It’s important to keep in mind the cost of living in prospective cities you might want to move into. You might get offered a huge paycheck at the end of the year, but it won’t mean anything if you have to spend more than half of it just to have a roof over your head. Most people know that it’s expensive to live in San Francisco and Manhattan, but you would be surprised at the other cities featured in this list.
Check out some of the most expensive cities in America. You might need it when you’re looking for a change of scenery.
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San Jose, California
The rent for a 900 sq ft furnished apartment in the wealthy part of this city goes for $1,788. While San Jose still manages to make it into “most expensive cities in America” lists, some people might be comforted by the fact that things outside of cost of living tend to come at a reasonable price.
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Manhattan, New York
The Big Apple is guilty for consistently topping lists as the most expensive place to live in America. Manhattan has maintained its position on the Cost of Living Index since it released its first edition of its annual report in 2007. Monthly rent ranges from $3,902 to $4,209. Additionally, haircuts, movies, parking, and many other commodities cost more than what people in other cities would pay.
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Honolulu
Paradise doesn’t come at a bargain and you’ll need a hefty wallet to afford it. Hawaii’s state capital is often placed in the top five of most lists measuring cost of living in American cities. You’d need at least $12 to get a decent meal in this city’s business district. Housing could cost you $2, 891 per month and that’s without all the utilities.
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San Francisco, CA
The City by the Bay is another consistent entry into America’s top five cities with the heaviest price tag. While data shows that San Francisco is one of the best cities for job growth in the country, the unemployment rate is 7.7 percent. Simply getting a place to live would cost you $2,630 a month.
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Queens, NY
Another borough in New York makes an appearance on this list since it is almost always ranked in the top 10. With a couple from New York, it is undoubtedly the most expensive to state to live in. Monthly rent in Queens would cost someone $2,152 and the average price of a home is $630,189.
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Stamford, CT
The neighboring city of the most priciest place to live in America shares the same price tag when it comes to cost of living. You would need $2,011 a month just to live and a home would cost $569,411. On top of that, A regular haircut would already cost $20.
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Washington, D.C
While it certainly isn’t as pricey as the other east coast cities mentioned, the capital is still known to be one of the least affordable cities in the US. Monthly rent is an average of $1,852 and owning a home costs $746,549.
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Orange County, CA
This west coast city boasts almost the same price tag as other expensive cities in the west coast. If you want to have a piece of the beaches in Orange County, be prepared to spend either $1,716 in rent or $682,703 to purchase your own home. Haircuts are cheaper by $5 compared to New York if that’s any consolation at all.
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Boston, MA
Boston is one of the repeat offenders that almost always gets ranked into the top 10. Owning home is far less cheaper at $459,744, but rent stays at the same range as other pricey cities at $1,755.
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Brooklyn, NY
This borough in New York definitely dangles a high rate for renting and owning a home. It would generally cost someone $2,4111 to rent a unit per month. Additionally, owning a home can be as high as $959,907. Other commodities may come cheaper compared to Manhattan.
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Philadelphia, PA
Living in Philly can also be pricey even if it’s not the same level as the other cities on the list. Monthly rent would generally go at the rate of $1,889.
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Buffalo, NY
Did you know that dinner for two in a neighborhood pub could cost you $90? However, you can take comfort in the fact that the rent is quite a few benjamins cheaper at $1,163.
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Seattle, WA
If you want to live here, be ready to cough up around $2,221 to pay for monthly rent. Other expenses are like food, entertainment, and personal care may be more affordable but all your savings will go to paying for a roof over your head.
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Los Angeles, CA
Nobody said that living even remotely close to the stars would be cheap. For a decent place to live in the city, you would need more or less $2,439. Living in this city also means that you need to have a car according to most residents.
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Sacramento, CA
It’s not that affordable to live in Sacramento either. If you want a comfortable place to live in, people say you would need to have $1,846 a month. Food and transportation costs are also reportedly through the roof.
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San Diego, CA
This city famous for hosting the largest comic conventions is also quite expensive to live in. The monthly rent goes past the two thousand mark at $2,039.
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Chicago, IL
Don’t get too blown away by how much monthly rent costs in the Windy City. You better have $1,826 each month if you want to stay put in this town.
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Pittsburgh, PA
This city is definitely a part of the top 20 most expensive cities to live in the US. At $1,699, residents find monthly rent too expensive along with other commodities they have to spend for.
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Portland, OR
People might not expect Oregon to be pricey, but residents would need $1,750 for monthly rent. Transportation is said to be quite expensive as well.
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Nashville, TN
If you want to live in this part of the country, residents usually pay monthly rent of $1,603. You might not be living as comfortably as the characters on Nashville, but at least you’re in the area.
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