10 Reasons Not to Move to Atlanta

Short answer: The main reasons not to move to Atlanta include severe traffic congestion, limited public transportation, and the need to own a car. Atlanta also faces high housing prices, rising property taxes, poor air quality, intense summer heat, allergy issues, palmetto bugs, and uneven job opportunities depending on the industry.

When you’re moving anywhere, you’ll be eager to learn about both the upsides and the downsides of living there. The upsides are usually very easy to learn about. But the downsides can be a bit hard to uncover.

There’s a reason we say that. The people who might be very earnest to tell you about the downsides of Atlanta will, in all probability, have had a negative experience and thus, they might exaggerate things a little bit. What might be a mild issue may seem like a deal breaker when coming from the lips of the disgruntled ex-residents.

We don’t want to do that. We want to mention the cons of moving to Atlanta in a balanced and fair manner. The purpose of doing so is to help you make a clear choice whether or not it’s wise for you to make a move or not.

In this article, we want to tell you about some of the reasons that might make people not too eager to move to Atlanta.

1. Bad traffic

Atlanta traffic is one of the biggest reasons people hesitate before moving here. It makes daily life somewhat weary, and people who aren’t used to it have a lot of difficulty in getting so.

Why Traffic Feels Overwhelming

Sprawl Creates Long Drives

Atlanta is a big place. The sheer sprawl and size of it create long drives and guarantee that there are always cars about on the road. The poor Park Avenue you see on Peachtree Road could have been originally from Cascade Road in Southwest Atlanta, out for nearly an hour just trying to find the closest Walmart. Actually, it could be a Ford pickup truck, because, hey. It’s America.

To sum up…

• Atlanta is spread out, very spread out. Homes, offices, schools, and shopping are often far apart.
• Many commutes stretch across multiple highways instead of staying within one neighborhood.
• Short distances on a map can still mean long drive times in real life.

Limited Alternatives to Driving

There are various reasons behind the traffic state in Atlanta, which also form the reasons why you may feel it quite drastically.

• Public transportation exists, but coverage is limited compared to the size of the metro area.
• For most people, owning a car is not optional. It is required for daily life.
• When almost everyone drives, the roads fill up quickly.

Bottlenecks Control the City

• A handful of major interchanges handle massive volumes of traffic every day.
• When one of these areas slows down, the effects ripple outward for miles.
• Accidents or construction can turn a normal commute into a serious delay.

How This Affects Daily Life

After reading this, you might be thinking that perhaps the traffic isn’t that bad, and maybe it’s one of those things that you just sort of blend into once you move there. But…in Atlanta, that’s not the case. The traffic has some very visible and practical effects on daily life, including:

• Rush hour lasts longer than you expect, sometimes starting early and ending late.
• Quick errands can require extra planning just to avoid peak congestion.
• Stress builds when traffic becomes a constant part of your routine.

2. Public transport

This is the second reason on our list, and it is kind of tied to the first one.

Bad traffic is one thing. You know, some places have busy roads and busy sidewalks, but they also happen to have an underground subway network that the residents can use to get from one place to another while being blissfully detached from the traffic on the ground. I am basically describing NYC.

In Atlanta, not only is the traffic a problem, but it is aggravated by the lack of proper public transport options.

Here is a list of the public transport options that you can find in the city:

Public Transportation Options in Atlanta

MARTA Rail

Heavy rail subway system serving key corridors of the city and connecting major areas like downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and the airport.

MARTA Buses

A large bus network operating throughout the city and parts of nearby counties, often acting as feeders into rail stations.

Atlanta Streetcar

A short downtown loop designed mainly for local circulation between tourist areas, event spaces, and nearby neighborhoods.

Regional and Commuter Bus Services

Includes services like Xpress, CobbLinc, and Gwinnett County Transit, which link suburban areas to employment centers and MARTA stations, mostly during peak hours.

Paratransit and Mobility Services

On-demand transportation options for riders with qualifying disabilities, offering door-to-door service.

Micromobility Options

Shared scooters and bikes are used for short trips and last-mile connections near transit stops, common in denser parts of the city.

Why Public Transit Can Feel Insufficient

While the list above seems sizeable, here are some of the reasons why it can feel insufficient.

• Limited Geographic Coverage: Large portions of the metro area, especially the suburbs, are not directly served by rail or frequent bus routes.
• Car-Dependent Urban Design: Many neighborhoods were built around driving, making transit stops hard to reach on foot.
• Infrequent Service: Bus routes and some rail lines can have long wait times, particularly outside of peak hours.
• Restricted Operating Hours: Late-night, weekend, and holiday service can be reduced, limiting flexibility.
• Fragmented Regional Systems: Different counties operate separate transit services that do not always integrate smoothly.
• Traffic Impact on Buses: Buses share congested roads with cars, reducing reliability and increasing travel times.
• Transfer-Heavy Trips: Reaching certain destinations requires multiple transfers, which adds time and uncertainty.
• Last-Mile Gaps: Many stops are far from homes, offices, or shops, making transit impractical for everyday errands.

