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: $2,997 in Tampa, FL versus $3,182 in Alpharetta, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,398 in Tampa, FL versus $4,521 in Alpharetta, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,800 in Tampa, FL versus $5,860 in Alpharetta, GA.

Living in Tampa, FL costs roughly 6% less than in Alpharetta, GA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tampa, FL 124% above, Alpharetta, GA 138% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.90 $19.90

$21.66 $21.66

-8.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.9 $80.9

$60.4 $60.4

34.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.18 $12.18

$9.04 $9.04

34.73%

Cappuccino

$4.99 $4.99

$5.16 $5.16

-3.29%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.49 $2.49

6.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.01 $2.01

2.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.15 $7.15

$6.46 $6.46

10.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.83 $7.83

4.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.99 $0.99

27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.86 $3.86

7.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.54 $4.54

14.98%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$4.47 $4.47

-1.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.10 $16.10

$13.34 $13.34

20.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.37 $11.37

$9.86 $9.86

15.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.07 $16.07

$20.24 $20.24

-20.60%

Apples (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$5.08 $5.08

25.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.68 $1.68

4.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.63 $4.63

-6.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$4.07 $4.07

15.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.69 $3.69

-2.98%

Onion (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$3.53 $3.53

3.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.39 $2.39

3.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.51 $2.51

-1.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.13 $8.13

$12.63 $12.63

-35.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.17 $16.17

$15.25 $15.25

6.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.72 $1.72

42.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$1.55 $1.55

127.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.83 $2.83

-30.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.7 $66.7

$96.5 $96.5

-30.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.98 $2.98

-18.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.38 $2.38

-35.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$39.46 $39.46

-24.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.88 $0.88

3.41%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$32.7K $32.7K

5.55%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

0.24%

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

$234 $234

$279 $279

-15.95%

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

$68.2 $68.2

$53.5 $53.5

27.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.8 $70.8

$65.3 $65.3

8.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.63 $38.63

$39.61 $39.61

-2.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.86 $12.86

$14.79 $14.79

-13.05%

Cinema Ticket

$16.17 $16.17

$16.13 $16.13

0.25%

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

$1,273 $1,273

$1,317 $1,317

-3.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K $14.1K

$29.6K $29.6K

-52.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$69.0 $69.0

-17.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.47 $36.47

$39.96 $39.96

-8.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.3 $95.3

$103 $103

-7.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$126 $126

7.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 $2,035

$1,784 $1,784

14.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,535 $1,535

$1,758 $1,758

-12.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,671 $3,671

$3,343 $3,343

9.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,710 $2,710

$2,669 $2,669

1.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,319 $5,319

$7,654 $7,654

-30.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,310 $2,310

$5,295 $5,295

-56.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,681 $4,681

$6,290 $6,290

-25.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.56

-1.22%

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

Last update for Tampa, FL: July 12, 2026

Last update for Alpharetta, GA: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,035 in Tampa, FL and $1,784 in Alpharetta, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alpharetta, GA pays 34% 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: $81.0 in Tampa, FL vs $60.0 in Alpharetta, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $438 vs $409 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

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

Tampa, FL is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 34% 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: $2,035 in Tampa, FL versus $1,784 in Alpharetta, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Tampa, FL runs roughly 45% less than in Alpharetta, GA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,273 in Tampa, FL versus $1,317 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 $3,000. Tampa, FL 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 Tampa, FL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Alpharetta, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.