Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Alpharetta, GA and New York, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in Alpharetta, GA: $3,015 a month against $4,950 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $23,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Alpharetta, GA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,015
/mo nomad
New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,950
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Alpharetta, GA and in New York, NY

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Alpharetta, GA and in New York, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,015 in Alpharetta, GA versus $4,950 in New York, NY.

  • Alpharetta, GA $3,015
  • New York, NY $4,950

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,418 in Alpharetta, GA versus $7,265 in New York, NY.

  • Alpharetta, GA $4,418
  • New York, NY $7,265

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,822 in Alpharetta, GA versus $9,581 in New York, NY.

  • Alpharetta, GA $5,822
  • New York, NY $9,581

Living in Alpharetta, GA costs roughly 39% less than in New York, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alpharetta, GA 123% above, New York, NY 267% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alpharetta, GA
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.92 $25.92
$24.65 $24.65
5.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2 $81.2
$122 $122
-33.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.82 $9.82
$13.91 $13.91
-29.40%
Cappuccino
$4.87 $4.87
$6.59 $6.59
-26.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.84 $3.84
-34.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.87 $2.87
-26.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.78 $5.78
$7.79 $7.79
-25.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.40 $7.40
$9.85 $9.85
-24.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alpharetta, GA
New York, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.38 $1.38
-32.61%
White Bread (500g)
$4.25 $4.25
$4.68 $4.68
-9.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.73 $5.73
$7.54 $7.54
-24.01%
Eggs
$4.58 $4.58
$5.93 $5.93
-22.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.41 $11.41
$18.83 $18.83
-39.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.73 $8.73
$17.36 $17.36
-49.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.39 $20.39
$18.51 $18.51
10.16%
Apples (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$6.74 $6.74
-31.60%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.09 $2.09
2.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.23 $4.23
$6.07 $6.07
-30.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$6.74 $6.74
-34.57%
Potato (1kg)
$3.65 $3.65
$4.05 $4.05
-9.88%
Onion (1kg)
$3.71 $3.71
$4.37 $4.37
-15.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.89 $2.89
-17.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.60 $2.60
6.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.94 $8.94
$18.72 $18.72
-52.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.79 $14.79
$20.06 $20.06
-26.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$3.25 $3.25
-47.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 $3.92
$3.73 $3.73
5.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Alpharetta, GA
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.94 $2.94
$3.06 $3.06
-3.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.2 $94.2
$140 $140
-32.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 $3.08
$3.04 $3.04
1.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.15 $2.15
10.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.78 $40.78
$41.82 $41.82
-2.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.12 $1.12
-19.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5K $32.5K
$35.5K $35.5K
-8.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.0K $26.0K
0.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alpharetta, GA
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$252 $252
$219 $219
15.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.7 $53.7
$73.2 $73.2
-26.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.4 $87.4
$72.0 $72.0
21.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alpharetta, GA
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.02 $34.02
$123 $123
-72.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.25 $22.25
$67.7 $67.7
-67.12%
Cinema Ticket
$16.81 $16.81
$22.85 $22.85
-26.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alpharetta, GA
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,298 $1,298
$3,333 $3,333
-61.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K $16.0K
$60.0K $60.0K
-73.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alpharetta, GA
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.0 $77.0
$75.2 $75.2
2.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 $44.98
$52.4 $52.4
-14.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 $128
$122 $122
4.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 $139
$133 $133
4.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alpharetta, GA
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,105 $2,105
$4,389 $4,389
-52.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,488 $1,488
$3,130 $3,130
-52.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,000 $3,000
$8,918 $8,918
-66.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,491 $2,491
$5,354 $5,354
-53.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,659 $7,659
$19.4K $19.4K
-60.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,366 $5,366
$6,806 $6,806
-21.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alpharetta, GA
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,390 $6,390
$5,343 $5,343
19.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.84
6.82
0.29%

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

Last update for Alpharetta, GA: October 12, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Alpharetta, GA
$1.5K
New York, NY
$3.1K 110% $1.6K
Groceries & Markets
Alpharetta, GA
$414
New York, NY
$545 31.6% $131
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alpharetta, GA
$393
New York, NY
$364 7.3% $29
Eating Out
Alpharetta, GA
$357
New York, NY
$404 12.9% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Alpharetta, GA
$175
New York, NY
$172 1.6% $2.7
Getting Around
Alpharetta, GA
$121
New York, NY
$167 37.8% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Alpharetta, GA
$68
New York, NY
$168 149% $101

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,105 in Alpharetta, GA and $4,389 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alpharetta, GA pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $81.0 in Alpharetta, GA vs $122 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $414 vs $545 per month, with Alpharetta, GA cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Alpharetta, GA
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🕒 Local time
16:15 4:15 PM
16:15 4:15 PM
Same time as Alpharetta, GA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
65,799
8,804,190
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Alpharetta, GA New York, NY 1,150 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Alpharetta, GA
  • New York, NY

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is New York, NY cheaper than Alpharetta, GA?
Alpharetta, GA is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Alpharetta, GA or New York, NY?
Average pay runs 20% 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.
What is the rent difference between Alpharetta, GA and New York, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,105 in Alpharetta, GA versus $4,389 in New York, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Alpharetta, GA runs roughly 49% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,298 in Alpharetta, GA versus $3,333 in New York, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Alpharetta, GA or in New York, NY?
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.
Is Alpharetta, GA or New York, NY more family-friendly?
For families, Alpharetta, GA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in New York, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Alpharetta, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Alpharetta, GA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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