Cost of Living Comparison Between Alpharetta, GA and Long Island, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Alpharetta, GA and Long Island, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,240 in Alpharetta, GA versus $3,552 in Long Island, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,530 in Alpharetta, GA versus $5,146 in Long Island, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,819 in Alpharetta, GA versus $6,739 in Long Island, NY.

Living in Alpharetta, GA costs roughly 9% less than in Long Island, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alpharetta, GA 143% above, Long Island, NY 167% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.36 $22.36

$19.91 $19.91

12.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.7 $59.7

$99.2 $99.2

-39.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.08 $9.08

$13.36 $13.36

-32.04%

Cappuccino

$5.31 $5.31

$4.69 $4.69

13.22%

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

$2.52 $2.52

$2.45 $2.45

2.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.72 $1.72

20.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.69 $6.69

$6.83 $6.83

-2.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.86 $7.86

$7.80 $7.80

0.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.20 $1.20

-19.17%

White Bread (500g)

$4.00 $4.00

$3.72 $3.72

7.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$5.01 $5.01

-8.78%

Eggs

$4.66 $4.66

$4.71 $4.71

-1.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.41 $13.41

$17.37 $17.37

-22.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.55 $9.55

$11.94 $11.94

-20.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$15.63 $15.63

26.81%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.83 $4.83

4.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.71 $1.71

0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$4.03 $4.03

13.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$4.09 $4.09

-1.96%

Potato (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.74 $2.74

39.42%

Onion (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$3.93 $3.93

-15.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.22 $2.22

7.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.33 $2.33

11.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.44 $12.44

$12.20 $12.20

1.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.03 $15.03

$15.30 $15.30

-1.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.75 $1.75

-2.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$3.96 $3.96

-59.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.88 $2.88

-5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$96.5 $96.5

$129 $129

-25.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.07 $3.07

-0.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.03 $2.03

21.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.12 $40.12

$24.37 $24.37

64.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

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

$33.0K $33.0K

$23.6K $23.6K

40.04%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$24.5K $24.5K

10.37%

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

$282 $282

$127 $127

121.73%

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

$54.7 $54.7

$45.45 $45.45

20.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$60.6 $60.6

7.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.61 $40.61

$33.68 $33.68

20.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.30 $15.30

Cinema Ticket

$16.03 $16.03

$13.12 $13.12

22.18%

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

$1,342 $1,342

$2,288 $2,288

-41.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.1K $30.1K

$24.0K $24.0K

25.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$39.43 $39.43

73.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.91 $39.91

$63.3 $63.3

-36.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$73.7 $73.7

36.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

-0.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,806 $1,806

$2,298 $2,298

-21.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,749 $1,749

$2,224 $2,224

-21.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 $3,369

$4,021 $4,021

-16.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,663 $2,663

$3,494 $3,494

-23.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,635 $7,635

$4,249 $4,249

79.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,332 $5,332

$4,271 $4,271

24.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,190 $6,190

$5,059 $5,059

22.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.44

1.86%

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

Last update for Alpharetta, GA: July 28, 2026

Last update for Long Island, NY: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,806 in Alpharetta, GA and $2,298 in Long Island, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alpharetta, GA pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $60.0 in Alpharetta, GA vs $99.0 in Long Island, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $418 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 Long Island, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alpharetta, GA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 22% 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: $1,806 in Alpharetta, GA versus $2,298 in Long Island, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Alpharetta, GA runs roughly 33% less than in Long Island, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,342 in Alpharetta, GA versus $2,288 in Long Island, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Alpharetta, GA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Alpharetta, GA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Long Island, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Alpharetta, GA and Long Island, NY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Alpharetta, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Long Island, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.