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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,991 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $2,659 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,251 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $4,101 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,512 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $5,542 in Austin, TX, rent included.

Atlanta, GA costs about 12% more than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Atlanta, GA and Austin, TX sit above the global median – Atlanta, GA by 123%, Austin, TX by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.90 $20.90

$19.63 $19.63

6.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.3 $90.3

$75.1 $75.1

20.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$9.92 $9.92

19.56%

Cappuccino

$5.03 $5.03

$5.67 $5.67

-11.29%

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

$2.62 $2.62

$2.77 $2.77

-5.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.17 $2.17

5.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$5.84 $5.84

1.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.77 $7.77

3.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.09 $1.09

-9.17%

White Bread (500g)

$3.81 $3.81

$3.41 $3.41

11.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.45 $5.45

$3.43 $3.43

58.89%

Eggs

$4.06 $4.06

$4.39 $4.39

-7.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.35 $13.35

$11.95 $11.95

11.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.87 $15.87

$10.76 $10.76

47.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.05 $17.05

$14.29 $14.29

19.31%

Apples (1kg)

$7.22 $7.22

$4.84 $4.84

49.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.55 $1.55

-2.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.82 $6.82

$4.46 $4.46

52.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$3.91 $3.91

50.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.74 $2.74

20.07%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.74 $2.74

20.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.04 $2.04

23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.25 $2.25

35.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.28 $7.28

$8.93 $8.93

-18.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.14 $15.14

$14.85 $14.85

1.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.35 $2.35

51.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.49 $5.49

$3.57 $3.57

53.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.47 $1.47

68.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$93.5 $93.5

$42.98 $42.98

117.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.28 $4.28

-20.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.84 $1.84

-17.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.99 $23.99

$35.54 $35.54

-32.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.72 $0.72

20.83%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$25.7K $25.7K

39.18%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.38%

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

$196 $196

$174 $174

13.13%

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

$56.4 $56.4

$60.2 $60.2

-6.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.5 $73.5

$66.3 $66.3

10.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.78 $45.78

$62.8 $62.8

-27.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.84 $9.84

$9.83 $9.83

0.10%

Cinema Ticket

$16.14 $16.14

$15.24 $15.24

5.91%

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

$1,246 $1,246

$1,387 $1,387

-10.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.8K $25.8K

$22.2K $22.2K

16.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$56.7 $56.7

-8.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.72 $39.72

$45.34 $45.34

-12.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 $98.9

$86.5 $86.5

14.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$119 $119

-6.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,790 $1,790

$2,247 $2,247

-20.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,500 $1,500

$1,430 $1,430

4.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,094 $3,094

$3,778 $3,778

-18.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,311 $2,311

$2,641 $2,641

-12.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,821 $3,821

$7,044 $7,044

-45.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,660 $2,660

$3,162 $3,162

-15.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,346 $5,346

$5,108 $5,108

4.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.45

1.40%

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

Last update for Atlanta, GA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,790 in Atlanta, GA versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 5% higher in Atlanta, GA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Atlanta, GA versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $481 vs $377 – making Austin, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Yes – Atlanta, GA is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,486 per month in Atlanta, GA and $3,989 in Austin, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Austin, TX, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% more in Atlanta, GA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Atlanta, GA and $75.0 in Austin, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,991 in Atlanta, GA and $2,659 in Austin, TX. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Austin, TX – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Austin, TX. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Atlanta, GA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.