So I have a chance to move to either Atlanta or Miami to work for a public accounting firm. I used to live in Tampa and love Florida. I don't know much about Miami other than the stereotypes.(i.e.- heavy latin influence, expensive, HOT, expensive, must know spanish) I have only been to Atlanta to party and work, and I have always liked it. I know maybe one person in Miami and a handful in Atlanta that I actually speak to on a regular basis. My questions is, who has lived in both or spent a lot of time there, and what is your preference?

9/28/2011 8:19:35 PM

#1 issue in my mind - state income tax

none in Florida

yes in GA

Tax Bracket (yearly earnings) Tax Rate (%) [1]
$0+ 1%
$750+ 2%
$2,250+ 3%
$3,750+ 4%
$5,250+ 5%
$7,000+ 6%

9/28/2011 8:30:09 PM

How do those savings in state income tax compare to the difference in cost of living between Miami and Atlanta? A quick check on one of these cost of living comparison sites says:

$50K in Miami is roughly equivalent to $45K in Atlanta. Home prices were comparable while apartment prices in Miami were $1,400 and $800 in Atlanta.

I just checked one site and I don't know how reputable it is, just pointing this out as a factor when considering just the monetary options.

[Edited on September 28, 2011 at 8:39 PM. Reason : -]

9/28/2011 8:34:15 PM

I haven't lived in Atlanta but my sister does and I visit her and her husband every holiday for the last 3 years since they moved there. I used to live in Miami.


This all comes down to the type of things you like. To make it simple, Atlanta is a much better city to live in if you take away the fact that miami is a beach paradise. If you don't like the water, Atlanta hands down. The more you like the water the more difficult this becomes as that puts miami over atlanta more and more. IF you like the water occasionally, then atlanta is on top as you are not a far drive from the coast.

If you are like me, and LOVE anything dealing with the ocean or water, then Miami becomes better. Miami is not as bad as people make it out to be. If you live in Maimi beach, Miami beach is a pretty awesome city to live in. All the negative things about the city are about the poor areas in maimi. If you have money, and don't work in these places, you will never know they exist (sad but true). Miami beach has a huge jewish and russian communities. I blow my load every morning driving across causeways with blue green water. To some people thats nothing, but the constant tropical backdrop keeps me cummin.

If you hate foreigners, atlanta is the choice. Atlanta is a nice mix of urban americans and southern americans. It is a lot more cosmopolitan than people will make it otu to be. Atlanta is a big time city with big time city features as well as traditional southern features. Atlanta is the "LA" of the south with tons of cool places to go and hangout. Theres a nice music/art scene and tons of hipsters downtown. Its not all crunk black people like your racists friends will portray either. You get tons of post sec young professionals in places like (rich area with nightlife name slipping my mind)

The nightlife in Miami beach is going to be littered with foreigners. Russians, Jews, Argentines, and other hispanics. In atlanta, it will be southern belles, and SEC bros. I won't even mention the cliche places that you know exist and all the tourists go to.

[Edited on September 28, 2011 at 8:46 PM. Reason : polos and bermuda shorts in atlanta. ]

9/28/2011 8:43:45 PM

I really like the fact that Miami is close to the beach and the Keys. I used to live in Tampa on Davis Islands and I drove over the bridge to work and down bayshore and loved it. I think it's going to come down to visiting the areas and getting a feel for the people I would work with. Not too worried about the ethnic issue, my wife is half black so she would fit right in with the hispanics, hahaha. Thanks for the input everyone, helps.

9/28/2011 9:24:44 PM

I would say miami. I also lived in tampa off westshore for 3 years. I loved being near the water as every weekend was a vacation being able to go to the beach, camping, lazy rivers, etc. Lots of places to explore in Fl. I hung out in miami one time on my way to the keys. It was pricy and definitely a lot of ethnics. That would be my one downside. Not that i dislike ethnicity, but I would be afraid of finding many people that I have things in common with. But since you are already married i dont think that would be as much of an issue than a single guy not knowing a soul down there.

9/29/2011 8:43:51 AM

I would definitely go with Miami just for the fact that you are at the beach and not in Atlanta. Atlanta to me is like a bigger Charlotte with more traffic. Doesn't really have much to offer that you can't get in Miami and you can't easily just drop by the beach. Of course it might suck come hurricane season

9/29/2011 9:49:18 AM

Lived in Atlanta for 4 years, spent a lot of time in Miami (sister used to live there) and The E-Man is pretty dead on.

Quote :

" It is a lot more cosmopolitan than people will make it otu to be. Atlanta is a big time city with big time city features as well as traditional southern features. Atlanta is the "LA" of the south with tons of cool places to go and hangout. Theres a nice music/art scene and tons of hipsters downtown. Its not all crunk black people like your racists friends will portray either. You get tons of post sec young professionals in places like (rich area with nightlife name slipping my mind)"

Buckhead... but the nightlife has been torn down... now the areas are Midtown and Virginia Highlands

If you just fucking LOVE the beach, then Miami. If you kind of like it or dont really care at all, then Atlanta. Especially if you are from the South and want to continue to be around aspects of that, but just on a bigger scale. Miami isnt the South. BUT... this is all based on ACTUAL Atlanta, not the burbs. If you are going to move to Atlanta and live out in the burbs then you will be getting all the shit in Atlanta and not any of the benefits. Might as well live somewhere with less traffic.

Also, I like having at least somewhat all four seasons. Would annoy the shit out of me for it to never get remotely cold in Miami

And to base it on taxes is silly... I would rather pay more and live somewhere I want to live than save a few thousand dollars and be miserable.

[Edited on October 4, 2011 at 7:20 PM. Reason : d]

10/4/2011 7:12:25 PM

I live in Atlanta as well, and agree with E Man's post - except I would caveat that the "crunk black" Atlanta is actually part of what makes the city great. And it's definitely what sets apart from cities like Charlotte. There's a soul to Atlanta that you don't get if you simply go to a conference downtown or live in the suburbs - it's actually quite a diverse city in many ways (even if the number if "foriegners" seems low) and that's driven by its racial diversity. Just my two cents, good luck with the decision!

10/7/2011 7:57:48 AM