Cost of Living in Atlanta, GA
| Cost of Living in Atlanta, GA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 24% higher | 2% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 2% lower | 15% lower |
| Food | 5% higher | 1% higher |
| Healthcare | 7% higher | 8% higher |
| Transportation | 4% higher | 0% |
| Goods & Services | 4% higher | 1% lower |
The cost of living in Atlanta, GA is 9% higher than the state average and 2% lower than the national average. Atlanta, GA housing is 2% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 15% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 1% less in Atlanta, GA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 1% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 8% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 1% 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 $1,795, while home prices circle around $472,519.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Atlanta, energy bills cost around $149.28 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 $4.70 in Atlanta, a dozen eggs go for around $4.09 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.23.
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 $128.60, while a dentist appointment is priced $142.65 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.14 in Atlanta, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $67.94.
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 $35.56 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $33.31.
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 $15.52 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $27.24, while dry cleaning costs about $13.84.
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 $77,655.