Cost of Living in Atlanta, GA
| Cost of Living in Atlanta, GA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 6% higher | 16% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 7% higher | 3% higher |
| Food | 4% higher | 1% higher |
| Healthcare | 8% higher | 5% higher |
| Transportation | 6% higher | 3% higher |
| Goods & Services | 1% higher | 3% lower |
The cost of living in Atlanta, GA is 4% higher than the state average and 4% lower than the national average. Atlanta, GA housing is 16% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 3% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 1% pricier in Atlanta, GA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 3% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 5% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 3% cheaper in Atlanta, GA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Atlanta is $1,779, while home prices circle around $417,989.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Atlanta, energy bills cost around $219.87 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.64 in Atlanta, a dozen eggs go for around $4.30 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.13.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Atlanta, an optometry check-up costs around $131.28, while a dentist appointment is priced $144.20 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.13 in Atlanta, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $75.96.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $27.33 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $31.50.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Atlanta, you should budget around $15.10 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $29.10, while dry cleaning costs about $14.59.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Atlanta, the median household income is $81,938.