Cost of Living in Atlanta, GA
| Cost of Living in Atlanta, GA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 4% higher | 17% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 4% higher | 2% higher |
| Food | 2% higher | 1% higher |
| Healthcare | 2% higher | 2% lower |
| Transportation | 7% higher | 4% higher |
| Goods & Services | 2% higher | 3% lower |
The cost of living in Atlanta, GA is 3% higher than the state average and 5% lower than the national average. Atlanta, GA housing is 17% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 2% 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 2% less 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 $1,776, while home prices circle around $418,200.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Atlanta, energy bills cost around $227.98 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 $4.72 in Atlanta, a dozen eggs go for around $4.91 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.36.
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 $128.93, while a dentist appointment is priced $141.59 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $2.93 in Atlanta, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $80.82.
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 $25.42 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $29.76.
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 $15.89 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $30.03, while dry cleaning costs about $14.89.
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 $85,652.