How far does $48k USD get in you Atlanta?

[yllus]

So someone dropped me a line the other day offering to sponsor my green card application into the U.S. (currently a Canadian citizen), pay relocation expenses to Atlanta, and offer me $48k USD a year.

The salary is rather on the low side of things, but being sponsored into the U.S. isn't something to take lightly. So the question is, how far does $48k USD take you in the Atlanta, GA area? I have no outstanding debts so it'll all be money in the bank.

 

[shortylickens]

I have a jorb opportunity in Eugene, Oregon.

Wanted to know if 52,000 will be good money there.

Sorry I cant help you with Atlanta, I only visited once and it was 10 years ago.

 

[forfor]

I think you can get by easily. I lived in Atlanta for a while and remember paying $800/mo on a very nice 1 bedroom on Peachtree avenue (nice part of Atlanta). That was a while ago though. Anyways, compared to most other U.S. metro areas, I found Atlanta relatively cheap.

 

[FoBoT]

how much family do you have? just you? single person?

then that is ok

hope you like driving in traffic/commuting

unless you can deal with a smallish apartment near where you work

where is the job location?

atlanta is a nice city overall

cost of living isn't cheap, but is no where near as expensive as east coast/NYC/Boston, etc

my jobs when i lived in atlanta from 1998-2000 were in that range and i have wife+2kids and older cars /no car payments at the time

 

[Legend]

I think the cost of living is a bit higher than the rest of the South, but certainly not as high as larger northern cities.

Another thing to consider is traffic, because if you don't know what you're doing you can spend 2 hours every workday sitting in it.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
I have a jorb opportunity in Eugene, Oregon.

Wanted to know if 52,000 will be good money there.

Sorry I cant help you with Atlanta, I only visited once and it was 10 years ago.

No sales tax in oregon, or is it state income tax? Dunno, either way Oregon should be cheap to live in. I don't know about ATL so someone help this guy out. Let him know if there is a state income tax, I know in TX the no state income tax helps a lot.

 

[Queasy]

It really depends on what part of Atlanta you'll be working/living in. Downtown and most of the areas that are nice to live in inside the Perimeter (the 285 loop) like Buckhead are pretty expensive. Outside...not so much.

I started in Atlanta making $35k/yr almost eight years ago and did just fine.

 

[BCYL]

1) the company will probably get you a TN visa first (which isnt hard, all they need to do is give u a letter saying they hired you and why)... then they will get you rolling through the application for green card... keep in mind, this process will likely take 2 years or more, and during that time you're their b!tch (you cannot leave the company because your visa is tied to them, once you leave theortically you should be deported)...

2) $48k is decent for an area like Atlanta

3) Personally, I wouldn't like to live in Atlanta... I traveled there a few times on business, and I just didn't like the city... Maybe you should go down there for a visit before you make the decision?

 

[Queasy]

And oh yeah...the key to happiness in Atlanta is to live close to where you work.

 

[Glavinsolo]

|---------|........................................|

That far

 

[BCYL]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: shortylickens
I have a jorb opportunity in Eugene, Oregon.

Wanted to know if 52,000 will be good money there.

Sorry I cant help you with Atlanta, I only visited once and it was 10 years ago.

No sales tax in oregon, or is it state income tax? Dunno, either way Oregon should be cheap to live in. I don't know about ATL so someone help this guy out. Let him know if there is a state income tax, I know in TX the no state income tax helps a lot.

OR has no sales tax, but it DOES have income tax

WA is the state with no state income tax

 

[Queasy]

Georgia State Income Tax table

Sales tax varies by county....generally 6-7%.

 

[Scarpozzi]

$48k in Atlanta is decent money... You should be able to rent to start and maybe find a decent house if you plan on staying over 5 years. Just don't eat out when you get there....you can throw away a lot of money through your food budget. You should be able to find affordable living, but you'll want to get some opinions of what parts of the city are safer. Marietta and Alpharetta (north of Atlanta) are a little more desirable than many of the inner city areas, but you'll most-likely have a commute. Some parts are a little rough. Plus, you'll want to research traffic patterns...285 can be a headache if you have to go to work at peak hours.

 

[lokiju]

You'd be able to cut it fine IMO.

Housing is cheap compared to other parts of the country and cost of living is to bad either.

 

[Queasy]

Do you know where in Atlanta the job is located Yllus?

 

[Strk]

Is the salary on the low side? You didn't really give any info on what it's for and how much experience you have. As for the cost of living, like others have said, it is higher than average than a lot of the south, but it's still a lot lower than up north.

 

[MixMasterTang]

According to the Homfair.com international Salary Calculator 48,000 in Atlanta is comparable to making 59,000 in Toronto. It never specifies but I believe both numbers are in US Dollar.

Edit: I would say 99% likely both numbers are US dollars, because when I compare Chicago to London the numbers also look like they would have to be in US Dollars to be accurate.

