Just how expensive is it? (Atlanta, Marietta: apartment complexes, rent, loans)

[UGA_2013]

Hey guys, I've been reading through this site for a few weeks now and have found a lot of great information.

I'm a 22y/o white male graduating college this may. I'm not from the ATL area, but Im hoping to have a job lined up in Cobb County. I've been trying to find the best place to live. I've read that Marietta and Smyrna areas are mostly families and aren't ideal for mid-20s. So, I started looking around the Vinings area. I'd like to find an area inside the perimeter just for the fact that that's where it seems most other people my age are. But at the same time, I don't want the most expensive area either.

My salary would be around $40-45,000. No debt, no loans, car paid off.

Is Vinings too expensive?

Thanks for the help.

[Twenty Five]

If you are planning on renting in Vinings, you should be just fine.

[UGA_2013]

Yeah, I'm planning on renting.

Thanks for the reply Twenty Five!

Anybody else have any advice?

[pit2atl]

You'll find a nice 1bedroom for 850-900 in vinings.

[UGA_2013]

Thanks for the advice, pit2atl.

[westau]

If you expand your search just a bit on the other side of 285 in that area you can get more bang for your buck and still be near everything you want to do in the area. I graduated from college in 2007 with the same situation with a job in Cobb County not being from Atlanta originally and I ended up getting an apartment about a mile northwest of 285 and it was a good decision. You just don't want to move up into the actual city of Marietta but really Cobb County as a whole has more young people than you would expect. Kennesaw State is up over 20,000 students so even up that way has a good amount of younger people.

With that said, Vinings isn't impossible to live in with that salary by any means if that is what you prefer. I would generally recommend there, the side of Smyrna close to Vinings(which a lot of apartment complexes are trying to name them Vinings something these days), or over around the Akers Mill/southern end of Powers Ferry Rd area.

[Tarzanman]

22 years old, no debt and you work in Cobb County? If you can handle the commute, live close to midtown. You can always move out the suburbs later... just make sure that you spend at least a summer and a spring in town where you can meet some folks.

If you are coming from a dorm situation, having a roommate won't be too much of an adjustment (which you might need to be able to comfortably swing rent for a house).

I think you'll like it.

[Freeminds]

I second midtown. You can afford to live there on that salary with no debt or kids and you will have a much more fun time.

Your commute would be reverse so it would be a smooth drive. I'd look into it.

[skiime]

Midtown is great, definitely not knocking it, but one thing that Vinings has going for it is an abundance of single women. I'm taken, so I won't comment too much about it, but my gosh, if I were single, that's where I would want to be. I'll admit, if I have to go to the grocery store, I'll make sure I stop by the Publix in Vinings (I hope that doesn't make me a dirty old man?). Plus it's only about a 10 minute drive downtown and maybe 15 to buckhead, so I think it's a great location. Just my two cents.

[westau]

Originally Posted by skiime

Midtown is great, definitely not knocking it, but one thing that Vinings has going for it is an abundance of single women. I'm taken, so I won't comment too much about it, but my gosh, if I were single, that's where I would want to be. I'll admit, if I have to go to the grocery store, I'll make sure I stop by the Publix in Vinings (I hope that doesn't make me a dirty old man?). Plus it's only about a 10 minute drive downtown and maybe 15 to buckhead, so I think it's a great location. Just my two cents.

That is definitely a great Publix...