Decatur, GA vs East Ridge, TN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

East Ridge, TN has a modeled overall cost index 10.2% lower than Decatur, GA.

Decatur, GA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,730 / month
East Ridge, TN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,390 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Decatur, GA and East Ridge, TN using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Decatur, GA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $659/month in East Ridge, TN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $142,091 in East Ridge, TN

Regional cost estimates: Decatur, GA uses Atlanta, GA. East Ridge, TN uses Atlanta, GA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 10.2%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$659

Savings

Annual Impact

$7.9K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Decatur, GA

Population:24K

Cost Index:

99.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$230K

East Ridge, TN

Population:22K

Cost Index:

89.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$252K

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Decatur, GA

The Peach State

24K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Georgia, this city has a population of 24K residents.

East Ridge, TN

The Volunteer State

22K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Tennessee, this city has a population of 22K residents.

💡 Advantage: Tennessee has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Decatur, GA vs East Ridge, TN

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Decatur, GA	East Ridge, TN	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,231/mo	$2,004/mo	↓ $227less	10.2%
Other	$1,818/mo	$1,633/mo	↓ $185less	10.2%
Transportation	$1,367/mo	$1,229/mo	↓ $139less	10.2%
Groceries	$937/mo	$888/mo	↓ $48.89less	5.2%
Healthcare	$575/mo	$545/mo	↓ $30.00less	5.2%
All Utilities	$571/mo	$541/mo	↓ $29.80less	5.2%

Housing

↓ 10.2%

Decatur, GA

$2,231

East Ridge, TN

$2,004

Difference

$227

less

Other

↓ 10.2%

Decatur, GA

$1,818

East Ridge, TN

$1,633

Difference

$185

less

Transportation

↓ 10.2%

Decatur, GA

$1,367

East Ridge, TN

$1,229

Difference

$139

less

Groceries

↓ 5.2%

Decatur, GA

$937

East Ridge, TN

$888

Difference

$48.89

less

Healthcare

↓ 5.2%

Decatur, GA

$575

East Ridge, TN

$545

Difference

$30.00

less

All Utilities

↓ 5.2%

Decatur, GA

$571

East Ridge, TN

$541

Difference

$29.80

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,510

To$1,210

↓ $300

1 Bed

From$1,580

To$1,260

↓ $320

2 Bed

From$1,730

To$1,390

↓ $340

3 Bed

From$2,070

To$1,730

↓ $340

Decatur, GAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,410–$2,130/mo

East Ridge, TNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,260–$1,260/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Decatur, GA

$6,841

Monthly in East Ridge, TN

$659

Difference

Home Values

Decatur

East Ridge

$230K

Median Value

$252K

↓ -7%

YoY Change

↓ -1.2%

↑ +23.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +43.7%

$220K - $620K

Price Range

$252K

Homes in East Ridge are 9% more expensive than Decatur

Calculate payment - Decatur Calculate payment - East Ridge

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $8.5K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$704

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

5.6%

Rate difference

Decatur, GA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Georgia State Tax

Effective: 5.6%

$8.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.3%

$45.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,711/month

$104.5K

East Ridge, TN

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Tennessee State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Decatur, GA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.3%

Property Tax:0.9%

East Ridge, TN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.5%

Property Tax:0.7%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Decatur

East Ridge

50 Good

Air Quality

50 Good

50.8%

Good Air Days

50.8%

96 High

Climate Risk

96 High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

28 days

Heat Days >95°F

28 days

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

28 days

Heat Days >95°F

28 days

Before moving from Decatur, GA to East Ridge, TN

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in East Ridge, TN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Decatur, GA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Decatur to East Ridge moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to East Ridge, TN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Decatur, GA vs East Ridge, TN

How do the cost estimates for Decatur, GA and East Ridge, TN compare?

East Ridge, TN has a modeled overall cost index 10.2% lower than Decatur, GA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Decatur, GA, the model estimates $142,091 in East Ridge, TN. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Decatur, GA and East Ridge, TN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,730/month in Decatur, GA and $1,390/month in East Ridge, TN. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Georgia and Tennessee on TaxTakeHome.com