Union City, GA vs Decatur, GA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Decatur, GA has a modeled overall cost index 0.3% lower than Union City, GA.

Union City, GA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,490 / month
Decatur, GA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,730 / 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 Union City, GA and Decatur, GA 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 Union City, GA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $20.27/month in Decatur, GA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,757 in Decatur, GA

Regional cost estimates: Union City, GA uses Atlanta, GA. Decatur, GA uses Atlanta, GA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 0.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$20.27

Savings

Annual Impact

$243

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.

Union City, GA

Population:28K

Cost Index:

99.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$239K

Decatur, GA

Population:24K

Cost Index:

99.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$230K

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Union City, GA

The Peach State

28K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Georgia, this city has a population of 28K residents.

Decatur, GA

The Peach State

24K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Union City, GA vs Decatur, GA

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	Union City, GA	Decatur, GA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,232/mo	$2,225/mo	↓ $7.00less	0.3%
Other	$1,819/mo	$1,813/mo	↓ $5.71less	0.3%
Transportation	$1,368/mo	$1,364/mo	↓ $4.29less	0.3%
Groceries	$936/mo	$935/mo	↓ $1.47less	0.2%
Healthcare	$574/mo	$574/mo	↓ $0.90less	0.2%
All Utilities	$571/mo	$570/mo	↓ $0.90less	0.2%

Housing

↓ 0.3%

Union City, GA

$2,232

Decatur, GA

$2,225

Difference

$7.00

less

Other

↓ 0.3%

Union City, GA

$1,819

Decatur, GA

$1,813

Difference

$5.71

less

Transportation

↓ 0.3%

Union City, GA

$1,368

Decatur, GA

$1,364

Difference

$4.29

less

Groceries

↓ 0.2%

Union City, GA

$936

Decatur, GA

$935

Difference

$1.47

less

Healthcare

↓ 0.2%

Union City, GA

$574

Decatur, GA

$574

Difference

$0.90

less

All Utilities

↓ 0.2%

Union City, GA

$571

Decatur, GA

$570

Difference

$0.90

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,300

To$1,510

↑ $210

1 Bed

From$1,360

To$1,580

↑ $220

2 Bed

From$1,490

To$1,730

↑ $240

3 Bed

From$1,790

To$2,070

↑ $280

Union City, GAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,360–$1,360/mo

Decatur, GAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,410–$2,130/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 Union City, GA

$7,480

Monthly in Decatur, GA

$20.27

Difference

Home Values

Union City

Decatur

$239K

Median Value

$230K

↓ -6.7%

YoY Change

↓ -7%

↑ +34.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +23.7%

$239K

Price Range

$220K - $620K

Homes in Decatur are 4% less expensive than Union City

Calculate payment - Union City Calculate payment - Decatur

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Union City, 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

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

Additional Tax Information

Union City, GA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.3%

Property Tax:0.9%

Decatur, GA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.3%

Property Tax:0.9%

💡 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

Union City

Decatur

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 Union City, GA to Decatur, GA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Decatur, GA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Union City, 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 Union City to Decatur moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Decatur, GA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Union City, GA vs Decatur, GA

How do the cost estimates for Union City, GA and Decatur, GA compare?

Decatur, GA has a modeled overall cost index 0.3% lower than Union City, 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 Union City, GA, the model estimates $149,757 in Decatur, GA. 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 Union City, GA and Decatur, GA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,490/month in Union City, GA and $1,730/month in Decatur, GA. 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.