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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $3,267 in Alpharetta, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,104 in Austin, TX versus $4,537 in Alpharetta, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,490 in Austin, TX versus $5,807 in Alpharetta, GA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 17% less than in Alpharetta, GA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Alpharetta, GA 143% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.36 $19.36

$22.31 $22.31

-13.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.7 $73.7

$60.7 $60.7

21.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 $10.19

$9.08 $9.08

12.22%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.35 $5.35

6.73%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.59 $2.59

2.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.00 $2.00

9.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$6.34 $6.34

-6.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$7.82 $7.82

3.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.98 $0.98

11.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.92 $3.92

-13.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.75 $4.75

-29.68%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$4.61 $4.61

-3.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.87 $11.87

$13.68 $13.68

-13.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$9.55 $9.55

13.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$20.23 $20.23

-29.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$5.03 $5.03

-4.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.72 $1.72

-10.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.49 $4.49

1.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.92 $3.92

1.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$3.70 $3.70

-22.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.39 $3.39

-17.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.28 $2.28

-14.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.47 $2.47

-10.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.07 $9.07

$12.70 $12.70

-28.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$14.81 $14.81

0.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.78 $1.78

28.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$1.53 $1.53

122.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.80 $2.80

-46.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.63 $42.63

$94.7 $94.7

-54.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.94 $2.94

46.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.34 $2.34

-23.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.51 $34.51

$39.75 $39.75

-13.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$0.82 $0.82

-8.54%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$32.7K $32.7K

-22.85%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

-0.17%

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

$176 $176

$279 $279

-37.00%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$53.5 $53.5

11.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$66.5 $66.5

0.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.4 $62.4

$40.09 $40.09

55.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.96 $9.96

$15.28 $15.28

-34.82%

Cinema Ticket

$15.04 $15.04

$16.28 $16.28

-7.62%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,318 $1,318

5.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$30.2K $30.2K

-25.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$69.8 $69.8

-19.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 $46.71

$40.05 $40.05

16.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$101 $101

-13.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$129 $129

-7.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,174 $2,174

$1,777 $1,777

22.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 $1,439

$1,741 $1,741

-17.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,754 $3,754

$3,391 $3,391

10.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,698 $2,698

$2,621 $2,621

2.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,033 $7,033

$7,734 $7,734

-9.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,113 $3,113

$5,374 $5,374

-42.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,081 $5,081

$6,274 $6,274

-19.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.56

-1.68%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: June 8, 2026

Last update for Alpharetta, GA: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,174 in Austin, TX and $1,777 in Alpharetta, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alpharetta, GA pays 23% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $61.0 in Alpharetta, GA. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $407, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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

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

Austin, TX is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Alpharetta, GA earns 23% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,174 in Austin, TX versus $1,777 in Alpharetta, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 122% less than in Alpharetta, GA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,318 in Alpharetta, GA. 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. Austin, TX 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Alpharetta, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.