Which city is the most expensive to live in USA?

The most expensive city in the U.S. is consistently Manhattan, New York City, with its cost of living often double the national average, driven by extremely high housing costs for both rent and mortgages. Other top contenders include San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, and Honolulu, HI, with California and New York dominating the list due to premium real estate and goods.

What city has the highest cost of living in the US?

In North America, New York City (number 7 in the global ranking) remains the most expensive city. It is followed by Nassau, Bahamas (9), Los Angeles (10), Honolulu (12), and San Francisco (13).

Where is the most expensive area to live in the US?

The country's most expensive ZIP code is 92657, Newport Coast in California. Here, the median listing price is an astounding $11.8 million.

What is the most unaffordable city in America?

At the very bottom of the list sit a large number of cities found in California. In fact, 25 of the bottom 30 are California cities. Ranking as the most 'unaffordable' city in the country is Santa Barbara, where the average price per square foot for a home is $1,300.

What is the cheapest city to live in the United States?

The cheapest cities to live in the U.S. often change, but consistently feature places like Harlingen, TX, Brownsville, TX, Detroit, MI, and Kalamazoo, MI, with low housing costs and overall living expenses below the national average, with Texas, Michigan, and parts of the Midwest and South dominating affordability rankings. Cities like Hickory, NC, Evansville, IN, and Oklahoma City, OK also rank high for budget-friendly living, thanks to cheaper housing and daily expenses. 

10 Most Expensive Cities to Live in USA | Cost of Living

What are the top 3 cheapest states to live in?

4. Top 10 Cheapest States to Live in 2025

• Arkansas. Arkansas continues to be one of the most affordable states in the U.S., especially for those looking to buy property. ...
• Mississippi. Mississippi is another highly affordable state, particularly in terms of housing. ...
• Oklahoma. ...
• New Mexico. ...
• Missouri. ...
• Tennessee. ...
• Michigan. ...
• Texas.

What is the #1 best city to live in America?

There's no single "number one" city, as it depends on what you value, but New York City often tops global lists for culture/vibrancy (World's Best Cities 2025), while Brookline, MA, and Washington, D.C. rank high for quality of life/livability by U.S. News & Real Estate and RentCafe, respectively, focusing on amenities, safety, and schools; other top contenders vary by criteria, with suburbs like Naperville, IL, and cities like Charleston, SC, leading for small-town feel or food scenes. 

Which city has the highest cost of living?

10 Most Expensive Cities in the World in 2025

• Zurich. ...
• Geneva. ...
• Copenhagen. ...
• Paris. ...
• New York City. ...
• London. ...
• Nassau. ...
• Los Angeles. LA has higher than average costs for housing, taxes, food, transport, health care, and utilities.

Where is it hardest to afford a home?

According to the 2023 International Housing Affordability Survey by Demographia, three out of the 10 least affordable housing markets are in Australia and New Zealand, two are in Canada and four more are located in the United States. The least affordable housing market is Hong Kong.

What city is the safest to live in the US?

The top 10 safest cities in the United States, according to WalletHub, are:

• Burlington, Vermont.
• Juneau, Alaska.
• Yonkers, New York.
• Casper, Wyoming.
• South Burlington, Vermont.
• Columbia, Maryland.
• Lewiston, Maine.
• Salem, Oregon.

Which 10 states have the highest cost of living?

Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland consistently rank as the top 5 most expensive states, driven by soaring housing costs, high taxes, and increased prices for daily goods, with other costly states often including Washington, New York, Connecticut, Colorado, and New Hampshire, due to unique regional factors like island isolation, tech hubs, or coastal living expenses. 

Where do the wealthiest Americans live?

New York City, New York. New York remains unmatched as the wealthiest city in America in 2025. As the country's financial capital, it houses more millionaires and billionaires than any other U.S. city.

What is the top 10 most expensive city to live in?

The income you need to live comfortably in the 10 most expensive U.S. cities—it's over $200,000 in No. 1

1. San Jose, California. Average single-family home value: $1,529,160. ...
2. San Francisco. Average single-family home value: $1,410,552. ...
3. San Diego. ...
4. Los Angeles. ...
5. New York City. ...
6. Long Beach, California. ...
7. Seattle, Washington. ...
8. Boston.

What is America's most expensive neighborhood?

The most expensive neighborhood in the U.S. depends on the metric, with South of Market (SoMa) in San Francisco often cited for price per square foot ($5,415), while Gables Estates in Coral Gables, Florida, or Manalapan, Florida, are mentioned for overall average home prices (over $39 million in Manalapan) or high-value gated communities, featuring mansions with water access for the ultra-rich. California and Florida dominate the top spots for expensive areas.
 

Is Boston or LA more expensive?

The average cost of groceries in Los Angeles, CA is 5.0% higher than Boston, MA. The average cost of utilities in Los Angeles, CA is 45.1% lower than Boston, MA. The average cost of transportation in Los Angeles, CA is 28.9% higher than Boston, MA. The average rent in Los Angeles, CA is 36.4% lower than Boston, MA.

What is the #1 city in the USA?

1. New York City, NY. There's no other city quite like New York City. In 2023, New York attracted over 9 million international visitors, making it the most visited city in the United States for overseas travelers.

What is the most expensive town to live in in the USA?

The most expensive place to live in the U.S. is consistently Manhattan, New York City, due to astronomical housing costs (rent and purchase), followed closely by other major California hubs like San Francisco and San Jose, with Honolulu, Hawaii also ranking high, driven by expensive goods and utilities; while "towns" (smaller cities) like Newport Coast, CA, and some spots in NY/MA appear on niche lists, major metros dominate overall cost of living. 

Which city is very expensive?

Singapore has retained the top spot for the third consecutive year as the world's most expensive city.

What is the kindest city in America?

There's no single "friendliest" city, as different surveys name various places, but San Diego, CA, Chattanooga, TN, Greenville, SC, and Charleston, SC, frequently top lists for welcoming locals and positive vibes, alongside Southern cities like Raleigh, NC, and Midwestern spots such as Milwaukee, WI, often recognized for community spirit, helpfulness, and high volunteer rates. 

Where in the U.S. is rent cheap?

The cheapest rent in America is typically found in smaller cities in the Midwest and South, with Wichita, Kansas, often topping lists for its extremely low median rent (around $680-$700 for a one-bedroom), followed closely by cities like Toledo, Ohio, and Akron, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas. States like Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Arkansas consistently offer the lowest average rents overall for one-bedroom apartments.
 

Which city is most beautiful?

There's no single "most beautiful city," as it's subjective, but cities frequently praised for their stunning visuals, unique charm, and natural settings include San Francisco, Cape Town, Vancouver, Prague, Florence, Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro, and Sydney, often cited for their iconic bridges, dramatic landscapes, historic architecture, vibrant cultures, or harmonious blend of city and nature. What's beautiful depends on whether you prefer dramatic skylines, historical grandeur, or natural integration.