What is a cost of living index?

A cost of living index measures the relative price levels for consumer goods and services across different areas. The national average is set at 100. A city with an index of 120 is 20% more expensive than average, while one at 85 is 15% cheaper.

How is cost of living calculated?

Cost of living is calculated by comparing prices of a standardized basket of goods and services across locations. This includes housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous expenses, weighted by typical household spending patterns.

How much does it cost to live in the US per month?

The average monthly cost of living in the US is approximately $3,200-$4,500 for a single person, depending on location. This includes housing ($1,200-$2,500), food ($300-$500), transportation ($100-$200), utilities ($100-$200), and healthcare ($300-$500).

Should I rent or buy a home?

The rent vs. buy decision depends on location, how long you plan to stay, and current interest rates. Generally, buying is favorable if you plan to stay 5+ years in an affordable market. In expensive metros, renting often makes more financial sense.

What is a good salary to live comfortably in the US?

A 'comfortable' salary varies enormously by location. In affordable cities like Memphis or Oklahoma City, $50,000-$60,000 provides a comfortable life. In expensive metros like San Francisco or New York, you may need $100,000-$150,000+ for a similar lifestyle.

Cost of Living by City

All US cities ranked by cost of living index, from most affordable to most expensive. Click any city to view detailed cost breakdowns, nearby comparisons, and more.

