Cost of Living in Atlanta, GA
| Cost of Living in Atlanta, GA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 34% higher | 7% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 4% lower | 15% lower |
| Food | 1% lower | 5% lower |
| Healthcare | 9% higher | 8% higher |
| Transportation | 8% higher | 2% higher |
| Goods & Services | 7% higher | 3% higher |
The cost of living in Atlanta, GA is 12% higher than the state average and 1% higher than the national average. Atlanta, GA housing is 7% more expensive 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 3% more in Atlanta, GA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 3% more .
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 3% pricier 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 $1,477, while home prices circle around $489,320.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Atlanta, energy bills cost around $134.26 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 $2.62 in Atlanta, a dozen eggs go for around $2.69 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.37.
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 $130.58, while a dentist appointment is priced $136.81 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.69 in Atlanta, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $63.04.
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 $40.12 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $41.78.
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 $14.43 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $25.32, while dry cleaning costs about $12.87.
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.