RentCafe has published its 2026 ranking of the best U.S. cities for renters. Atlanta ranked No. 5 on the list. The city ranked second in the local economy category; one of three categories used in the overall ranking.
RentCafe Places Atlanta Among Top 5 Best Cities for Renters
RentCafe has released its 2026 ranking of the best U.S. cities for renters. The ranking analyzed 150 U.S. cities across 20 key metrics. The factors were grouped into three categories: housing and cost of living, local economy, and quality of life.
Atlanta has been named one of the best U.S. cities for renters in RentCafe’s 2026 ranking. It performed particularly well in the local economy category, ranking in second place. RentCafe cited Atlanta’s highly educated population, rising renter incomes and business environment among factors supporting its local economy ranking.
Atlanta continues to attract significant renter interest. In RentCafe’s separate 2026 renter-engagement ranking, Atlanta ranked second nationally. It ranked first for the number of apartment listings renters added to their favorites and second for saved searches.
Atlanta’s 2025 Ranking
While Atlanta continues to rank in the top five cities for renters, its place has moved down three spots from last year. The city ranked second on RentCafe’s 2025 list. In 2025, the city ranked ninth for housing and cost of living and fifth for its local economy.
RentCafe’s overall index gives 50% weight to housing and cost of living, 30% to local economy, and 20% to quality of life.
RentCafe’s latest data on Atlanta puts the city’s average apartment rent at $1,817 per month, which is up 1.14% year over year. About 54% of Atlanta households are renter-occupied, while 39% of rentals fall in the $1,501 to $2,000 monthly range. This shows that the city’s rental market remains active.
Atlanta is also home to 17 Fortune 500 companies and is also a major higher education hub and several major institutions such as Georgia Tech, Emory University, Georgia State University and the Atlanta University Center, which makes it ideal for renters. These top business and education sectors contribute to the city’s economic profile and help attract renters.
