Cost of Living Comparison Between Tampa, FL and Alpharetta, GA Cost of Living Comparison Between Tampa, FL and Alpharetta, GA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,109 in Tampa, FL versus $3,041 in Alpharetta, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,547 in Tampa, FL versus $4,463 in Alpharetta, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,985 in Tampa, FL versus $5,885 in Alpharetta, GA.

Living in Tampa, FL is roughly 2% more expensive than in Alpharetta, GA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tampa, FL 126% above, Alpharetta, GA 121% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.08 $20.08

$21.84 $21.84

-8.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.1 $76.1

$80.5 $80.5

-5.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.91 $11.91

$9.83 $9.83

21.16%

Cappuccino

$5.98 $5.98

$4.70 $4.70

27.23%

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

$3.35 $3.35

$2.57 $2.57

30.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.02 $2.02

25.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.66 $5.66

23.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.11 $9.11

$7.57 $7.57

20.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.85 $0.85

42.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.18 $4.18

-10.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$5.47 $5.47

-10.60%

Eggs

$3.55 $3.55

$4.47 $4.47

-20.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.91 $13.91

$11.79 $11.79

17.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.96 $10.96

$8.97 $8.97

22.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.67 $20.67

$19.84 $19.84

4.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.59 $4.59

20.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.14 $2.14

-14.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$4.00 $4.00

-15.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.96 $3.96

-2.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.79 $3.79

-32.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.99 $2.99

$3.76 $3.76

-20.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.29 $2.29

3.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.61 $2.61

-7.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.89 $8.89

$8.88 $8.88

0.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$14.77 $14.77

2.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.74 $1.74

51.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.49 $5.49

$4.05 $4.05

35.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.92 $2.92

-33.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.3 $65.3

$94.6 $94.6

-30.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.92 $2.92

-13.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.34 $2.34

-34.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.89 $19.89

$39.87 $39.87

-50.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.88 $0.88

15.91%

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

$37.9K $37.9K

$32.0K $32.0K

18.45%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$26.9K $26.9K

2.35%

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

$207 $207

$261 $261

-20.83%

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

$70.5 $70.5

$55.2 $55.2

27.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.1 $75.1

$89.4 $89.4

-15.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.45 $48.45

$35.31 $35.31

37.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.97 $20.97

$22.37 $22.37

-6.26%

Cinema Ticket

$16.56 $16.56

$16.82 $16.82

-1.55%

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

$1,426 $1,426

$1,262 $1,262

12.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.3K $22.3K

$15.9K $15.9K

40.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 $55.7

$78.7 $78.7

-29.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.47 $44.47

$45.37 $45.37

-1.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$130 $130

-31.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$137 $137

-9.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,329 $2,329

$2,045 $2,045

13.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,668 $1,668

$1,503 $1,503

10.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,863 $3,863

$2,922 $2,922

32.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,939 $2,939

$2,513 $2,513

16.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,460 $5,460

$7,509 $7,509

-27.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,192 $2,192

$5,365 $5,365

-59.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,105 $5,105

$6,193 $6,193

-17.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.06

6.43

-5.75%

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

Last update for Tampa, FL: August 31, 2026

Last update for Alpharetta, GA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,329 in Tampa, FL and $2,045 in Alpharetta, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alpharetta, GA pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76.0 in Tampa, FL vs $80.0 in Alpharetta, GA. Groceries flip the comparison at $420 vs $407, with Alpharetta, GA 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

Tampa, FL vs Alpharetta, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alpharetta, GA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 21% 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: $2,329 in Tampa, FL versus $2,045 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 45% less than in Tampa, FL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,426 in Tampa, FL versus $1,262 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.

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 Alpharetta, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Tampa, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.