 

[miri]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
$48k in Atlanta is decent money... You should be able to rent to start and maybe find a decent house if you plan on staying over 5 years. Just don't eat out when you get there....you can throw away a lot of money through your food budget. You should be able to find affordable living, but you'll want to get some opinions of what parts of the city are safer. Marietta and Alpharetta (north of Atlanta) are a little more desirable than many of the inner city areas, but you'll most-likely have a commute. Some parts are a little rough. Plus, you'll want to research traffic patterns...285 can be a headache if you have to go to work at peak hours.

Yes, just do some research on where you want to live in Atlanta, Atlanta is the 7th most dangerous city in the US, thats higher than Gary, IN

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: miri

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
$48k in Atlanta is decent money... You should be able to rent to start and maybe find a decent house if you plan on staying over 5 years. Just don't eat out when you get there....you can throw away a lot of money through your food budget. You should be able to find affordable living, but you'll want to get some opinions of what parts of the city are safer. Marietta and Alpharetta (north of Atlanta) are a little more desirable than many of the inner city areas, but you'll most-likely have a commute. Some parts are a little rough. Plus, you'll want to research traffic patterns...285 can be a headache if you have to go to work at peak hours.

Yes, just do some research on where you want to live in Atlanta, Atlanta is the 7th most dangerous city in the US, thats higher than Gary, IN

Stay out of the gangsta rap/hip-hop clubs in Buckhead and he'll be fine.

 

[Rudee]

My favorite place in Atlanta is the airport departure gate. God I hated that City.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Originally posted by: MixMasterTang
According to the Homfair.com international Salary Calculator 48,000 in Atlanta is comparable to making 59,000 in Toronto. It never specifies but I believe both numbers are in US Dollar.

Edit: I would say 99% likely both numbers are US dollars, because when I compare Chicago to London the numbers also look like they would have to be in US Dollars to be accurate.

it's www.homefair.com

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: BCYL
1) the company will probably get you a TN visa first (which isnt hard, all they need to do is give u a letter saying they hired you and why)... then they will get you rolling through the application for green card... keep in mind, this process will likely take 2 years or more, and during that time you're their b!tch (you cannot leave the company because your visa is tied to them, once you leave theortically you should be deported)...

2) $48k is decent for an area like Atlanta

3) Personally, I wouldn't like to live in Atlanta... I traveled there a few times on business, and I just didn't like the city... Maybe you should go down there for a visit before you make the decision?

Yeah, been there a few times myself. It seems overpopulated, the traffic is AWFUL, it gets too damned hot, and there seems to be a large lower class there (meaning lots of "don't go there" neighborhoods). Don't care for it either.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: BCYL
1) the company will probably get you a TN visa first (which isnt hard, all they need to do is give u a letter saying they hired you and why)... then they will get you rolling through the application for green card... keep in mind, this process will likely take 2 years or more, and during that time you're their b!tch (you cannot leave the company because your visa is tied to them, once you leave theortically you should be deported)...

2) $48k is decent for an area like Atlanta

3) Personally, I wouldn't like to live in Atlanta... I traveled there a few times on business, and I just didn't like the city... Maybe you should go down there for a visit before you make the decision?

Yeah, been there a few times myself. It seems overpopulated, the traffic is AWFUL, it gets too damned hot, and there seems to be a large lower class there (meaning lots of "don't go there" neighborhoods). Don't care for it either.

No worse than any other major US city.

As for the heat...we get the nice side benefit of getting to see beautiful ladies in beautifully revealing sun dresses.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: BCYL
1) the company will probably get you a TN visa first (which isnt hard, all they need to do is give u a letter saying they hired you and why)... then they will get you rolling through the application for green card... keep in mind, this process will likely take 2 years or more, and during that time you're their b!tch (you cannot leave the company because your visa is tied to them, once you leave theortically you should be deported)...

2) $48k is decent for an area like Atlanta

3) Personally, I wouldn't like to live in Atlanta... I traveled there a few times on business, and I just didn't like the city... Maybe you should go down there for a visit before you make the decision?

Yeah, been there a few times myself. It seems overpopulated, the traffic is AWFUL, it gets too damned hot, and there seems to be a large lower class there (meaning lots of "don't go there" neighborhoods). Don't care for it either.

No worse than any other major US city.

As for the heat...we get the nice side benefit of getting to see beautiful ladies in beautifully revealing sun dresses.

I don't know man, the traffic is often some of the worst I've ever seen, but really only at peak times.

The heat isn't really that bad either, imo, but in Oklahoma we often get a month or two of solid 100+ degree days.

 

[kalster]

Yeh, I would imagine it would be fine, the cost of living isnt that high I think. I got a job offer there and it was very good money regardless of the place, when I converted that to what I would have to make here in Norther California to live the same kind of lifestyle it was well over 6 figures. I only visited Atlanta for a day , but didnt like it a whole lot not to mention I dont know anyone there and the traffic situation kind of scared me, so I decided to not take up the offer.