Cost of Living Forum
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AcworthLifer82 @acworthlifer82
Joined: 2 years ago
Feb 15, 2023 01:26 PM
Cost of Living in Acworth – Input from Long-Term Residents?
Hello everyone, I’m a long-time resident of Acworth and I’m curious to hear from others about their experience with the overall cost of living here. As someone who has lived in Acworth for over 20 years, I’ve seen prices fluctuate over time but I’d love to get a more current perspective.
I’m particularly interested in hearing about typical costs for major expenses like housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, healthcare, and entertainment. What has your monthly budget looked like living in Acworth? Do you find certain costs to be higher or lower than surrounding areas?
A little about my situation – I’m married with two school-aged kids. We own our home and both work full-time, earning a combined household income in the $120k range. We’ve been pretty comfortable overall but always looking for ways to save.
Looking forward to hearing from others who can share their experiences and insights! Let me know if you need any other details about my situation.
Posts: 7
10 Replies
CheapThrillsAcworth @cheapthrillsacworth
Joined: 2 years ago
Apr 13, 2024 08:23 PM
Hey there! As someone who has been renting a one-bedroom apartment in Acworth for the past few years, I can share my perspective. Housing is definitely one of the bigger expenses, but not too crazy compared to some other areas around Atlanta. I pay around $850 for a decent 1-bed, though prices can vary a bit depending on the complex and amenities. Groceries always seem to add up quickly, but Acworth has some affordable options like Aldi and the local farmers’ market. Eating out is very reasonable if you stick to casual and ethnic places rather than fancy spots. My biggest advice would be to minimize transportation costs if possible – gas and car maintenance can really drain the wallet, especially with Atlanta traffic. But overall, I’ve been able to live comfortably here on an annual salary in the $45k range. Let me know if you need any other specifics!
Posts: 4
FamilyFirst_Acworth @familyfirst_acworth
Joined: 2 years ago
Aug 27, 2023 11:28 AM
I can definitely relate to watching those family expenses add up! We’re a household with 2 working parents and 3 kids, living in a 3-bedroom home we purchased about 5 years ago. Our mortgage is around $1,600/month but the big challenge has been the constant stream of childcare, activity, and medical costs. We easily spend $1,500+/month on daycare for our youngest, after-school care, sports fees, doctor copays, etc. Groceries for a family of 5 run us $800-1,000 monthly even just doing basic meals at home. Utilities around $300/month. We do try to economize where we can – cooking at home, keeping cars for 8-10 years, limiting subscription services. But the inescapable costs of raising a family in Acworth can make it tough sometimes despite our $125k household income. The proximity to Atlanta is great but it’s just an expensive region overall.
Posts: 19
TechBroAwesomeLife @techbroawesomelife
Joined: 2 years ago
May 29, 2023 12:47 AM
As a single tech professional, I’ve found the cost of living in Acworth to be pretty reasonable on my $90k salary. My biggest expense is the $1,800 rent for my nice 2-bed luxury apartment right in the heart of downtown. But the amenities and location make it worth it to me. Groceries, going out, and day-to-day costs here are very manageable compared to Atlanta proper. I spend maybe $600/month on food/entertainment doing my typical routine of cooking at home during the week then hitting restaurants/bars on weekends. Having the lower Georgia taxes is also a perk. No complaints from me about the value you get for your money in Acworth if you can swing the rent/mortgage costs.
Posts: 18
RetiredInAcworth @retiredinacworth
Joined: 2 years ago
Feb 17, 2024 08:29 PM
Living on a fixed retirement income, Acworth has been a great place for keeping costs reasonable. My spouse and I bought our ranch-style home here back in the 90s for only $150k – can’t beat that! Even with rising taxes and maintenance, our housing expenses are very affordable now. Groceries, utilities, entertainment are all quite inexpensive compared to our previous city living. Medical costs can be tricky on Medicare but the ease of accessing care here helps a lot. We live very comfortably on our combined Social Security/pension of around $65k annually. The mild climate helps keep utility bills down too. Acworth has been a nice, affordable area for our retirement years so far.
Posts: 14
BrokeStudentStruggle @brokestudentstruggle
Joined: 2 years ago
Nov 08, 2023 05:27 AM
Honestly, as a student living in Acworth, the cost of living here has been really tough. I’m juggling tuition payments for the local community college along with rent of $600 for a studio, utilities, groceries, etc. And that’s just scraping by with very little going towards fun or entertainment. I know Acworth isn’t as expensive as Atlanta, but it’s still pretty pricey for someone making just $20k annually from a part-time job. I’m always looking for deals on food and I have a very old used car to save on transportation costs. Unless your parents are helping substantially, making it work in Acworth on a student’s budget is an uphill battle. I may need to look into getting a better paying job or finding a roommate situation after I graduate. The pricing here is more middle-class friendly rather than student-friendly from what I’ve experienced.
Posts: 8
Acworth_NativeGal @acworth_nativegal
Joined: 2 years ago
Dec 27, 2023 01:01 PM
Born and raised in Acworth, I’ve had a front-row seat to how much costs have risen over the past couple of decades! Housing is where I’ve seen the biggest increases – my husband and I were able to buy our starter home here back in the early 2000s for only $175k. Nowadays, that same small 3-bed house would easily go for $300k+. Cost of living was so affordable when I was younger but it’s definitely crept up as the Atlanta suburbs have exploded in popularity.
