Living Expenses in Atlanta: What It Really Costs to Live in the ATL

Living in Atlanta, Georgia can feel very different depending on your neighborhood, lifestyle, and commute. Overall, Atlanta’s cost of living is often lower than New York, Boston, or San Francisco, but can feel high compared with many other Southern cities—especially when it comes to housing and transportation.

This guide breaks down typical living expenses in Atlanta and how they play out in real life so you can budget more confidently, whether you’re already here, planning a move, or just trying to understand how costs work in the city.

Big Picture: What Drives Living Costs in Atlanta?

For most people in Atlanta, the largest monthly expenses are:

• Housing
• Transportation (especially cars and commuting)
• Food (groceries + eating out)
• Utilities and internet
• Health care and insurance
• Child care and education (if you have kids)

How much you pay will vary a lot depending on:

• Whether you live intown (e.g., Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, West Midtown) or outside the Perimeter (OTP) in suburbs like Marietta, Decatur (unincorporated), or Alpharetta
• Whether you own a car or rely on MARTA
• Whether you rent an apartment, share a house, or own a home

Use the sections below to get a realistic sense of what to expect.

Housing Costs in Atlanta

Housing is usually the single biggest cost for people living in Atlanta.

Renting in Atlanta

Rent prices change by neighborhood, building age, and whether you’re near a MARTA station or popular commercial area.

In general:

• Intown / near popular areas (Midtown, Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, Buckhead)
  You’ll often see:
  • Higher rents
  • Newer buildings, amenities, and parking charges
• Transitional and less central neighborhoods (West End, Edgewood, parts of Southwest Atlanta)
  Often more budget-friendly, with trade-offs in commute, walkability, or amenities.
• Suburban areas (Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Tucker, Stone Mountain, South Fulton)
  May offer more space and parking included, but commuting and car costs can be higher.

A simple way to think about it:

💡 Tip: Many Atlanta renters save money by:

• Getting roommates in larger units
• Living a bit farther from the BeltLine or main nightlife corridors
• Balancing rent cost against commute and parking (which can quietly add up)

Owning a Home in Atlanta

Home prices in Atlanta range widely by neighborhood and school zone. Some general patterns:

• Intown neighborhoods like Virginia-Highland, Morningside, Grant Park, and Candler Park tend to have:
  • Higher home prices
  • Older homes that may need updates
• Emerging or transitional neighborhoods (parts of West Atlanta, Southwest Atlanta) may offer:
  • Lower purchase prices
  • Higher future development potential, but also more uncertainty
• Suburban areas (Cobb, Gwinnett, DeKalb, Clayton, Fayette counties) often:
  • Offer more square footage for the price
  • Bring higher dependence on cars and longer commutes

If you’re budgeting to buy in Atlanta, remember to factor in:

• Property taxes (paid via your county, like Fulton County or DeKalb County)
• Homeowners insurance
• HOA fees in many townhome and condo communities
• Maintenance costs, especially for older homes

For questions about property tax bills or exemptions, you can contact:

• Fulton County Tax Commissioner
  141 Pryor St SW, Suite 1085, Atlanta, GA 30303
  Phone: (404) 613-6100

Utilities and Internet

Utility costs in Atlanta depend heavily on:

• Size and age of your home or apartment
• Insulation and energy efficiency
• Whether your place has gas heat or electric heat
• How much you use air conditioning in the hot, humid summers

Typical recurring utilities:

• Electricity – Used for A/C, lights, appliances; summer bills can jump as A/C works harder.
• Natural gas – Common for heating, hot water, and sometimes cooking.
• Water/sewer/trash – May be included in rent in some buildings; homeowners pay via local utility.
• Internet – Costs vary by provider and speed.

Many Atlantans report:

• Higher electric bills in the summer due to air conditioning
• Moderate gas bills in the winter (for gas-heated homes)
• Water/sewer/trash as a steady, predictable cost

If you’re in the City of Atlanta, water/sewer service is handled by:

• City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management
  Customer Service: 72 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
  Customer Service Phone: (404) 546-0311

Transportation Costs in Atlanta

Transportation is often the second-largest expense after housing—and in some cases, it can feel just as big.

Car Ownership

Atlanta is still largely a car-dependent city. Many households have at least one car, and suburban households often have two or more.