The transportation problem can become heightened in your perception if you happen to move in from a place like Brooklyn or Manhattan. For a smoother move, consider planning ahead with an experienced local moving company like Dumbo Moving to avoid transportation-related stress.

3. You must own a car

And the third point on our list of reasons not to move to Atlanta is that you must have a car. The car dependency can feel like a problem to people who’re coming in from walkable areas and cities like NYC, or simply don’t have the time and resources to maintain a vehicle of their own.

And yes, this whole car dependency thing does relate and tie back to our earlier points about traffic and mobility. It may seem like we’re just flogging this aspect for all its worth but as we said earlier, we’re going to be fair. These various branch-off aspects of road and traffic all have a major impact on daily life, hence our somewhat reiterative elaborations.

So, coming back to the point, one of the reasons that having a car is so important in Atlanta is because the distances between everyday destinations are quite long. Public transportation doesn’t often offer point-to-point transport, hence the need for cars.

To give you a better idea of how long those distances are, we’ve created a list of commute times between major cities, neighborhoods, and other everyday destinations.

Distances That Explain Atlanta’s Car Reliance

Core City to Core City

• Downtown Atlanta to Buckhead: ~8 miles
  That’s a short drive. It can be a long trip without a car.
• Midtown Atlanta to Decatur: ~6 miles
  Close on a map. Multiple transfers if you are not driving.

Neighborhood to Neighborhood

• Buckhead to Stone Mountain: ~17 miles
  Both are part of daily life for many residents. Walking or biking is unrealistic.
• East Atlanta Village to West Midtown: ~7 miles
  Two popular areas. Still a car trip for most people.

Suburbs to the City

• Alpharetta to Downtown Atlanta: ~26 miles
  A common commute. Practically designed around highway driving.
• Marietta to Midtown Atlanta: ~20 miles
  Feels nearby. Functions like a regional journey.

Everyday Errands

• Typical grocery run in outer neighborhoods: 2 to 4 miles one way
  That’s fine with a car. Awkward or time-consuming without one.
• Gym, school, or pharmacy trips: often spread across different corridors
  Chaining errands usually assumes you are driving.

The Airport Reality Check

• Midtown Atlanta to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: ~12 miles
  One of the busiest airports in the world. Still a long haul from many neighborhoods.

Get the picture?

4. Job opportunities

One of the commonly cited upsides of living in Atlanta is the availability of jobs, and to be fair, that claim is not pulled out of thin air. The city does offer a steady stream of openings across several professional sectors, and for many people, that alone makes Atlanta feel like a sensible move. But as with most things here, the reality is a bit more layered.

Atlanta’s job market tends to reward people who already fit neatly into its strongest lanes. Corporate roles, tech-adjacent positions, logistics, and professional services are where the momentum lives. If you are mid-career, specialized, or coming in with experience that aligns with these sectors, the city can feel full of possibility. It is often easier to move laterally or upward without leaving the metro area, which is a real advantage.

Where things become more complicated is outside those lanes. Entry-level roles, retail positions, and many blue-collar jobs do exist, but they are far less buoyant than the city’s reputation implies. Competition can be stiff, wages often lag behind the cost of living, and advancement is not always clear. For people just starting out, switching careers, or relying on hourly work, Atlanta can feel like a city with plenty of jobs, just not always the right ones.

Key Takeaways

• Industry alignment matters: Atlanta rewards specific sectors far more than others.
• Entry-level work can be tight: Competition is high and pay does not always stretch far enough.
• Blue-collar growth is uneven: Opportunities exist, but stability and progression vary widely.
• Research beats reputation: General job growth does not guarantee personal opportunity.
• This can be a pro or a con: Much like traffic or car dependency, it depends on your situation.

5. The weather

The weather is another factor that makes some people think twice about moving to Atlanta. At first glance, it may seem manageable, especially if you are used to warm summers. But living here reveals a different picture. The heat lingers, the air feels heavy for months at a time, and the discomfort is cumulative. It is less about occasional hot days and more about a long season that quietly reshapes how you live.

What Do the Numbers Say

Summer temperatures in Atlanta regularly sit around the high 80s and low 90s, particularly from June through August. On paper, that does not sound extreme. Many cities hit similar highs. The difference is duration and consistency. Warm days stack on top of each other, with few real breaks, and nights often stay warm enough that true cooling feels delayed.

