Cost of Living in Athens, GA - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $947 (excluding rent), and $2,235 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,061 (excluding rent), and $4,649 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.45 $14.45

$9.95 $9.95

$24.87 $24.87

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 $78.5

$35.46 $35.46

$101 $101

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.03 $11.03

$10.03 $10.03

$12.03 $12.03

Cappuccino

$5.51 $5.51

$4.03 $4.03

$8.05 $8.05

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.04 $2.04

$8.17 $8.17

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.28 $1.28

$6.16 $6.16

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.84 $6.84

$2.44 $2.44

$7.81 $7.81

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.79 $7.79

$6.82 $6.82

$9.74 $9.74

Milk (1 liter)

$0.8 $0.8

$0.63 $0.63

$1.29 $1.29

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.12 $1.12

$6.7 $6.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$2.78 $2.78

$8.64 $8.64

Eggs

$3 $3

$1.69 $1.69

$5.11 $5.11

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.56 $7.56

$3.32 $3.32

$22.14 $22.14

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12 $12

$6.62 $6.62

$15.94 $15.94

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.59 $13.59

$8.08 $8.08

$30.64 $30.64

Apples (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.79 $2.79

$6.58 $6.58

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 $1.32

$0.91 $0.91

$6.45 $6.45

Oranges (1kg)

$4.3 $4.3

$2.18 $2.18

$8.72 $8.72

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.14 $2.14

$7.51 $7.51

Potato (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.1 $1.1

$4.21 $4.21

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.72 $1.72

$4.3 $4.3

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.37 $1.37

$3.67 $3.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2 $2

$1.25 $1.25

$2.94 $2.94

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.66 $7.66

$7.16 $7.16

$14.33 $14.33

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 $18.66

$10.08 $10.08

$25.21 $25.21

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.41 $1.41

$2.82 $2.82

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.67 $4.67

$1.97 $1.97

$6.9 $6.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.7 $1.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.45 $31.45

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.52 $4.52

$3.02 $3.02

$10.05 $10.05

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$4.88 $4.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.21 $43.21

$35.59 $35.59

$50.8 $50.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.71 $0.71

$0.88 $0.88

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30K $30K

$23.6K $23.6K

$36.4K $36.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24K $24K

$22.9K $22.9K

$26K $26K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$173 $173

$149 $149

$596 $596

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.69 $35.69

$19.72 $19.72

$98.6 $98.6

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.5 $64.5

$50.6 $50.6

$152 $152

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.25 $25.25

$10.1 $10.1

$45.45 $45.45

Cinema Ticket

$13.02 $13.02

$10.07 $10.07

$16.12 $16.12

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$888 $888

$761 $761

$3,552 $3,552

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,503 $9,503

$50K $50K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59 $59

$35.6 $35.6

$110 $110

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.65 $32.65

$30.14 $30.14

$89.4 $89.4

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 $78.5

$55.9 $55.9

$245 $245

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54 $54

$196 $196

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,209 $1,209

$2,217 $2,217

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,073 $1,073

$889 $889

$1,501 $1,501

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,773 $2,773

$2,017 $2,017

$3,530 $3,530

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,108 $2,108

$1,191 $1,191

$2,480 $2,480

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,461 $2,461

$2,323 $2,323

$3,288 $3,288

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,300 $2,300

$2,254 $2,254

$2,722 $2,722

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,345 $3,345

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: November 30, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🌎 North america

Cost of Living in Athens, GA - Frequently Asked Questions

Athens blends a lively cultural scene with practical prices, making it easy to stretch a budget without sacrificing access to coffee, gigs, and coworking. You’ll find a range of housing – from modest apartments near campus to well‑located flats a short walk from the core – often at values lower than larger metro areas. Groceries, casual dining, and entertainment offer breadth, from bargain eateries to eclectic venues, so you can customize your weekly plan. Utilities and transit tend to stay reasonable for a mid‑sized city, especially if you favor on‑foot or bicycle options. The value tends to reward longer stays, students, remote workers, and digital nomads who balance work with local culture. Cost of Living in Athens, GA, United States signals a solid middle ground for steady budgets. Tip: Plan ahead and leave room in your budget for seasonal events and campus activities.

On a typical day, housing search centers around Downtown, Five Points, and near the UGA campus, where short commutes and walkable streets boost everyday value. You’ll find a mix of furnished and unfurnished rentals, with sublets common in summer. For food, enjoy a mix of farmers markets, casual eateries, and affordable supermarkets; cooking at home stretches the budget. Transport is practical: a solid city bus network, plus bike lanes and scooter options for short hops. Remote work thrives in cafés and coworking spaces that offer day passes. Errands stay straightforward with tight-knit services downtown, so you can consolidate tasks in one trip. Athens, GA, United States living cost is something to balance when you plan a longer stay. Tip: Start with a short-term lease while you learn the area.

Quality of life here benefits from a simple budgeting framework you can adapt to a live-in schedule: a clear split for needs, wants, and savings, plus a buffer for seasonal shifts like hotter summers or crowded festivals. Track housing, groceries, and transit in a shared plan to spot patterns. Neighborhoods vary in pace: Downtown and Five Points spark dining, music, and social life, while Normaltown and the east side offer quieter streets and parks. Save by cooking at home, buying local produce, and choosing transit over rideshares when possible. With flexible planning, you can enjoy a vibrant scene without overspending. Tip: Build a flexible plan, then adjust as you explore different areas.