What to know before your temporary move to Atlanta

It turns out, planning a temporary move to Atlanta is nothing like planning a permanent one. 

Three months ago, my coworker Elena got assigned to a project in Atlanta. Her first question wasn’t about the job. It was “Where the hell do I even start looking for a place to live for six months?” It turns out, planning a temporary move to Atlanta is nothing like planning a permanent one. You can’t spend weeks touring apartments. You don’t care about school districts. You just need to figure out how to live somewhere for a few months without it being a complete disaster.

I’ve helped a bunch of people navigate temporary Atlanta moves, from consultants on project assignments, graduate students doing research, to people taking care of family members. The advice that works for permanent moves doesn’t always apply when you’re only staying six months.

Here’s what actually matters when you’re moving to Atlanta temporarily.

Quick summary for temporary movers

• Timeline: Perfect for stays of 3-12 months.
•  Housing: Focus on Midtown, Old Fourth Ward or Buckhead for easy access to everything.
•  Transportation: Skip buying a car if you’re staying under six months — MARTA plus rideshare works.
•  Climate: Summers are brutal. Pack accordingly.
•  Social life: There are plenty of coworking spaces and meetups for newcomers who need to build a network fast.
•  Budget: Expect to pay 10-20% more for short-term flexibility. 

Why are you moving temporarily?

The reason you’re moving to Atlanta temporarily changes everything about how you should approach it.

Work assignment or consulting gig: You’ll want to be close to your office or client site. Midtown works if you’re working downtown. Buckhead, if you’re in that area. Don’t overthink it — convenience beats charm when you’re working long hours in an unfamiliar city.

Internship or fellowship: Students usually end up in cheaper areas like Decatur or East Atlanta. Emory students often choose Decatur. Georgia Tech people gravitate toward Midtown or Home Park.

Taking care of family: Ideal location depends entirely on where your family lives. Focus on month-to-month options near them rather than trying to find the “best” Atlanta neighborhood.

Digital nomad experiment: You want walkable areas with good coffee shops and coworking. Old Fourth Ward, Virginia-Highland or Inman Park work well. The mistake people make is trying to experience “authentic Atlanta” during a short-term stay. You’re not here to find your forever neighbourhood. You’re here to accomplish something specific while living comfortably.

Where to live in Atlanta short-term

Best neighbourhoods for temporary residents

Midtown is where most temporary people end up and for good reason. You can walk to restaurants, there’s a MARTA station and lots of apartment buildings offer short-term leases. It’s not the coolest area, but it’s convenient as hell.

Rent runs $1,600-$2,200 for a one-bedroom. You’ll probably end up in a high-rise with amenities. Parking costs extra, but if you’re not buying a car, that doesn’t matter.

Old Fourth Ward attracts younger temporary residents who want to be near the BeltLine. It has more character than Midtown, is still walkable, good access to downtown. Rent’s similar to Midtown but you get more neighbourhood personality.

Buckhead works if you’re working in North Atlanta or want something upscale. It’s basically Atlanta’s attempt at being a real city with high-rises, shopping and restaurants. It is more expensive but very convenient if your job is up there.

Decatur sits outside the main city but has its own downtown area with restaurants and shops. It is popular with people connected to Emory and cheaper than central Atlanta. However, it requires more planning to get around.

Virginia-Highland and Inman Park are gorgeous neighbourhoods with character, but they’re pricier and less convenient for short-term stays. Choose these if you’re staying longer than six months and want to feel like you’re experiencing the “real” Atlanta.

Temporary housing options

Forget traditional apartment hunting. You need furnished places with flexible leases and the normal rental market isn’t set up for that. Furnished month-to-month platforms like Blueground, Landing and Sonder handle everything — furniture, utilities, internet and lease flexibility. You pay a premium (usually 10-20% more than traditional rent), but they eliminate the headache of setting up a temporary life.

Airbnb works for shorter stays (under three months) but gets expensive for longer periods. The sweet spot is finding someone doing a long-term Airbnb rate — cheaper than nightly rates but more flexible than traditional leases.

Corporate housing exists, but is usually arranged by employers. If your company isn’t handling this, you probably can’t access the good corporate housing deals.

Facebook groups and Craigslist sublets require more work, but can save money. Search for “Atlanta sublets”, “Atlanta temporary housing” and neighbourhood-specific groups. Just be careful about scams.

Elena ended up using Blueground for a furnished place in Midtown. “I paid extra, but I showed up with two suitcases and everything worked immediately,” she said. “Worth every penny when you’re trying to start a new job in a new city.”

Lease tips that matter

Georgia tenant laws are landlord-friendly, so read everything carefully. Short-term leases often include clauses that wouldn’t appear in long-term leases. 

Ask about utilities upfront. Some furnished places include everything. Others charge separately for electricity, which can be $150+ during summer months when you’re running the air conditioner constantly.

Understand the move-out process. Some places require a 30-day notice even for month-to-month leases. Others let you leave with two weeks’ notice. This matters if your assignment gets extended or cut short.

Get the security deposit terms in writing. Furnished places often have higher deposits because there’s more stuff to potentially damage.

Cost of living reality check

What things actually cost

Rent: $1,600-$2,200 for a one-bedroom in decent areas. Add 10-20% if you need furnished and flexible.

Utilities: Around $150/month if not included, mostly because of summer AC costs.

Food: Groceries run about the same as other major cities. Dining out is reasonable — $15-20 for lunch, $25-35 for dinner at decent places.

Transportation: $95/month for unlimited MARTA. Rideshare rides run $8-15 for most trips within the city.

Parking: $100-200/month in Midtown and Buckhead if you have a car.

