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: $3,267 in Alpharetta, GA versus $3,522 in Long Island, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,537 in Alpharetta, GA versus $5,143 in Long Island, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,807 in Alpharetta, GA versus $6,764 in Long Island, NY.

Living in Alpharetta, GA costs roughly 7% 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 162% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.31 $22.31

$20.03 $20.03

11.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.7 $60.7

$98.7 $98.7

-38.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.08 $9.08

$13.61 $13.61

-33.28%

Cappuccino

$5.35 $5.35

$4.90 $4.90

9.18%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$2.39 $2.39

8.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.76 $1.76

13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.34 $6.34

$6.85 $6.85

-7.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 $7.82

$8.05 $8.05

-2.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.25 $1.25

-21.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.92 $3.92

$3.67 $3.67

6.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$4.93 $4.93

-3.65%

Eggs

$4.61 $4.61

$4.90 $4.90

-5.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 $13.68

$17.48 $17.48

-21.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.55 $9.55

$11.95 $11.95

-20.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.23 $20.23

$15.17 $15.17

33.36%

Apples (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$4.85 $4.85

3.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.76 $1.76

-2.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.05 $4.05

10.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$4.12 $4.12

-4.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.72 $2.72

36.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.81 $3.81

-11.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.23 $2.23

2.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.34 $2.34

5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.70 $12.70

$12.03 $12.03

5.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$14.73 $14.73

0.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.69 $1.69

5.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$4.08 $4.08

-62.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.96 $2.96

-5.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.7 $94.7

$127 $127

-25.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.04 $3.04

-3.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.01 $2.01

16.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.75 $39.75

$24.09 $24.09

65.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.91 $0.91

-9.89%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$24.4K $24.4K

33.87%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$24.9K $24.9K

6.95%

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

$279 $279

$128 $128

118.60%

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

$53.5 $53.5

$45.10 $45.10

18.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$61.9 $61.9

7.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.09 $40.09

$33.48 $33.48

19.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.28 $15.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.28 $16.28

$12.76 $12.76

27.59%

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

$1,318 $1,318

$2,246 $2,246

-41.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K $30.2K

$24.0K $24.0K

26.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$40.65 $40.65

71.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 $40.05

$62.6 $62.6

-36.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$74.9 $74.9

34.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$130 $130

-0.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,777 $1,777

$2,336 $2,336

-23.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,741 $1,741

$2,251 $2,251

-22.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,391 $3,391

$4,152 $4,152

-18.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 $2,621

$3,595 $3,595

-27.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,734 $7,734

$4,243 $4,243

82.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,374 $5,374

$4,299 $4,299

25.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,274 $6,274

$5,053 $5,053

24.18%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Long Island, NY: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,777 in Alpharetta, GA and $2,336 in Long Island, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alpharetta, GA pays 24% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $61.0 in Alpharetta, GA vs $99.0 in Long Island, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $407 vs $417 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 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Alpharetta, GA pays 24% more on average, 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: $1,777 in Alpharetta, GA versus $2,336 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 34% less than in Long Island, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,318 in Alpharetta, GA versus $2,246 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 8% less than in Long Island, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.