Cost of Living in Atlanta, GA
| Cost of Living in Atlanta, GA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 12% higher | 13% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 5% higher | 0% |
| Food | 3% higher | 1% higher |
| Healthcare | 13% higher | 8% higher |
| Transportation | 4% higher | 0% |
| Goods & Services | 26% lower | 2% lower |
The cost of living in Atlanta, GA is 7% lower than the state average and 4% lower than the national average. Atlanta, GA housing is 13% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 0% . 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 2% 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 2% 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 $428,946.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Atlanta, energy bills cost around $205.41 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 $4.67 in Atlanta, a dozen eggs go for around $3.38 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.94.
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 $130.44, while a dentist appointment is priced $142.21 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.22 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 $30.32 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $33.16.
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 $15.26 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $28.03, while dry cleaning costs about $14.29.
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.