Common car-related expenses:

• Car payment (if financed or leased)
• Auto insurance (premium amounts can vary a lot by ZIP code and driving record)
• Gas (commuting on I-75/I-85, I-285, GA-400, and I-20 can add significant miles)
• Parking:
  • Many apartment complexes include parking, but some intown buildings charge extra
  • Paid parking at workplaces, events, or in busy districts like Downtown and Midtown
• Maintenance and repairs (tires, oil changes, brakes)

Since traffic can be heavy at rush hour, people with long commutes often find gas and time costs to be major quality-of-life issues, not just financial ones.

MARTA and Other Transit Options

If your home and workplace line up well, MARTA can significantly cut your transportation costs.

Key points:

• MARTA Rail & Bus serve:
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
  • Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead
  • Parts of Sandy Springs, Doraville, College Park, and Decatur
• Breeze Cards are used for payment on MARTA trains and buses.
• Some intown residents combine:
  • MARTA + walking
  • MARTA + bike/scooter rides
  • MARTA + occasional ride-hailing (Uber/Lyft)

Contact MARTA for route and fare details:

• Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)
  Headquarters: 2424 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
  Customer Service: (404) 848-5000

Balancing Car vs. Transit Costs

Many Atlantans reduce costs by:

• Living near a MARTA station to cut down on daily driving
• Carpooling for office commutes
• Using transit during the week and a car only for errands and weekend trips

When comparing rent in a transit-connected neighborhood vs. a cheaper but farther-out suburb, consider:

• Commute time + gas
• Parking fees
• Wear-and-tear and maintenance

In some cases, paying a bit more in rent to live closer in can save money overall once transportation is factored in.

Food Costs: Groceries and Dining Out

Food costs in Atlanta depend heavily on your habits—cooking at home vs. eating out, and where you shop.

Groceries

Atlanta has a mix of:

• Regional supermarket chains
• Discount grocers
• International markets (especially on Buford Highway and in parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett)
• Farmers markets and co-ops

Living near international corridors like Buford Highway can open up affordable produce and specialty ingredient options that many residents use to keep grocery bills reasonable.

People often cut grocery costs by:

• Buying staples at discount or bulk stores
• Shopping at farmers markets for seasonal produce
• Cooking at home and meal prepping for the week

Eating Out

Atlanta has a vibrant restaurant scene—from food trucks and local diners to fine dining in Buckhead, Midtown, and along the BeltLine.

Typical patterns:

• Intown neighborhoods (Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, West Midtown) tend to have:
  • Higher menu prices, especially at popular or trendy spots
  • Brunch and nightlife that can add up quickly
• Suburban areas and less touristy neighborhoods often have:
  • More modestly priced local spots
  • Many international options at good value

If you dine out frequently, especially in hotspot areas, plan for a significant monthly restaurant budget. Many Atlantans keep costs down by:

• Limiting restaurant meals to weekends
• Choosing lunch specials instead of dinners
• Mixing higher-end meals with low-cost favorites like local taquerias or soul food spots

Health Care and Insurance Costs in Atlanta

Health care costs in Atlanta are similar to those in many large U.S. metro areas: they can be substantial, and much depends on your insurance plan.

Common health-related expenses:

• Health insurance premiums (employer-sponsored, marketplace, or private)
• Co-pays and deductibles for doctor visits, specialists, and prescriptions
• Urgent care or emergency visits, which can be expensive without good coverage
• Dental and vision care, often separate from standard health insurance

Atlanta has several large hospital systems with major campuses, including:

• Emory Healthcare
• Grady Health System (Grady Memorial Hospital)
• Piedmont Healthcare
• Wellstar Health System

If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may want to explore options through:

• Georgia Department of Community Health
  2 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
  Main Phone: (404) 656-4507

Child Care, Schools, and Education Costs

If you have children, child care and education can become one of the largest living expenses in Atlanta.

Child Care and Preschool

Child care costs in Atlanta vary by:

• Age of child
• Type of care (in-home provider, church or community-based program, private center)
• Location (intown vs. suburban, neighborhood income levels)

You’ll find:

• Full-time daycare and preschool programs
• Part-time preschool, Mother’s Morning Out, and drop-in care
• After-school programs run by schools, YMCAs, and community centers

For help finding licensed child care, many Atlanta parents refer to:

• Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL)
  2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr SE, 9th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30334
  Phone: (404) 656-5957

K–12 School-Related Costs

Public school attendance itself does not have tuition for residents, but families still budget for:

• School supplies and uniforms (where required)
• Activity fees and field trips
• After-school care
• Tutoring or enrichment programs
• Transportation if not using school buses

In the Atlanta Public Schools (APS) district, some intown neighborhoods are zoned to particularly in-demand schools, which can influence:

• Housing costs in those zones
• Families’ decisions to rent or buy in specific attendance areas

APS main office:

• Atlanta Public Schools (APS)
  130 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
  Main Phone: (404) 802-3500

Private and charter schools also exist throughout the metro area, with tuition levels ranging widely by school.

