybe once a quarter, drinks out or cultural/entertaining events several times a month):

-with no kids
-with no debt
-a paid off car
-average rent 700ish-900ish
-an undergraduate degree

[tonygeorgia]

40k minimum

[VJP]

I started at 45k out of college with the above criteria all met, and I ate out a lot more than once a week, though it can zap your budget if you're not careful. Atlanta has quite a few dining/drinking options, and they are higher quality than when I graduated college in 2004.

[SW30303]

If you don't have a roommate, and it's just you in the apartment, I think 40K minimum is ideal. You can do all the things you mention and budget within reason.

Atlanta's cost of living is around the national average.

You ought to check out this tool on CNN, I think it is helpful for questions like this:
Cost of Living Calculator: Compare prices in two cities - CNNMoney

[jetter2]

I did that on 60k with a 400/mo car payment, ~$1k/mo in rent+utilites..drinks all the time..did whatever i wanted and shopped.

45k would be quite comfy with no debt load like that

[brownhornet]

Honestly it just depends on your budget ability and spending habit. If you'look at the average income of Atlanta its safe to say it's probably not 40k. Hell when I first moved here I was living in a post property with a car making $13 an hour and I wasn't struggling by any means. I didn't have any debt though so take it for what it's worth.

But if you think about all the administrative and customer service positions here in sure most of those jobs pay no more than $12-17 an hour or so. And I doubt they're struggling here. Seriously its easy as hell to survive in Atlanta compared to most places. Coming from someone that has lived all over the country.

Sent from my HTC EVO 3D

[prelawstudent613]

40k to 45k sounds pretty accurate. If you are making under that (within the Perimeter), you will need a roommate plan for sure.

[brownhornet]

Originally Posted by prelawstudent613

40k to 45k sounds pretty accurate. If you are making under that (within the Perimeter), you will need a roommate plan for sure.

Not necessarily

[spacelord75]

I would say probably around $50k based on personal experience from my single days (1999-2002) adjusted for inflation. The nice thing is you can probably swing some really nice deals on rentals in condo towers in town and will save on the biggest inflated item, which is gas, if you live in town.

[cityrover]

3500 a month clean.

so around 45-50k annually.