Cost of Living Comparison Between Rockville, MD and Atlanta, GA Cost of Living Comparison Between Rockville, MD and Atlanta, GA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,087 per month in Rockville, MD vs $3,115 in Atlanta, GA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,711 per month in Rockville, MD vs $4,422 in Atlanta, GA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,336 per month in Rockville, MD vs $5,730 in Atlanta, GA, rent included.

Rockville, MD is about 1% cheaper than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Rockville, MD and Atlanta, GA sit above the global median – Rockville, MD by 124%, Atlanta, GA by 126%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.16 $24.16

$29.83 $29.83

-19.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.7 $76.7

$117 $117

-34.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.18 $10.18

$12.11 $12.11

-15.94%

Cappuccino

$5.47 $5.47

$5.44 $5.44

0.55%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$3.03 $3.03

-13.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.04 $2.04

-12.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.59 $6.59

$7.67 $7.67

-14.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.60 $7.60

$7.81 $7.81

-2.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.89 $0.89

28.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.56 $3.56

-16.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.66 $3.66

-27.87%

Eggs

$4.02 $4.02

$4.75 $4.75

-15.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.50 $9.50

$14.85 $14.85

-36.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.85 $13.85

$15.33 $15.33

-9.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$22.13 $22.13

-15.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$6.02 $6.02

-6.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.52 $1.52

-13.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.89 $5.89

-4.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$5.31 $5.31

-16.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$3.68 $3.68

-23.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.73 $2.73

-3.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.20 $2.20

-1.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.75 $2.75

-34.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.12 $14.12

$8.49 $8.49

66.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.28 $14.28

$15.26 $15.26

-6.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.94 $3.94

-37.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$5.15 $5.15

-28.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.53 $2.53

30.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$142 $142

$113 $113

25.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 $5.10

$3.57 $3.57

42.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.45 $1.45

-22.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.10 $23.10

$24.32 $24.32

-5.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.00 $1.00

3.00%

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

$34.4K $34.4K

$37.2K $37.2K

-7.60%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$26.5K $26.5K

-5.64%

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

$297 $297

$193 $193

53.76%

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

$49.90 $49.90

$69.7 $69.7

-28.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$83.8 $83.8

-28.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.52 $42.52

$31.53 $31.53

34.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.59 $12.59

$16.23 $16.23

-22.43%

Cinema Ticket

$16.30 $16.30

$17.16 $17.16

-5.01%

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

$1,887 $1,887

$1,878 $1,878

0.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.2K $28.2K

$22.9K $22.9K

23.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.38 $46.38

$52.2 $52.2

-11.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.55 $40.55

$45.39 $45.39

-10.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 $88.6

$96.6 $96.6

-8.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$105 $105

23.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 $2,090

$2,091 $2,091

-0.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,553 $1,553

$1,497 $1,497

3.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,807 $3,807

$3,552 $3,552

7.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,893 $2,893

$2,191 $2,191

32.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,315 $4,315

$3,884 $3,884

11.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,456 $2,456

$2,614 $2,614

-6.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,208 $6,208

$5,305 $5,305

17.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

6.18

-2.43%

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

Last update for Rockville, MD: September 7, 2026

Last update for Atlanta, GA: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,090 in Rockville, MD versus $2,091 in Atlanta, GA. 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 17% higher in Rockville, MD, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Rockville, MD versus $117 in Atlanta, GA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $394 vs $474 – making Rockville, MD 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

Rockville, MD vs Atlanta, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Atlanta, GA is pricier by about 1%, 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 $4,631 per month in Rockville, MD and $4,672 in Atlanta, GA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 20% 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 $77.0 in Rockville, MD and $117 in Atlanta, GA. 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 $3,087 in Rockville, MD and $3,115 in Atlanta, GA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Rockville, MD – 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 Rockville, MD. 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.