The hidden costs: Setup fees for short-term leases, higher grocery costs if you’re buying smaller quantities and transportation costs while you figure out the most efficient routes.

Budgeting for temporary life

Budget for all-inclusive rent if possible. Trying to save money by finding an unfurnished place and buying temporary furniture usually backfires.

Factor in one-time costs: deposits, setup fees and the premium you’ll pay for convenience during your first few weeks before you know where to shop.

Most people spend more than expected in their first month while figuring everything out, then costs normalise. Build that buffer into your budget.

Getting around Atlanta (without losing your mind)

Do you need a car?

For stays under six months, probably not. MARTA covers the main areas where temporary residents live. Ridesharing can always fill the gaps.

If you’re staying in Midtown, Old Fourth Ward or Buckhead and your job is accessible by MARTA, you can make it work without a car. Add in Zipcar or Turo for occasional car needs — grocery runs or exploring outside the city.

Parking in Atlanta is annoying and expensive. Street parking requires apps and time limits. Building parking costs extra. If you’re only here temporarily, avoid the hassle.

The exception: if you’re taking care of family or your job requires driving around the metro area, you’ll need a car. But for most temporary residents, car-free works fine.

MARTA survival guide

Atlanta’s public transit gets a bad rap, but it’s actually useful for temporary residents who choose their location strategically.

Buy a Breeze Card at any station. Load money or get a monthly pass ($95 for unlimited rides). The app shows real-time arrivals and helps plan routes.

The system connects the airport to downtown to Midtown to Buckhead. East-west coverage is limited, but north-south works well.

MARTA runs until 1 AM on weekends, midnight on weeknights. It’s safe during normal hours, though some stations get sketchy late at night.

Use the trains for commuting and major trips. Use buses for shorter connections. Use ridesharing when MARTA doesn’t go where you need to go.

Surviving Atlanta weather and culture

Climate reality

Atlanta summers are miserable. Like, really miserable. It’s 90+ degrees and humid from May through September. The heat hits you like opening an oven door.

Pack lightweight, breathable clothes. Invest in good deodorant. Accept that you’ll be sweaty between air-conditioned spaces.

Winters are mild but unpredictable. It might be 70 degrees in January, then an ice storm the next week. Have a jacket, but don’t pack like you’re moving to Chicago.

The good news: most places have excellent AC. You’re never far from air conditioning.

Social life for temporary residents

Atlanta’s social scene is friendly but requires effort. People are nice (Southern hospitality is real), but most adults already have established friend groups.

Join things immediately: coworking spaces, workout classes, hobby groups and professional meetups. The city has tons of organised activities for newcomers.

Neighbourhoods matter for social life. Midtown has young professionals. Old Fourth Ward attracts creative types. Buckhead skews older and more business-focused.

Use apps like Meetup and Bumble BFF. Atlanta has active communities for people to build social networks.

The food scene is amazing and diverse. Start with Ponce City Market for a variety sampler, then explore Buford Highway for authentic international food.

Safety and common sense

Atlanta’s safety varies dramatically by neighbourhood and even by block. Downtown can be sketchy after dark. Midtown and Buckhead feel safer for walking.

Use a rideshare late at night rather than walking or using MARTA. The trains are generally safe, but stations can be isolated after evening hours.

Download local crime apps and pay attention to neighbourhood alerts. Things change quickly in Atlanta — a safe block can become problematic, or a sketchy area can improve rapidly.

Trust your instincts. If something feels off, leave. You’re not here long enough to tough out dangerous situations.

Practical setup checklist

Before you arrive

Secure housing first. Don’t arrive without a place to stay. Short-term options book up quickly.

Research transportation from your housing to your job/reason for being there. Make sure the commute works before signing anything.

Pack for the climate plus temporary living. You won’t have all your normal stuff, so bring things that make you comfortable.

Understand your lease terms completely. Know how much notice you need to give, what utilities are included and what happens if you need to leave early.

After you arrive

Get a Breeze Card immediately if you’re using MARTA.

Find your grocery store and figure out delivery options. Don’t spend your first week wandering around looking for basic supplies.

Set up temporary mail forwarding or use a UPS Store if you need a local address.

Join something social within your first two weeks. The longer you wait, the harder it gets to build connections.

Download essential apps: MARTA app for transit, local crime/safety apps and delivery apps for food and groceries.

What locals wish temporary residents knew

Atlanta traffic is legendary for a reason. Plan extra time for everything involving driving. Rush hour lasts from 7-9 AM and 4-7 PM, but traffic can be bad anytime.

“OTP vs ITP” means “Outside the Perimeter” vs “Inside the Perimeter”. I-285 circles the city. Most temporary residents stay inside the perimeter because that’s where the action is.

Atlantans are genuinely friendly, but often busy. Don’t take it personally if people seem polite but distant. It’s not you — it’s just how the city works.

MARTA has a reputation for being limited, but it’s actually pretty useful for the corridor it covers. The problem is when you need to go east-west or to the suburbs.

The BeltLine is a former railway turned into a walking/biking trail that connects neighbourhoods. It’s legitimately cool and useful for getting around without a car.

Making it work

The key to a successful temporary move to Atlanta is accepting that you’re not trying to become an Atlantan — you’re trying to live comfortably while accomplishing whatever brought you here.

Choose convenience over character. Pay extra for furnished and flexible housing. Don’t try to save money by making your temporary life harder.

Give yourself time to adjust to the heat, the transportation and the pace. Atlanta moves differently from other cities. Fighting it makes everything harder.

Most people I’ve helped with temporary Atlanta moves end up enjoying it more than expected. The city’s friendly, the food’s great and it’s surprisingly easy to build a temporary life that works.

Focus on what you came here to do and let Atlanta support that goal rather than trying to master the city in a few months.