The Humidity

Humidity is where Atlanta’s climate stops being negotiable for some people. Moist air traps heat against your skin, making even moderate temperatures feel heavier than expected. Sweating offers little relief, and shade does not always help. This is the part of the weather that surprises newcomers, and it is why the city’s “Hotlanta” nickname feels earned once summer is in full swing.

The Effects on Daily Life

• Outdoor time shifts: Walks, workouts, and errands move to early mornings or late evenings.
• Air conditioning becomes essential: Comfort depends heavily on reliable cooling at home and work.
• Energy levels drop: The constant heat can feel draining over time.
• Seasonal cabin feeling: People often stay indoors more during summer than they expect.
• Climate tolerance matters: Enjoyment of the city depends on how well you handle prolonged heat and humidity.

6. Palmetto bugs

But that’s not the end of it, there’s actually another thing that comes with heat and humidity, which is the next reason not to move to the ATL − we’re referring to Palmetto bugs. These nasty insects are what – pun intended − may bug you living here. Warm air and moisture attract palmetto bags, but their relatives, cockroaches, as well.

What Are Palmetto Bugs

“Palmetto bugs” is the local name commonly used for large cockroaches found throughout the Southeast. They are significantly bigger than what many people imagine when they hear the word roach.

They have hard, glossy bodies, long antennae, (and yes, I’m not very comfortable while writing this), and an impressive ability to move quickly when startled. In warm climates like Atlanta’s, they are part of the natural environment rather than a rare occurrence.

Why They Are a Problem

The main issue with palmetto bugs is not danger, but discomfort. Their size alone makes them alarming, especially indoors. They appear suddenly, move fast, and are hard to ignore.

For people who are sensitive to insects, this can be genuinely distressing. Even those who consider themselves unfazed by bugs often change their tune after a close encounter.

Where They Come From

Palmetto bugs thrive in warm, damp environments. In Atlanta, that means they can come from outdoors, crawl spaces, basements, drains, garages, or cracks around doors and windows.

Heavy rain often drives them inside, and older buildings or ground-level units are more likely to see them. Even clean homes are not immune, which can make their appearance especially frustrating.

Challenges in Daily Life

• Unwelcome surprises: They tend to appear suddenly, often at night or when you least expect them.
• Increased vigilance: Many residents become extra aware of sealing doors, checking drains, and monitoring entry points.
• Maintenance costs: Pest control becomes a routine expense rather than an occasional fix.
• Mental discomfort: Knowing they exist can be unsettling, even when you rarely see them.
• Adjustment required: For people moving from cooler or drier climates, this can be a real lifestyle shift.

Palmetto bugs are manageable, but they are also unavoidable. For some people, it is just another quirk of Southern living. For others, they are a genuine downside that takes time to get used to.

7. Bad for Allergies

Another reason not to move to Atlanta is how rough it can be for people with allergies. Pollen allergies, in particular. (There’s no peanuts floating around, don’t worry.)

Here’s why this is a problem that you should know about:

Why Allergies Are So Common Here

Atlanta’s mild winters mean that plants rarely get a full reset. Trees, grasses, and weeds have longer growing seasons, and pollen never really disappears; it just changes forms. Instead of one short allergy season, the city cycles through multiple waves throughout the year. Spring tends to be the most intense, but relief is often temporary rather than lasting.

The combination of warmth, humidity, and dense tree coverage creates an environment where pollen thrives. What catches people off guard is that even if you have never had allergies elsewhere, prolonged exposure here can trigger new sensitivities over time.

This is one of those issues that sounds minor until you experience it yourself. For people who already struggle with allergies, Atlanta can amplify the problem. For others, it can introduce a problem they never had before.

8. Property Taxes

Another reason that may prompt you to

Property Taxes, by the Numbers

Georgia’s effective property tax rate generally falls between 0.7% and 0.9%, depending on the county. That places it near, and sometimes slightly below, the national average. On its own, that sounds reasonable. The surprise comes from how those taxes are calculated and how quickly the dollar amount adds up in metro Atlanta.

Georgia uses a two-step system. Homes are assessed at 40% of market value. Local governments then apply multiple millage rates on top of that assessed value. County, city, and school district taxes are all layered together. The structure makes the final tax bill feel heavier than the headline percentage suggests.

Here is how the numbers tend to shake out across the region.

• Georgia median effective rate: roughly 0.83%
• Cobb County effective rate: around 0.69%, lower than many nearby areas
• National effective rate: about 1.0%
• Typical Fulton County tax bill: approximately $3,600 per year, with higher totals inside city limits

A Simple Example That Shows the Impact

Take a $400,000 home located within the City of Atlanta.

The assessed value would be $160,000, which is 40% of the market value.
Millage rates from the city, county, and school district stack together and often total around 40 mills or more.
That puts the annual property tax bill at roughly $6,500 per year.

