Cost of Living in Atlanta, GA
Cost of Living in Atlanta, GA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
---|---|---|
Housing (Buy and Rent) | 48% higher | 9% higher |
Utilities (Monthly) | 7% lower | 16% lower |
Food | 6% higher | 2% higher |
Healthcare | 8% higher | 3% higher |
Transportation | 6% higher | 0% |
Goods & Services | 9% higher | 5% higher |
The cost of living in Atlanta, GA is 15% higher than the state average and 3% higher than the national average. Atlanta, GA housing is 9% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 16% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 5% more in Atlanta, GA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 5% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 3% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 5% pricier in Atlanta, GA.
Housing (Buy and Rent)
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 $1,861, while home prices circle around $416,827.
Utilities (Monthly)
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Atlanta, energy bills cost around $120.64 per month.
Food
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 $1.80 in Atlanta, a dozen eggs go for around $1.24 and a pound of potatoes circles around $3.67.
Healthcare
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 $116.51, while a dentist appointment is priced $106.06 on average.
Transportation
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $2.30 in Atlanta, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $51.38.
Goods & Services
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 $29.49 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $31.31.
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 $14.39 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $22.73, while dry cleaning costs about $11.51.
Income
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 $64,179.