Cost of Living in Atlanta, GA

The cost of living in Atlanta, GA is 4.0% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Atlanta is 13.1% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,530 – $2,236. You can expect to pay 0.9% more for groceries, 0.3% less for utilities, and 0.2% more for transportation.

-4.0%

Overall Cost of Living vs. National Average

-13.1%

Housing Cost vs. National Average

$1,530 - $2,236

Most Common Rent Range

Compare Cost of Living Between Cities

Determine the income needed to maintain your lifestyle when moving to a new city.

Cost of Living Summary in Atlanta, GA by Household Type

The cost of living in Atlanta for a renter is 2.9% lower than the national average. If you are a renter, you can expect to pay around $4,383/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $662 per month +4.4% higher than US avg.
Housing $1,875 per month -3.2% lower than US avg.
Utilities $356 per month -4.0% lower than US avg.
Transportation $368 per month -16.2% lower than US avg.
Healthcare $149 per month +5.7% higher than US avg.
Goods & Services $973 per month -1.8% lower than US avg.

The cost of living in Atlanta for a home owner is 4.9% lower than the national average. If you are a home owner, you can expect to pay around $7,575/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $1,309 per month +3.8% higher than US avg.
Housing $1,834 per month -14.5% lower than US avg.
Utilities $793 per month -2.9% lower than US avg.
Transportation $774 per month -18.7% lower than US avg.
Healthcare $409 per month +5.7% higher than US avg.
Goods & Services $2,456 per month +2.2% higher than US avg.

The cost of living in Atlanta for a married couple with children under 6 is 3.9% lower than the national average. If you are a married couple with children under 6, you can expect to pay around $6,910/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $1,274 per month +3.9% higher than US avg.
Housing $1,802 per month -5.9% lower than US avg.
Utilities $747 per month -4.7% lower than US avg.
Transportation $737 per month -18.5% lower than US avg.
Healthcare $358 per month +13.3% higher than US avg.
Goods & Services $1,992 per month -2.5% lower than US avg.

The cost of living in Atlanta for a married couple with children 6-17 is 3.8% lower than the national average. If you are a married couple with children 6-17, you can expect to pay around $8,140/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $1,521 per month +5.6% higher than US avg.
Housing $2,021 per month -9.0% lower than US avg.
Utilities $833 per month -2.6% lower than US avg.
Transportation $867 per month -14.7% lower than US avg.
Healthcare $421 per month -4.5% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services $2,477 per month -0.3% lower than US avg.

Cost of Living Details for Atlanta, GA

Is Atlanta expensive to live in?

Atlanta’s overall cost of living is 4.0% lower than the national average, making it a less expensive city compared to other US locations.

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Atlanta, GA?

To live comfortably in Atlanta, GA, as a single adult with no dependents, you should aim for a salary around $52,596 before taxes. Expect to pay around $22,500/year for housing, $7,944/year for groceries, and $11,676 for goods and services. These costs will vary based on family size and location.

Average Housing Cost in Atlanta, GA vs. National Average

Cost of Renting

The average rent in Atlanta, GA is $1,614, which is 0.8% lower than the national average.

Start your search for an apartment in Atlanta, GA, and view the average rent.

Atlanta, GA National Average
Apartment $1,614/month $1,627/month -1%

Cost of Buying a Home

The average listing price for a home in Atlanta, GA is $428,946, which is 16.9% lower than the national average.

Atlanta, GA National Average
Average House Cost $428,946 $515,975 -17%

Groceries

The average cost of groceries in Atlanta, GA is 0.9% higher than the national average.

Atlanta, GA National Average
Steak
$15.52
$15.42
+1%
Ground Beef
$7.05
$7.05
+0%
Sausage
$5.12
$4.98
+3%
Frying Chicken
$1.44
$1.55
-7%

Utilities

The average cost of utilities in Atlanta, GA is 0.3% lower than the national average.

Atlanta, GA National Average
Energy
$205.41
$205.94
0%
Phone
$194.22
$194.99
0%

Healthcare

The average cost of healthcare in Atlanta, GA is 7.9% higher than the national average.

Atlanta, GA National Average
Optometrist Visit
$130.44
$129.23
+1%
Doctor Visit
$132.58
$143.77
-8%
Dentist Visit
$142.21
$117.51
+21%
Ibuprofen
$11.03
$11.06
0%

Transportation

The average cost of transportation in Atlanta, GA is 0.2% higher than the national average.

Atlanta, GA National Average
Gasoline (1 gallon)
$3.22
$3.32
-3%
Tire Balance
$67.94
$62.69
+8%

Goods & Services

The average cost of good and services in Atlanta, GA is 2.4% lower than the national average.

Atlanta, GA National Average
Toothpaste
$4.47
$4.12
+8%
Shampoo
$1.49
$1.54
-3%
Dry Cleaning
$14.29
$17.11
-16%
Man Dress Shirt
$30.32
$38.14
-21%

Explore Apartments for Rent in Atlanta, GA

Houses for Rent in Atlanta, GA

Explore Cost of Living in Popular Cities

What is a cost of living index?

A cost of living index is a numerical tool designed to compare expenses in different locations. It tracks the prices of essential goods and services, such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, and healthcare and assigns a score to each region. This index helps renters understand how costly one city is compared to another, helping with financial planning and decision-making before moving to a new place.

How is cost of living calculated?

Cost of living is calculated by looking at the prices of a variety of recurring expenses that people typically need. This can include housing, food, healthcare, and other everyday expenses. Each of these categories is weighted based on its importance in a typical budget. The prices are then compared across different locations to determine how much more or less expensive it is to live in one place compared to another.

Housing

Housing refers to the money you spend on where you live. This includes paying rent if you live in an apartment or making mortgage payments if you own a home.

Food and Groceries

Food and groceries cover the cost of buying food and everyday items like fruits, vegetables, snacks, and drinks. It's all the food you eat at home and the basic supplies you need to keep your house running smoothly.

Utilities

Utilities are the basic services that keep your home comfortable and functional. This includes bills for electricity, water, and internet and phone services.

Healthcare

Healthcare includes the expenses for medical needs. This means the cost of seeing doctors and dentists, buying medicine, and paying for related healthcare services.

Transportation

Transportation costs cover the expenses involved in commuting and travel, including costs associated with personal vehicle upkeep.

Goods & Services

Goods and services cover other everyday expenses that you have. This includes buying clothes, paying for entertainment like movies or sports, and other services you might use, such as haircuts or gym memberships. These are the things you spend money on outside of basic necessities.

How to interpret your results

Knowing whether you’ll save or spend more on expenses in a new city can help you with budgeting. There are a few practical applications of this knowledge. If you're thinking of moving to a more expensive area, you may need to adjust your spending. A region with particularly high rent may encourage you to allocate more of your budget toward housing and less toward entertainment and restaurants, for example. A region with a lower cost of living overall means you may be able to increase your spending in certain areas.

Calculating your estimated cost of living in a new city helps you plan your budget accordingly. Play around with numbers to find a balance between essential spending and disposable income.

Learn More with Helpful Articles

Better safe than sorry! Protect yourself(and your stuff) with renters insurance.

Save money and start fresh using these tips and tricks.

The pros and cons of moving during each season.

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2025.