Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Island, NY and Alpharetta, GA Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Island, NY and Alpharetta, GA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,522 in Long Island, NY versus $3,267 in Alpharetta, GA.

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

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

Living in Long Island, NY is roughly 8% more expensive than Alpharetta, GA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Long Island, NY 162% above, Alpharetta, GA 143% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 $20.03

$22.31 $22.31

-10.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.7 $98.7

$60.7 $60.7

62.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.61 $13.61

$9.08 $9.08

49.89%

Cappuccino

$4.90 $4.90

$5.35 $5.35

-8.41%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$2.59 $2.59

-7.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.00 $2.00

-12.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.85 $6.85

$6.34 $6.34

8.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.82 $7.82

2.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.98 $0.98

27.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.67 $3.67

$3.92 $3.92

-6.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.93 $4.93

$4.75 $4.75

3.79%

Eggs

$4.90 $4.90

$4.61 $4.61

6.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.48 $17.48

$13.68 $13.68

27.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$9.55 $9.55

25.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$20.23 $20.23

-25.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$5.03 $5.03

-3.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.72 $1.72

2.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.49 $4.49

-9.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 $4.12

$3.92 $3.92

5.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.70 $3.70

-26.49%

Onion (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$3.39 $3.39

12.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.28 $2.28

-2.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.47 $2.47

-5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.03 $12.03

$12.70 $12.70

-5.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$14.81 $14.81

-0.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.78 $1.78

-5.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 $4.08

$1.53 $1.53

166.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.80 $2.80

5.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$127 $127

$94.7 $94.7

34.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.94 $2.94

3.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.34 $2.34

-14.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.09 $24.09

$39.75 $39.75

-39.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.82 $0.82

10.98%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$32.7K $32.7K

-25.30%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$26.6K $26.6K

-6.50%

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

$128 $128

$279 $279

-54.25%

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

$45.10 $45.10

$53.5 $53.5

-15.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$66.5 $66.5

-6.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.48 $33.48

$40.09 $40.09

-16.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.28 $15.28

Cinema Ticket

$12.76 $12.76

$16.28 $16.28

-21.62%

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

$2,246 $2,246

$1,318 $1,318

70.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K $24.0K

$30.2K $30.2K

-20.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.65 $40.65

$69.8 $69.8

-41.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.6 $62.6

$40.05 $40.05

56.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 $74.9

$101 $101

-25.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$129 $129

0.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,777 $1,777

31.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,251 $2,251

$1,741 $1,741

29.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,152 $4,152

$3,391 $3,391

22.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,595 $3,595

$2,621 $2,621

37.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,243 $4,243

$7,734 $7,734

-45.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,299 $4,299

$5,374 $5,374

-20.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,053 $5,053

$6,274 $6,274

-19.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.56

-1.83%

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

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

Last update for Alpharetta, GA: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Long Island, NY and $1,777 in Alpharetta, GA. 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: $99.0 in Long Island, NY vs $61.0 in Alpharetta, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $407 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

Long Island, NY vs Alpharetta, GA: 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.

On paper, Alpharetta, GA earns 24% 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: $2,336 in Long Island, NY 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 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 $2,246 in Long Island, NY 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 $2,500. 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, Long Island, NY and Alpharetta, GA 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.