How Atlanta Stackes Up

I have been asked several times recently by folks planning to relocate to the Atlanta area, how the city stacks up compared to other U.S. cities in terms of housing, utilities, health care, apartments, etc.

The truth is, when it comes to almost every expense navigated by your wallet, Atlanta is well below the national norm. Research shows that Atlanta is one of the most affordable cities in the U.S. You can literally cut costs on everything from movie tickets to a box of cereal with a move to Atlanta. This bustling metropolis offers world-class entertainment, shopping, sports and dining at a fraction of the cost of other U.S. cities. As your living expenses drop, you can relish in your new found access to the finer things-whether it be a Braves game or a Broadway play.

Consider the following expenses of a single family home, apartment rent, movies for 2, cup of coffee, cereal, dental visit, beauty salon trip and dry cleaning in the cities of Atlanta, NYC, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC and Chicago.

Cost of Single Family Home
According to Bankrate.com the average price of a single family home in the Atlanta metro area is $266,467. Compare that to $1,130,511 in NYC, $820,923 in San Francisco, $389,423 in Seattle, $653,020 in Washington DC and $360,000 in Chicago.

Cost of Apartment Rent
Bankrate.com compared apartment rents and found that the average monthly rental for a 1 to 2 bedroom apartment in Atlanta averaged $798.00/month. Compare that to $3,340/month in NYC, $2,229/month in San Francisco, $1,364/month in Seattle, $1,655 in Washington D.C. and $1,503/month in Chicago.

Movies For 2
Bankrate.com found that a trip to the movies for two people in Atlanta averaged $22.00. Compare that to $28.00 in NYC, $24.00 in San Francisco and Seattle, $25.00 in Washington, D.C. and $23.00 in Chicago.

Cup of Coffee
It's cheaper to drink coffee in Atlanta too. Bankrate.com reports that a cup of coffee in the Atlanta metro area averages about $3.53 per cup. Compare that to $5.99in NYC, $5.77 in San Francisco, $4.70 in Seattle, $3.59 in Washington, D.C and $4.85 in Chicago.

Cereal
Bankrate.com compared the price of cereal in these cities too. According to Bankrate.com, a box of cereal in Atlanta averages $3.71 compared to $5.59 in NYC, $4.19 in San Francisco, $4.04 in Seattle, $3.88 in Washington, D.C. and $4.39 in Chicago.

Dental Visit
You'll be glad to know that it is also cheaper to visit your dentist in the Atlanta metro area. Bankrate.com found that it is easier to keep your "pearly whites" -- well...Pearly in Atlanta. The average dental visit runs about $70.80 in Atlanta. Compare that to $194.25 in NYC, $129.56 in San Francisco, $95.52 in Seattle, $104.11 in Washington, D.C. and $87.50 in Chicago.

Are you smiling yet?

Trip to Beauty Salon
A trip to the beauty salon or a trim will cost you about $46.88 in Atlanta. Compare that to $47.00 in NYC, $60.00 in San Francisco, $39.80 in Seattle, $48.40 in Washington, D.C. and $37.43 in Chicago.

Dry Cleaning
Bankrate.com reports that an average trip to the dry cleaners in the Atlanta metro area will cost you $7.60 compared to $14.60 in NYC, $12.75 in San Francisco, $13.58 in Seattle, $8.90 in Washington, D.C. and $8.71 in Chicago.

Salary
A $50,000 salary in Atlanta is comparable to
$113,305 in NYC
$84,251 in San Francisco
$71,673 in Washington, D.C.
$64,085 in Seattle
$61,486 in Chicago

Even in the current economic climate, Atlanta's population is growing. Scenic landscapes, a bustling city center, cultural haunts, recreation hot spots and good ole fashioned Southern hospitality are just part of the story when it comes to Atlanta's success as a relocation destination. Couple that with affordable housing and a low cost of living and you will find too that ATLANTA Is A Great Place to Live, Work and Play.

Sara Hibbard is a licensed Realtor in the state of Georgia. Contact Sara with all your real estate questions and concerns regarding the Atlanta metro real estate market in general or specifics regarding the relocation / buying / selling process. Sara is easily reached at 770-399-8108. Sara Hibbard is Glad Georgia Real Estate Is On Your Mind!