Houston - TX vs Atlanta - GA: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Atlanta - GA is roughly 24% more expensive than Houston - TX in typical home value.

Houston vs Atlanta: what the numbers say

At today's 7.40% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $1,677 a month in principal and interest in Houston and $2,082 in Atlanta, a gap of $405 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,638 in Houston and $1,843 in Atlanta, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.0 times rent in Houston and 1.1 times rent in Atlanta, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 15.4 years of rent in Houston and 17.0 in Atlanta; the lower ratio in Houston means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved -3.8% in Houston and -4.4% in Atlanta; over just the last three months the change was -0.4% in Houston and -0.2% in Atlanta.

Homes sell for 97.3% of list price in Houston and 98.1% in Atlanta, after 45 and 46 days on the market, with price cuts on 29% and 31% of listings. The signs are mixed: Houston has sales further below list, while Atlanta has more price cuts and longer time on the market.

The number of homes for sale is up 3% on a year ago in Houston and up 1% on a year ago in Atlanta.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-15), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.