What is the cost of living in Atlanta, GA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Atlanta has an overall cost of living index of 119, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Georgia, Atlanta has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Georgia's index of 95.
The standard of living in Atlanta ranks as #138 most affordable out of the 157 places we measured in Georgia. By definition, that implies Atlanta ranks as the #19 most expensive place in the Peach State.
For more reading on life in Atlanta, check out:
Atlanta Cost Of Living Vs. Georgia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Atlanta. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Atlanta is 99.
The Groceries index in Atlanta is 102.
The Health index in Atlanta is 163.
The Housing index in Atlanta is 100.
The Transportation index in Atlanta is 106.
The Utilities index in Atlanta is 104.
| Living Expense | Atlanta | Georgia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 119 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 163 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 101 | 100 |
Atlanta Cost Of Living Compared To Georgia Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Georgia, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Atlanta Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Atlanta, GA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Georgia, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Atlanta is $385,599.
The Median Rent in Atlanta is $1,711.
The Median Income in Atlanta is $85,652.
The Home Value To Income in Atlanta is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Atlanta is 0.24x.
Atlanta, GA Costs By Category
Detailed Atlanta Services costs vs. Georgia
Detailed Atlanta Groceries costs vs. Georgia
Detailed Atlanta Health costs vs. Georgia
Detailed Atlanta Transportation costs vs. Georgia
Atlanta SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Atlanta
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Atlanta. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Sandy Springs, GA has a cost of living index of 135, 1.1x Atlanta.
Roswell, GA has a cost of living index of 129, 1.1x Atlanta.
Smyrna, GA has a cost of living index of 118, 1.0x Atlanta.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Atlanta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandy Springs, GA | 107,087 | 135 | 1.1x |
| Roswell, GA | 92,621 | 129 | 1.1x |
| Smyrna, GA | 56,633 | 118 | 1.0x |
| Dunwoody, GA | 51,758 | 136 | 1.1x |
| East Point, GA | 38,335 | 98 | 0.8x |
| Decatur, GA | 24,518 | 148 | 1.2x |
| North Decatur, GA | 18,442 | 120 | 1.0x |
| North Druid Hills, GA | 17,997 | 126 | 1.1x |
| College Park, GA | 14,712 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Vinings, GA | 14,390 | 139 | 1.2x |
