Cost of Living Comparison Between Alpharetta, GA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Alpharetta, GA and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,959 in Alpharetta, GA versus $2,646 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,334 in Alpharetta, GA versus $4,220 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,710 in Alpharetta, GA versus $5,794 in Austin, TX.

Living in Alpharetta, GA is roughly 12% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alpharetta, GA 115% above, Austin, TX 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.76 $21.76

$19.88 $19.88

9.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.7 $79.7

$84.0 $84.0

-5.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.81 $9.81

$12.27 $12.27

-20.05%

Cappuccino

$4.78 $4.78

$5.63 $5.63

-15.10%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$3.59 $3.59

-28.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.38 $2.38

-15.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.61 $5.61

$7.83 $7.83

-28.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.46 $7.46

$9.10 $9.10

-18.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.14 $1.14

-22.81%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.64 $3.64

12.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$3.31 $3.31

61.93%

Eggs

$4.61 $4.61

$4.44 $4.44

3.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.37 $11.37

$13.01 $13.01

-12.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.74 $8.74

$14.69 $14.69

-40.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.50 $20.50

$17.42 $17.42

17.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$4.61 $4.61

-3.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.45 $1.45

53.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.76 $4.76

-14.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$4.95 $4.95

-20.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$3.01 $3.01

21.59%

Onion (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.74 $2.74

35.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.95 $1.95

16.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.20 $2.20

13.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.07 $9.07

$9.26 $9.26

-2.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.86 $14.86

$14.90 $14.90

-0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.87 $2.87

-41.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.59 $3.59

16.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.65 $1.65

83.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$95.3 $95.3

$41.90 $41.90

127.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.82 $2.82

9.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.59 $1.59

48.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.23 $40.23

$34.68 $34.68

16.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.95 $0.95

-4.21%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$35.7K $35.7K

-9.58%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.9K $26.9K

-1.21%

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

$258 $258

$229 $229

12.40%

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

$55.3 $55.3

$58.6 $58.6

-5.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.2 $88.2

$69.3 $69.3

27.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.59 $34.59

$65.8 $65.8

-47.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.90 $22.90

$14.75 $14.75

55.25%

Cinema Ticket

$16.76 $16.76

$13.86 $13.86

20.92%

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

$1,297 $1,297

$1,501 $1,501

-13.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K $16.0K

$20.9K $20.9K

-23.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.6 $77.6

$53.7 $53.7

44.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.07 $44.07

$44.41 $44.41

-0.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$90.8 $90.8

41.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 $137

$108 $108

26.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,077 $2,077

$1,931 $1,931

7.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,534 $1,534

$1,265 $1,265

21.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 $2,925

$3,776 $3,776

-22.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,538 $2,538

$2,595 $2,595

-2.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,510 $7,510

$7,340 $7,340

2.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,190 $5,190

$3,231 $3,231

60.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,281 $6,281

$5,039 $5,039

24.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.44

-0.16%

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

Last update for Alpharetta, GA: September 6, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,077 in Alpharetta, GA and $1,931 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alpharetta, GA pays 25% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $80.0 in Alpharetta, GA vs $84.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $404 vs $419 per month, with Alpharetta, GA cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Alpharetta, GA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 25% higher in Alpharetta, GA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,077 in Alpharetta, GA versus $1,931 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 127% less than in Alpharetta, GA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,297 in Alpharetta, GA versus $1,501 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Alpharetta, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.