Top 10 Most Expensive U.S. Cities: Should You Move?

If you’re relocating for business, moving to another city, or simply planning a vacation, you might be curious about the most expensive cities in the United States. Understanding how much it costs to live in a town, and why, can make or break a decision to move.

Not surprisingly, New York and California cities dominate the list of America’s priciest cities. All figures are updated as of June 2024, unless otherwise specified.

Key Takeaways

• Cities offer a variety of employment opportunities along with cultural, sports, dining, and entertainment activities.
• New York City’s Manhattan borough is the most costly place to live, followed by Honolulu, Hawaii, and San Jose, California.
• Housing and taxes contribute to the high cost of living in major cities, including housing and taxes.

1. Manhattan

New York City’s Manhattan borough is the most expensive city in the United States. Out of the estimated 8.26 million people who call New York City home, about 1.60 million live in Manhattan. The cost of living in Manhattan is more than twice the national average.

Seemingly everything costs more in New York City, from groceries to housing. As of 2024, Manhattan’s median sold home price is about $936,000, compared with a national median of about $359,000. The city’s unemployment is 4.8% compared with a national unemployment rate of 4.0%.

2. Honolulu

Honolulu is the second most expensive place to live in the U.S. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated a population of nearly one million in the island city with an unemployment rate of 2.8%.

Groceries run about 24% higher than the national average, while utilities cost over twice as much. In 2024, the median household income in Honolulu is about $99,800, higher than the national median of about $74,600 but falling short of a median household income of about $136,700 for San Francisco.

3. San Jose

San Jose is in California’s Bay Area with number 4 on this list, San Francisco. It has a population of about 970,000. Home values hover around $1.5 million, according to Zillow. The median household income for the city is about $136,000 as of 2024.

4. San Francisco

The city’s estimated population is about 809,000 as of 2024. San Francisco’s staggeringly high cost of living and out-of-reach housing prices make median home prices nearly $1.3 million inside the city. Major industries include tourism, IT, and financial services.

San Francisco ranks among the top five most expensive cities for groceries and utilities. Grocery items cost roughly 23% above the national average, and utilities cost about twice the national average in 2024. Unemployment is at an estimated 3.9%.

5. Brooklyn

Brooklyn is the second borough of New York City on this list. The area is known for some key attractions, including Coney Island and Prospect Park.

The population in Brooklyn is higher than the more expensive Manhattan, with nearly 2.6 million residents. The median home value of Kings County is $836,000. The average rent in the borough is around $3,600, or a total of $43,200 for the entire year in 2024.

Note

Housing and taxes are two major contributors to the high cost of living in most of the expensive cities in the United States.

6. Orange County

If you plan to call this area home, you’ll join about 3.1 million other people. This California region includes Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Huntington Beach with a big concentration of Fortune 500 companies. Home values here top $1 million. The median household income is about $109,000 as of 2024. The unemployment rate is 3.7%.

7. Los Angeles

Los Angeles brings to mind movie stars, but the movie and television industry plays a small role in the city’s booming economy. The city’s shipping industry also plays a part, as the Port of Los Angeles is one of the busiest ports in the world. A bustling manufacturing sector and a noteworthy start-up scene contribute to the city’s high cost of living. Certain ZIP codes like the famous 90210, drive up housing costs.

About 3.8 million people are living in the city in 2024. The median home value in Los Angeles is about $973,000. The median household income is around $76,200. A family of four with two working adults would need a pre-tax income of roughly $140,000 to make ends meet in Los Angeles. Finally, 16.6% of the city’s residents live below the poverty line, compared with 11.5% nationally.

8. Queens

Queens is the third borough of New York City to be featured on this list. As the largest borough, it is home to the city’s two airports, John F. Kennedy International Airport and La Guardia Airport.

About 2,250,000 people live in Queens with a median household income of around $82,400. The borough has a median home value of about $686,000 in 2024. 13.1% of the borough’s residents live in poverty.

9. Washington, D.C.

As the center of the country’s political power, Washington, D.C. boasts a high cost of living. Government and private-sector jobs abound in the city, thanks to numerous federal agencies, think tanks, lobbying firms, and a robust tourism sector.

About 679,000 people call the area home. Median home values are approximately $622,000, and the median household income is about $102,000 in 2024. A family of four with both adults working needs about $135,000 in income before taxes to make ends meet in Washington, D.C.

10. Boston

Approximately 654,000 people live in Boston. Utilities and healthcare costs exceed the average national cost by 49% for utilities and nearly 24% for healthcare in 2024. Boston enjoys a robust higher education environment, a booming tech scene, and historic sites.

The unemployment rate is 2.9% in Boston and the surrounding areas as of 2024. The median home value hovers around $750,000. Household income is about $89,000, a little over half of what a family of four needs in pre-tax income (about $160,000) to make ends meet.

How Are Statistics Compiled To Determine the Most Expensive Cities in the U.S.?

The Council for Community and Economic Research publishes quarterly updates about the cost of living in the most and least expensive cities.

Why Are Cities So Expensive?

Various factors affect the cost of living in cities, especially major metropolises, such as the cost of housing and whether you choose to rent or buy. Other considerations include the cost of gas and transportation, taxes, child care, insurance, and utilities. Supply and demand tend to dictate prices, and when more people want to live in a certain place, the more expensive it will be.

What Are the Least Expensive Cities to Live in?

According to the Council for Community and Economic Research, the three least expensive cities in 2024 are Decatur, Illinois; Ponca City, Oklahoma; and Edinburg, Texas.

The Bottom Line

City living can be expensive. According to the Council for Community and Economic Research, three New York City boroughs and four areas in California made the top 10 list of most expensive cities during the first quarter of 2024. Median incomes are relatively lower compared to the cost of housing, food, gas, and taxes. The overall cost of living in these 10 cities is higher than the national average.

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