#	Location	Cost Index	Median Rent	Home Price	Median Income
1	Jackson, MS	80.5 — Very Low	$750	$130,000	$38,200
2	Dayton, OH	81.5 — Very Low	$700	$95,000	$33,885
3	Memphis, TN	82.1 — Very Low	$850	$155,000	$41,228
4	Charleston, WV	82.5 — Very Low	$750	$140,000	$42,340
5	Topeka, KS	82.5 — Very Low	$750	$145,000	$47,702
6	Peoria, IL	82.8 — Very Low	$750	$115,000	$47,000
7	Tulsa, OK	83.8 — Very Low	$850	$180,000	$47,098
8	Mobile, AL	84.2 — Very Low	$800	$150,000	$39,965
9	Detroit, MI	84.5 — Very Low	$850	$85,000	$34,762
10	Wichita, KS	84.5 — Very Low	$850	$175,000	$50,177
11	Cleveland, OH	84.8 — Very Low	$800	$105,000	$32,053
12	Little Rock, AR	84.8 — Very Low	$850	$180,000	$48,857
13	Oklahoma City, OK	85.2 — Very Low	$900	$200,000	$54,034
14	El Paso, TX	85.5 — Very Low	$850	$195,000	$49,146
15	Cedar Rapids, IA	85.5 — Very Low	$850	$190,000	$56,817
16	Birmingham, AL	85.8 — Very Low	$850	$165,000	$38,840
17	Springfield, IL	85.8 — Very Low	$800	$145,000	$53,127
18	Fayetteville, AR	86.5 — Very Low	$900	$260,000	$48,131
19	Knoxville, TN	86.5 — Very Low	$900	$260,000	$41,318
20	Augusta, GA	86.5 — Very Low	$850	$185,000	$42,400
21	St. Louis, MO	87.3 — Very Low	$900	$175,000	$43,896
22	Buffalo, NY	87.5 — Very Low	$950	$185,000	$40,846
23	Huntsville, AL	88.2 — Very Low	$950	$270,000	$58,247
24	Chattanooga, TN	88.2 — Very Low	$950	$280,000	$47,741
25	Lincoln, NE	88.2 — Very Low	$950	$235,000	$57,746
26	Des Moines, IA	88.5 — Very Low	$950	$210,000	$52,251
27	Louisville, KY	88.5 — Very Low	$950	$220,000	$52,237
28	San Antonio, TX	88.7 — Very Low	$1,050	$235,000	$52,455
29	Grand Rapids, MI	89.2 — Very Low	$1,000	$250,000	$50,476
30	Fargo, ND	89.2 — Very Low	$900	$260,000	$54,017
31	Indianapolis, IN	89.5 — Very Low	$1,000	$230,000	$48,416
32	Columbia, SC	89.5 — Very Low	$1,000	$220,000	$45,838
33	Omaha, NE	89.8 — Very Low	$1,000	$240,000	$58,290
34	Milwaukee, WI	89.8 — Very Low	$950	$170,000	$43,125
35	Baton Rouge, LA	89.8 — Very Low	$950	$210,000	$44,470
36	Tucson, AZ	90.2 — Below Average	$1,000	$280,000	$43,425
37	Kansas City, MO	90.5 — Below Average	$1,050	$240,000	$54,194
38	Sioux Falls, SD	90.5 — Below Average	$1,000	$280,000	$62,094
39	Lexington, KY	91.2 — Below Average	$1,000	$260,000	$56,590
40	Madison, AL	91.2 — Below Average	$1,100	$310,000	$93,612
41	Albuquerque, NM	91.5 — Below Average	$1,050	$290,000	$52,911
42	Columbus, OH	91.8 — Below Average	$1,050	$255,000	$54,857
43	Fort Worth, TX	91.8 — Below Average	$1,200	$280,000	$62,187
44	Savannah, GA	92.5 — Below Average	$1,100	$290,000	$45,319
45	Cheyenne, WY	92.5 — Below Average	$1,050	$300,000	$60,324
46	Pensacola, FL	92.5 — Below Average	$1,100	$260,000	$47,120
47	Pittsburgh, PA	92.8 — Below Average	$1,050	$215,000	$50,536
48	Myrtle Beach, SC	93.5 — Below Average	$1,100	$280,000	$38,445
49	Jacksonville, FL	93.8 — Below Average	$1,200	$310,000	$55,531
50	Houston, TX	94.5 — Below Average	$1,200	$265,000	$53,600
51	Greenville, SC	94.5 — Below Average	$1,100	$290,000	$51,340
52	Billings, MT	94.8 — Below Average	$1,100	$330,000	$57,803
53	New Orleans, LA	95.8 — Below Average	$1,150	$250,000	$43,258
54	Dallas, TX	96.2 — Below Average	$1,300	$285,000	$54,747
55	Spokane, WA	96.5 — Below Average	$1,150	$340,000	$48,821
56	Fresno, CA	97.2 — Average	$1,200	$355,000	$53,260
57	Cape Coral, FL	98.2 — Average	$1,350	$380,000	$59,218
58	Charlotte, NC	98.5 — Average	$1,350	$360,000	$62,817
59	Las Vegas, NV	98.5 — Average	$1,350	$390,000	$57,095
60	Durham, NC	99.8 — Average	$1,350	$375,000	$58,905
61	Orlando, FL	100.2 — Average	$1,450	$370,000	$51,757
62	Provo, UT	100.5 — Average	$1,300	$420,000	$53,568
63	Raleigh, NC	100.8 — Average	$1,400	$400,000	$69,720
64	Nashville, TN	101.3 — Average	$1,450	$410,000	$59,828
65	Tampa, FL	101.5 — Average	$1,500	$385,000	$55,634
66	Richmond, VA	101.5 — Average	$1,350	$340,000	$49,950
67	Phoenix, AZ	101.8 — Average	$1,400	$380,000	$57,459
68	Wilmington, DE	101.8 — Average	$1,150	$255,000	$45,424
69	Boise, ID	102.5 — Average	$1,350	$420,000	$60,035
70	Madison, WI	102.5 — Average	$1,300	$350,000	$67,565
71	Colorado Springs, CO	103.5 — Above Average	$1,450	$420,000	$67,455
72	Atlanta, GA	104.2 — Above Average	$1,500	$380,000	$65,345
73	Baltimore, MD	104.5 — Above Average	$1,350	$195,000	$52,164
74	Minneapolis, MN	104.8 — Above Average	$1,350	$325,000	$65,599
75	Salt Lake City, UT	105.2 — Above Average	$1,400	$480,000	$60,676
76	Concord, NH	105.2 — Above Average	$1,350	$350,000	$62,745
77	Asheville, NC	105.5 — Above Average	$1,400	$400,000	$50,000
78	Austin, TX	105.8 — Above Average	$1,600	$450,000	$75,752
79	Virginia Beach, VA	105.8 — Above Average	$1,500	$370,000	$76,610
80	Chicago, IL	107.3 — Above Average	$1,500	$310,000	$61,811
81	Charleston, SC	108.2 — Above Average	$1,600	$450,000	$66,020
82	Eugene, OR	108.2 — Above Average	$1,350	$400,000	$48,550
83	Philadelphia, PA	108.5 — Above Average	$1,400	$260,000	$49,127
84	Reno, NV	108.5 — Above Average	$1,450	$480,000	$60,589
85	Manchester, NH	108.5 — Above Average	$1,450	$380,000	$65,378
86	Providence, RI	108.8 — Above Average	$1,400	$350,000	$47,412
87	Hartford, CT	110.5 — Above Average	$1,200	$195,000	$38,720
88	Sarasota, FL	110.5 — Above Average	$1,700	$460,000	$56,820
89	Burlington, VT	112.5 — Above Average	$1,500	$420,000	$52,700
90	Portland, ME	115.2 — High	$1,600	$440,000	$54,280
91	Denver, CO	116.3 — High	$1,700	$550,000	$72,661
92	Scottsdale, AZ	118.5 — High	$1,800	$620,000	$88,213
93	Sacramento, CA	118.5 — High	$1,650	$460,000	$65,092
94	Bozeman, MT	118.5 — High	$1,650	$600,000	$56,930
95	Tacoma, WA	118.5 — High	$1,650	$480,000	$62,055
96	Newark, NJ	120.5 — High	$1,500	$380,000	$40,014
97	Naples, FL	125.5 — High	$2,000	$620,000	$81,400
98	Portland, OR	125.6 — High	$1,700	$520,000	$73,097
99	Anchorage, AK	127.2 — High	$1,500	$360,000	$84,928
100	Miami, FL	128.5 — High	$2,000	$550,000	$44,268
101	Jersey City, NJ	138.5 — Very High	$2,100	$580,000	$80,204
102	Washington, DC	148.7 — Very High	$2,100	$650,000	$90,842
103	Boston, MA	152.4 — Very High	$2,300	$720,000	$76,298
104	Seattle, WA	152.8 — Very High	$2,200	$820,000	$105,391
105	San Diego, CA	155.3 — Very High	$2,200	$860,000	$83,454
106	Los Angeles, CA	166.2 — Very High	$2,400	$890,000	$65,290
107	New York City, NY	187.2 — Very High	$2,800	$750,000	$67,046
108	San Jose, CA	192.1 — Very High	$3,100	$1,400,000	$124,055
109	Honolulu, HI	192.9 — Very High	$2,600	$900,000	$88,005
110	San Francisco, CA	196.8 — Very High	$3,200	$1,350,000	$119,136

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