This is how a home that looks affordable at purchase can quietly carry a much higher ongoing cost.

How Atlanta Compares to Other Places

The average annual property tax bill nationwide sits closer to $4,000. In many parts of Atlanta, especially inside city limits, homeowners can end up paying noticeably more than that, even though Georgia’s overall rate does not look extreme.

States with the highest tax rates often get the attention. Atlanta’s situation is subtler. The combination of rising home values and stacked local taxes pushes real costs upward over time.

What to Take Away From This

• Assessment structure matters. The 40% valuation rule changes the math in a meaningful way.
• Location is critical. City, county, and school taxes vary enough to swing annual costs by thousands.
• Dollar amounts tell the real story. Effective rates look fine. Actual bills often feel less so.
• Reassessments are a risk. Rapid appreciation in metro Atlanta can increase taxes year to year.
• List price is only part of the cost. Two similar homes can carry very different tax burdens depending on where they sit.

For buyers who focus only on the purchase price, property taxes are often the line item that forces a second look.

We took our info from a bunch of different online sources, including:

• https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/fun-facts/states-with-the-highest-and-lowest-taxes/
• https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/property-tax-by-state/
• https://dor.georgia.gov/local-government-services/digest-compliance/property-tax-millage-rates

9. Housing Prices

There was a time when Atlanta was known as the big affordable city because buying a house there wasn’t very difficult. However, that reputation is fading somewhat quickly.

Recent market data places the median home value in Atlanta in the high $300,000s, with listings frequently pushing closer to $400,000 depending on neighborhood and timing. That represents a sharp rise over a relatively short period.

The growth has not been limited to traditionally high-demand areas; it has spread outward into neighborhoods that were once considered budget-friendly.

Rent tells a similar story. Average monthly rent in the city now typically falls between $1,700 and just over $2,000, depending on the unit type. Suburban areas that once offered meaningful relief have also seen double-digit rent increases, shrinking the affordability gap without shortening commutes or improving transit access.

How Atlanta Compares

Compared to legacy expensive cities, Atlanta can still appear reasonable at a glance. The problem is context. When housing costs rise quickly while wages lag behind, affordability erodes even if absolute prices remain lower than in places like New York or San Francisco.

Atlanta now sits in an awkward middle space. Housing costs resemble those of more established metros, but infrastructure, transit coverage, and walkability often do not. As prices rise closer to job centers, many residents are pushed farther out, which loops back into higher transportation costs and longer daily travel times.

We used a bunch of sources for the information above. Here they are:

• https://www.zillow.com/rental-manager/market-trends/atlanta-ga/
• https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/metro-atlanta-rents-surge-wages-lag-forcing-families-keep-moving
• https://www.rentcafe.com/average-rent-market-trends/us/ga/atlanta/
• https://www.apartmentadvisor.com/market-reports/atlanta-ga

Despite all the downsides of Atlanta, some people find that this city is one of the best places on the planet to live. If these cons don’t concern you or you find them less important than the upsides, then you may stick with the original plan and move here. The only thing left to do in that case is to see how much it costs to move to Atlanta. If you’d like to get a free moving quote, check the description box below to find our details and contact us.

10. Air Quality

The air quality is the final reason on our list of reasons not to move to Atlanta.

Air quality is another factor that tends to surprise people moving to Atlanta. It is not something you notice every day, and that is part of the issue. Problems show up in waves, often tied to heat, traffic, and seasonal conditions, rather than as a constant background concern.

Atlanta regularly struggles with ground-level ozone, especially during the summer months. Hot temperatures combined with heavy vehicle traffic create conditions where ozone builds up faster than it can dissipate. On certain days, air quality advisories are issued recommending that sensitive groups limit outdoor activity. These days are not rare outliers. Rather, they recur most summers.

Wrapping Up

Atlanta is not a city that can be judged in extremes. It is neither a hidden nightmare nor an effortless win. What it is, very clearly, is a place where tradeoffs show up early and then repeat themselves across daily life.

Many of the downsides listed above are connected. Sprawl leads to car dependency. Car dependency worsens traffic. Traffic affects air quality, stress levels, and time. Rising housing costs push people farther out, which feeds the same loop again. None of these issues exists in isolation, and that is why they tend to feel heavier in practice than they sound on paper.

At the same time, these factors will not bother everyone equally. Some people adapt quickly. Some people never really notice them. Others feel them almost immediately. Much of that comes down to where you are moving from, how you work, and how you prefer to live day to day.

The goal here is not to talk anyone out of Atlanta. It is to replace vague expectations with clear ones. If you know what you are trading off before you arrive, you are far more likely to decide whether Atlanta fits you, rather than trying to make yourself fit Atlanta after the fact.