Taxes and Fees That Affect Daily Living

While not always obvious month-to-month, taxes and local fees shape overall living costs in Atlanta.

Sales Tax

When you shop or dine out in Atlanta, you pay state and local sales tax on most goods and many services. This affects:

• Groceries less than restaurant meals (depending on items and rules)
• Clothing, household items, and electronics
• Entertainment and some services

Property Taxes

If you own a home or condo, property taxes are a recurring cost. These are:

• Set by your county (such as Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Clayton, Gwinnett) and the city
• Influenced by property value assessments

Homeowners in the City of Atlanta typically receive bills through their county tax office. It can be helpful to ask about homestead exemptions, which can reduce tax liability if you live in the home as a primary residence.

Other Local Costs

Other line items that commonly show up in Atlanta residents’ budgets:

• Car registration and tag fees (paid through your county tag office)
• Parking fees for intown work or events
• Fitness memberships, gyms, or studio classes (especially common in urban neighborhoods)
• Pet fees and deposits in rental units

For vehicle-related fees in Fulton County (including much of Atlanta):

• Fulton County Tax Commissioner – Motor Vehicle Division
  141 Pryor St SW, Suite 1085, Atlanta, GA 30303
  Motor Vehicle Customer Service: (404) 613-6100

Entertainment, Lifestyle, and “Fun Money”

Atlanta offers plenty of free and low-cost options, but it’s easy to spend more if you love going out.

Common lifestyle expenses:

• Sports and events – Tickets to see the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta United, plus concerts and festivals
• Nightlife – Bars and clubs in Midtown, Edgewood, Buckhead, and the BeltLine areas
• Museums and attractions – Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and others
• Outdoor activities – Many parks and trails are free, including:
  • Piedmont Park (1320 Monroe Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30306)
  • Atlanta BeltLine Eastside and Westside Trails

Ways Atlantans keep entertainment costs manageable:

• Using free concerts and festivals in parks and public spaces
• Enjoying the BeltLine and local parks for biking, walking, and picnics
• Taking advantage of resident-discount days where available
• Prioritizing a few “big ticket” events each year and keeping the rest of the month low-cost

How Atlanta Costs Compare Within the Metro

Even within the greater Atlanta area, expenses can feel very different:

• City of Atlanta, intown neighborhoods

  • Higher housing and parking
  • Lower potential transportation costs if you can use MARTA or walk/bike
  • Greater access to free or low-cost community events

• Close-in suburbs (Decatur, Smyrna, Brookhaven, Sandy Springs)

  • Often mid-range housing costs
  • Strong local dining and shopping scenes
  • Car still often necessary, but distances may be shorter than exurban commutes

• Farther suburbs and exurbs (Kennesaw, McDonough, Lawrenceville, Douglasville, etc.)

  • Potentially lower housing costs per square foot
  • Higher commuting time and gas usage
  • Fewer transit options, more car dependency

When evaluating where to live in the Atlanta area, it helps to add up:

1. Rent or mortgage
2. Utilities
3. Transportation (including your commute)
4. Child care or school-related expenses (if applicable)
5. Lifestyle costs you care about (gyms, going out, hobbies)

Practical Budgeting Tips for Living in Atlanta

To keep living expenses under control in Atlanta, residents often:

• Choose housing with intention

  • Balance cheaper rent vs. longer commutes
  • Consider parking costs and whether you can use MARTA regularly

• Track car-related costs

  • Factor gas, insurance, tags, and parking into your monthly budget—not just the car payment

• Plan for seasonal utility swings

  • Expect higher electricity bills during the summer
  • Keep a small cushion for unexpected spikes

• Use Atlanta’s free and low-cost options

  • Explore parks, BeltLine trails, free festivals, and neighborhood events instead of expensive outings every weekend

• Review insurance options

  • Compare health, auto, and renters or homeowners insurance periodically to align with your current needs and budget

Understanding living expenses in Atlanta is about more than a single number. It’s how housing, transportation, and lifestyle interact for your specific situation and neighborhood. By breaking each cost category down and considering where you live, how you commute, and how you spend your free time, you can build a budget that fits real life in Atlanta—and adjust it as the city and your circumstances change.