On average, a person living in Atlanta will spend $312.95 on groceries per month, coming in below the national average at $323.72. Groceries are surprisingly affordable in Atlanta with most items falling well below the national average. Furthermore, the state doesn't have any inheritance or estate tax! 4. For anyone looking to purchase a house in Atlanta, the median property tax rate is actually below the median for the rest of the country! The median amount an Atlanta resident pays every year is just 0.91% or about $1,448, which is roughly $650 less than the country's average.Ītlanta is also very tax-friendly to retirees as Georgia doesn't tax social security retirement benefits and offers a deduction of up to $65,000 per resident on any type of retirement income as long as the person is at least 65. Georgia's progressive income tax is about average for the country. Taxes in Atlantaīetween the city, county, and state, the sales tax in Atlanta is 8.9%. Many locals state that owning a car and dealing with the traffic may be the best option if you are planning to live here especially if you have a family.įortunately, according to AAA, gas prices in Atlanta are below the national average and actually compare quite favorably to other big cities. Traffic in Atlanta also tends to be highly congested, and unfortunately, unless you live downtown, walking isn't an option as the town, and its amenities are spread out. However, the current MARTA transit lines are limited and public transit rates are dropping in Atlanta, resulting in more and more commuters either driving themselves or relying on more cost-effective options like Uber and Lyft. MARTA passes range from $9 for a day to $95 for a 30-day pass and can be beneficial if your work is on or near the current lines. If you plan on living in or near downtown Atlanta, you may want to purchase a public transit pass for MARTA (the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority).

There are several amazing Atlanta suburbs worth considering, and many of them are treasure troves for great deals on beautiful homes! These suburbs are fantastic for stretching your buck in terms of enjoying other amenities like good school districts, local parks, and easily accessible shopping centers. In recent years, many newcomers and even Atlanta natives choose to purchase homes in the suburban and rural areas due to the lower housing costs and less crowded population. On average, single-family homes in Atlanta cost about $1,100 to $1,500 per square foot. However, that median accounts for a range of possibilities, from distressed houses to multimillion-dollar mansions in Buckhead. Currently, the median price for a house in Atlanta is $312,000. Housing prices in Atlanta are the biggest contributor to the city's above-average cost of living. Let's look at the five most prominent factors that impact the cost of living in Atlanta, Georgia. The average salary for an individual in the state of Georgia is about $52,000 while the average household income in the city of Atlanta is about $70,000.

This widely varies on the part of Atlanta you choose to settle in but there are many statewide trends.

While Atlanta is above the nation's average, it's hardly higher by a big margin, especially when you consider all that the city has to offer. The intown population is lower and most intown neighborhoods are generally more expensive than the suburbs. To put this into perspective, let's look at some other cities with populations similar to Atlanta's (456,002 people):įirst of all, keep in mind that the entire metro Atlanta population is over 6 million residents. The 5 Biggest Factors Affecting the Cost of Living in AtlantaĪccording to, the cost of living in Atlanta is a 115.4 rating, compared to the averaging rating for the entire country, which is 100.

Whether it's the perfect and mild year-round weather, the diverse delicacies, or the ethnically diverse culture, visitors always come back and eventually call Atlanta home.Īs locals ourselves, there are so many reasons to love this city! But, you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't take a peek at the cost of living in Atlanta, Georgia. As one of the most desirable destinations in the country, it's no wonder why Atlanta is the most populous city in the state of Georgia.

Family of 5 average grocery bill