Atlanta, Georgia
Living in Atlanta, Georgia is close to the national average, with a cost of living index of 102 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,843 a month, 5% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.46 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 37% of the area's $91,490 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.46
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,843
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$13.00
Combo meal
Electricity
15.9¢
per kWh · ~$143/mo
Car Insurance
$207/mo
$2,480/yr
Median Household Income
$91,490
37% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $2,480 in Atlanta. Compare rates:
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Some prices above are regional estimates. Submit a receipt from a local store to help us show what Atlanta residents actually pay.
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Find Apartments
Avg rent $1,843/mo in Atlanta. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
$1.99 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
$3.19 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
$6.49 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
$4.99 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
$3.49 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
$4.99 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
$5.32 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
$4.00 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
$1.69 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
$4.72 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
$9.19 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.44 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
$3.59 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Apples (3 lb)
$5.31 estimate
$3.99 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
$1.79 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
$3.49 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.78 estimate
$3.79 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Yogurt (32 oz)
$5.31 estimate
$6.49 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Cereal (family size)
$6.57 estimate
$5.00 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
Frozen Pizza
$8.76 estimate
$5.99 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026)
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility$1.99 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon)$3.19 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb)$6.49 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf)$4.99 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb)$3.49 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb)$4.99 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb)$5.32 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb)$4.00 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb)$1.69 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb)$4.72 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz)$9.19 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.03 | $5.44 | +35.0% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb)$3.59 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate$3.99 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.63 | $5.31 | +14.7% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb)$1.79 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head)$3.49 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate$3.79 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $5.49 | $7.78 | +41.7% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate$6.49 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.50 | $5.31 | +18.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate$5.00 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $5.09 | $6.57 | +29.1% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate$5.99 @ Kroger - Cascade-Citi Center (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $6.32 | $8.76 | +38.6% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$13.00
Casual Dining
$26.40
Monthly Spend
$454.58
+4.51% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $8.60
$13.87
+61.3%Wendy's
2022: $9.71
$14.98
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $10.40
$15.53
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $4.77
$6.62
+38.8%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Atlanta?
Average 1BR: $1,511/mo · 2BR: $2,175/mo
Local Workforce
2024 · BLS QCEWTotal Jobs
948k
Median Weekly Pay
$1,939
$101k/yr
Top Sector
Professional & Business Services
Household vs Worker Pay
$91k
household median
Employment by Sector — Atlanta
% of local workforce · avg weekly wage · 5-year growth trend
~$132k/yr
~$75k/yr
~$79k/yr
~$40k/yr
~$151k/yr
Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual · County FIPS 13121
Highest Paying Sector
Information
$3,351/wk · $174k/yr
Most Workers (lowest wage)
Leisure & Hospitality
$764/wk · $40k/yr
Atlanta Cost of Living FAQ
Is Atlanta, GA expensive to live in?
Atlanta has a cost of living index of 102, where 100 is the US average, so it is close to average. It is the most expensive of the 17 Georgia cities we track.
What is the average rent in Atlanta, GA?
Typical rent in Atlanta is $1,843 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 5% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,511 and two bedrooms about $2,175. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Atlanta?
Rent in Atlanta rose 2.1% over the past year, slower than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Atlanta?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.46 a gallon in Atlanta as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Georgia. That is 13% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Atlanta?
Homes in Georgia pay an average of 15.9 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Atlanta is about $143.
How much is car insurance in Atlanta?
Full coverage car insurance averages $2,480 a year in Georgia, or about $207 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Atlanta?
Median household income in the Atlanta area is $91,490 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $33,888 a year, or 37% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,502 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Atlanta compare with the rest of Georgia?
Rent in Atlanta is 20% above the $1,532 average across the 17 Georgia cities we track, and its cost of living index of 102 compares with a state average of 95.
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