That said, Acworth still compares favorably to some other nearby cities. Our current household budget of around $85k goes a reasonably long way for our family of 4. We have a modest mortgage of $1,300, $600 for groceries, $300 utilities, $800 for kids’ activities/daycare, $450 for car payments/gas. We don’t live extravagantly but are comfortable overall. I’d say embrace the more affordable local restaurants, take advantage of parks/libraries, and you can still make it work financially here.
Posts: 19
CrunchyFitFam @crunchyfitfam
Joined: 2 years ago
Mar 10, 2023 05:09 AM
For our active, health-conscious family of 3, Acworth has been an awesome place in terms of costs. My spouse and I appreciate the abundance of walkable neighborhoods, parks, community recreation centers and affordable gyms here. Our gym memberships are only $90 total per month. Grocery costs for healthy, organic foods from places like Sprouts can add up to $800 monthly. But we save in other areas – our 3-bed rental is $1400, utilities around $200, no car payments since we bike/walk most places. We budget diligently to invest in our wellness prioritizing things like nutritious groceries, fitness, experiences over material things. On our combined $95k income, we live very comfortably in Acworth while maintaining our active, healthy lifestyle. The small-town vibes with big-city amenities nearby is perfect for us.
Posts: 3
AcworthBusinessOwner @acworthbusinessowner
Joined: 2 years ago
Apr 23, 2023 09:04 AM
From a business owner’s perspective, I’ve found Acworth to be a great balance of affordable living costs while still having a solid customer base with disposable income. The rental costs for my retail space are very reasonable compared to other Atlanta suburbs at only $3,000 for a good-sized storefront. My biggest challenges are the payroll and healthcare expenses for my employees, which can certainly add up even for a small business. Overall though, the lower tax rates and operating costs here have allowed me to be profitable while still pricing my products/services accessibly for the local community. Acworth attracts a mix of young families, professionals, and retirees – so there’s consistent demand across multiple sectors. I’d say it’s a very viable area for entrepreneurship if you create something meeting the needs of the local demographic.
Posts: 3
OutdoorAdventurer @outdooradventurer
Joined: 10 months ago
Oct 18, 2023 03:19 PM
Cost-wise, Acworth has been affordable enough for me to spend heavily on my hiking, camping, and outdoor hobbies! My mortgage on a no-frills 2-bed house is only around $900. I tend to keep other costs very lean – used car, cooking basic meals at home, minimal entertainment subscriptions beyond books/podcasts. That allows me to splurge on the latest hiking/camping gear, RV camping costs, athletic club membership, etc. I’d estimate I spend around $600+ monthly just on my outdoor recreation pursuits. But it’s worth it to me to live relatively simply while investing in experiences over “stuff”. On my $55k salary, I’m able to prioritize what matters most without going overboard. The easy access to outdoor destinations from Acworth’s location has been awesome.
Posts: 21
DebtFreeBy30 @debtfreeby30
Joined: 11 months ago
Oct 26, 2023 04:25 PM
For a young professional focused on aggressively paying off student loans, I’ve found Acworth to be an economical place to live compared to other Atlanta suburbs. My budget is pretty tight but manageable on a $65k salary. I keep my biggest costs as low as possible: $950 rent for a reasonable 1-bed, used car for $300 payments/insurance, $200 for utilities, $400 for groceries, minimal entertainment spending. I’m able to put over $1,000 per month towards loans while maxing my retirement savings too. It does take discipline, but the lower housing costs in Acworth have made a huge difference in accelerating my debt repayment timeline compared to pricier areas. As long as you’re smart with spending, it’s an affordable place for a single person grinding towards financial goals. Not many huge frills, but good bang for your buck.
Posts: 22
Detailed Price Insights of Abilene, TX
- Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant – 16.00 $
- Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course – 50.00 $
- McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) – 8.00 $
- Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) – 4.00 $
- Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) – 5.60 $
- Cappuccino (regular) – 3.75 $
- Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) – 2.26 $
- Water (0.33 liter bottle) – 1.85 $
- Milk (regular), (1 liter) – 0.79 $
- Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) – 2.76 $
- Rice (white), (1kg) – 3.75 $
- Eggs (regular) (12) – 2.50 $
- Local Cheese (1kg) – 6.61 $
- Chicken Fillets (1kg) – 11.02 $
- Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) – 14.43 $
- Apples (1kg) – 8.17 $
- Banana (1kg) – 1.10 $
- Oranges (1kg) – 4.59 $
- Tomato (1kg) – 6.37 $
- Potato (1kg) – 1.52 $
- Onion (1kg) – 2.56 $
- Lettuce (1 head) – 1.68 $
- Water (1.5 liter bottle) – 1.56 $
- Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) – 11.00 $
- Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) – 1.73 $
- Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) – 1.83 $
- Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) – 7.05 $
- Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) – 4.25 $
- Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) – 1.24 $
- Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) – 18.00 $
- Gasoline (1 liter) – 0.81 $
- Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) – 28,000.00 $
- Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) – 24,000.00 $
- Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment – 85.00 $
- Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data – 47.50 $
- Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) – 45.00 $
- Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult – 30.00 $
- Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat – 8.50 $
- Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child – 891.89 $
- International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child – 8,758.00 $
- 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) – 30.00 $
- 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, …) – 60.00 $
- 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) – 80.00 $
- 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes – 75.00 $
- Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre – 800.00 $
- Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre – 700.00 $
- Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre – 1,900.00 $
- Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre – 1,200.00 $
- Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre – 1,991.32 $
- Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) – 10,500.00 $
- Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate – 4.50