Cost of Living Comparison Between Alpharetta, GA and Baltimore, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Alpharetta, GA and Baltimore, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,041 in Alpharetta, GA versus $2,460 in Baltimore, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,463 in Alpharetta, GA versus $3,792 in Baltimore, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,885 in Alpharetta, GA versus $5,124 in Baltimore, MD.

Living in Alpharetta, GA is roughly 24% more expensive than in Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alpharetta, GA 121% above, Baltimore, MD 79% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.84 $21.84

$18.79 $18.79

16.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.5 $80.5

$91.7 $91.7

-12.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 $9.83

$10.90 $10.90

-9.82%

Cappuccino

$4.70 $4.70

$5.16 $5.16

-8.91%

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

$2.57 $2.57

$3.56 $3.56

-27.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.67 $2.67

-24.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.66 $5.66

$6.79 $6.79

-16.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.57 $7.57

$8.12 $8.12

-6.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.16 $1.16

-26.72%

White Bread (500g)

$4.18 $4.18

$3.63 $3.63

15.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$4.06 $4.06

34.73%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$5.09 $5.09

-12.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.79 $11.79

$12.89 $12.89

-8.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.97 $8.97

$12.37 $12.37

-27.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.84 $19.84

$18.63 $18.63

6.49%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$5.76 $5.76

-20.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.46 $1.46

46.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 $4.00

$5.86 $5.86

-31.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$4.74 $4.74

-16.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.97 $2.97

27.61%

Onion (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$2.77 $2.77

35.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.52 $2.52

-9.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.30 $2.30

13.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.88 $8.88

$14.15 $14.15

-37.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.77 $14.77

$15.34 $15.34

-3.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.54 $2.54

-31.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.75 $3.75

8.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.01 $2.01

45.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.6 $94.6

$75.6 $75.6

25.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.82 $1.82

60.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.34 $1.34

74.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.87 $39.87

$23.97 $23.97

66.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.02 $1.02

-13.73%

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

$32.0K $32.0K

$36.5K $36.5K

-12.32%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$25.8K $25.8K

4.02%

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

$261 $261

$211 $211

23.64%

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

$55.2 $55.2

$66.4 $66.4

-16.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$89.4 $89.4

$88.7 $88.7

0.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.31 $35.31

$51.4 $51.4

-31.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.37 $22.37

$46.67 $46.67

-52.07%

Cinema Ticket

$16.82 $16.82

$15.26 $15.26

10.22%

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

$1,262 $1,262

$1,983 $1,983

-36.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K $15.9K

$34.8K $34.8K

-54.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.7 $78.7

$53.3 $53.3

47.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.37 $45.37

$63.1 $63.1

-28.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 $130

$90.9 $90.9

43.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 $137

$112 $112

22.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,045 $2,045

$1,685 $1,685

21.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,503 $1,503

$1,052 $1,052

42.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,922 $2,922

$2,224 $2,224

31.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,513 $2,513

$1,917 $1,917

31.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,509 $7,509

$2,498 $2,498

200.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,365 $5,365

$2,297 $2,297

133.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,193 $6,193

$4,468 $4,468

38.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.26

2.72%

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

Last update for Alpharetta, GA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Baltimore, MD: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,045 in Alpharetta, GA and $1,685 in Baltimore, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alpharetta, GA pays 39% 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 $92.0 in Baltimore, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $407 vs $428 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 Baltimore, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baltimore, MD is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 39% 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: $2,045 in Alpharetta, GA versus $1,685 in Baltimore, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Baltimore, MD runs roughly 25% less than in Alpharetta, GA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,262 in Alpharetta, GA versus $1,983 in Baltimore, MD. 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. Baltimore, MD 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 Baltimore, MD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Alpharetta, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.