Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Baltimore, MD and Alpharetta, GA

For one person, living is cheaper in Baltimore, MD: $2,499 a month against $3,015 in Alpharetta, GA, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

122

Cost of Living Index in Baltimore, MD
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Baltimore, MD Living Index
149

Cost of Living Index in Alpharetta, GA
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Alpharetta, GA Living Index

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Baltimore, MD

🇺🇸 United States

$2,499

/mo nomad

Alpharetta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,015

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Baltimore, MD and in Alpharetta, GA

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,499 in Baltimore, MD versus $3,015 in Alpharetta, GA.

Baltimore, MD $2,499
Alpharetta, GA $3,015

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,913 in Baltimore, MD versus $4,418 in Alpharetta, GA.

Baltimore, MD $3,913
Alpharetta, GA $4,418

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,327 in Baltimore, MD versus $5,822 in Alpharetta, GA.

Baltimore, MD $5,327
Alpharetta, GA $5,822

Living in Baltimore, MD costs roughly 17% less than in Alpharetta, GA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Baltimore, MD 85% above, Alpharetta, GA 123% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.77 $17.77

$25.92 $25.92

-31.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$96.2 $96.2

$81.2 $81.2

18.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.82 $10.82

$9.82 $9.82

10.18%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$4.87 $4.87

7.60%

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

$3.43 $3.43

$2.52 $2.52

36.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.11 $2.11

24.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$5.78 $5.78

21.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$7.40 $7.40

7.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.93 $0.93

23.66%

White Bread (500g)

$4.16 $4.16

$4.25 $4.25

-2.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$5.73 $5.73

-28.62%

Eggs

$4.80 $4.80

$4.58 $4.58

4.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.75 $12.75

$11.41 $11.41

11.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.73 $12.73

$8.73 $8.73

45.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.47 $18.47

$20.39 $20.39

-9.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.90 $5.90

$4.61 $4.61

27.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.14 $2.14

-28.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$4.23 $4.23

35.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.41 $4.41

9.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.65 $3.65

-23.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$3.71 $3.71

-21.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.39 $2.39

0.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.77 $2.77

-17.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.13 $14.13

$8.94 $8.94

58.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.40 $15.40

$14.79 $14.79

4.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.72 $1.72

50.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.92 $3.92

-0.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.94 $2.94

-29.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$78.0 $78.0

$94.2 $94.2

-17.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 $1.75

$3.08 $3.08

-43.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.37 $2.37

-41.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.39 $24.39

$40.78 $40.78

-40.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.90 $0.90

14.44%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$32.5K $32.5K

12.13%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.3K $26.3K

-2.81%

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

$216 $216

$252 $252

-14.15%

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

$65.8 $65.8

$53.7 $53.7

22.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$89.3 $89.3

$87.4 $87.4

2.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.2 $50.2

$34.02 $34.02

47.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$48.01 $48.01

$22.25 $22.25

115.78%

Cinema Ticket

$15.23 $15.23

$16.81 $16.81

-9.40%

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

$1,980 $1,980

$1,298 $1,298

52.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.6K $35.6K

$16.0K $16.0K

121.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$77.0 $77.0

-31.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.4 $63.4

$44.98 $44.98

40.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 $91.9

$128 $128

-27.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$139 $139

-19.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,751 $1,751

$2,105 $2,105

-16.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 $1,060

$1,488 $1,488

-28.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,362 $2,362

$3,000 $3,000

-21.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,064 $2,064

$2,491 $2,491

-17.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,512 $2,512

$7,659 $7,659

-67.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,353 $2,353

$5,366 $5,366

-56.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,460 $4,460

$6,390 $6,390

-30.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.72

6.84

-1.75%

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

Last update for Baltimore, MD: October 12, 2026

Last update for Alpharetta, GA: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Baltimore, MD

$1.1K 42.4%

Alpharetta, GA

$1.5K 49.3% 40.3% $427

Groceries & Markets

Baltimore, MD

$435 17.4%

Alpharetta, GA

$414 13.7% 4.7% $20

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Baltimore, MD

$371 14.9%

Alpharetta, GA

$393 13% 5.8% $22

Eating Out

Baltimore, MD

$313 12.5%

Alpharetta, GA

$357 11.9% 14.3% $45

Clothing & Footwear

Baltimore, MD

$144 5.8%

Alpharetta, GA

$175 5.8% 21.2% $31

Getting Around

Baltimore, MD

$95 3.8%

Alpharetta, GA

$121 4% 27.4% $26

Sport & Entertainment

Baltimore, MD

$81 3.2%

Alpharetta, GA

$68 2.2% 16.1% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,751 in Baltimore, MD and $2,105 in Alpharetta, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alpharetta, GA pays 43% 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: $96.0 in Baltimore, MD vs $81.0 in Alpharetta, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $435 vs $414 per month, with Alpharetta, GA cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Baltimore, MD

🇺🇸 Alpharetta, GA

🕒 Local time

09:41 9:41 AM

Same time as Baltimore, MD

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

585,708

65,799

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.889 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Baltimore, MD Alpharetta, GA 900 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Baltimore, MD
Alpharetta, GA

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

Baltimore, MD vs Alpharetta, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baltimore, MD is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and transport. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Alpharetta, GA. 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: $1,751 in Baltimore, MD versus $2,105 in Alpharetta, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Baltimore, MD runs roughly 21% less than in Alpharetta, GA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,980 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,298 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. Baltimore, MD 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 Baltimore, MD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Alpharetta, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.