Post by cosyliving on May 17, 2021 3:10:39 GMT
People relocating for business, new jobs or simply planning a vacation can benefit from knowing details about the most expensive cities in the United States. Understanding how much it costs to live in a city, and why, can make or break a decision to move. Not surprisingly, California cities dominate the list of America’s priciest cities.
Key Takeaways
Cities offer a variety of employment opportunities along with loads of culture, sports, dining, and entertainment.
Because of the desire to live in cities, they can become quite expensive places to live.
In the U.S., New York City is the most pricey to live in, followed by San Francisco - however, NYC is only #9 on the world's most expensive cities.
1. New York City, New York
New York City leads the pack as the most expensive city in the United States. The city, with a population approaching 8.4 million, also tops lists of the world’s most expensive cities.1 The cost of living in Manhattan is a whopping 154% higher than the national average.2
The median cost of homes in the five boroughs of New York is about $652,012, compared with a national median of $272,446.34 In Manhattan, home prices easily exceed $1 million.5 Everything costs more in New York City, from groceries to public transportation.
As of December 2020, the city’s unemployment was 3.0%, slightly better than the previous month.6 That compares with a national unemployment rate of 6.7%.7 Perhaps further proof that if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.
The most expensive cities to live in 2019 in the world are Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Singapore. New York City, the only American city to make the top 10, comes in at #9.
2. San Francisco, California
People make the decision to leave San Francisco every day, as the city’s staggeringly high cost of living and out-of-reach housing prices have been known to break many a bank. Median home prices are above $1.4 million inside the city, whose major industries include tourism, IT and financial services.8
A family of four would need $111,136 in household income just to make ends meet.9 On the other hand, unemployment is at 7.0% as of December 2020, which increased significantly from last year, due to unfavorable conditions in the economy during the pandemic.10
3. Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu residents pay a lot of money for just about everything. Groceries run about 70.9% higher than the national average, while utilities cost 102.2% more.11 Yet paychecks are not that much higher to compensate. The median household income in Honolulu is $85,857. This is better than the national median of $62,843 but falls well short of a median income of $112,449 for San Francisco.12
If you plan to live in Honolulu, get used to paying more for everyday items. One dozen eggs that cost $1.24 in Iowa run $2.58 in Honolulu.1314 Honolulu has an unemployment rate of 9.3% as of December 2020.15
4. Boston, Massachusetts
Groceries and health care cost a lot of money in Massachusetts, exceeding the average national cost by 25.9% for healthcare and nearly 15.7% for food.11 Boston enjoys a robust higher education environment, a booming tech scene that rivals Silicon Valley, and historic sites dating back to the 13 original colonies, which makes it one of the nation’s leading tourist destinations.
All of these add up to an unemployment rate of 6.5% in Boston and the surrounding areas as of December 2020, but city residents fork out big money to live in Boston.16 The median home value hovers around $665,000, while household income is about $71,115.1718 A family of four needs $76,034 in income to make ends meet.19
5. Washington, D.C.
Being the seat of the world’s most powerful nation accounts for Washington, D.C.’s 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. Median home values in the District stand at approximately $672,000, and the median household income is about $86,420.1720 Similar to Boston, a family of four needs $79,696 in income to make ends meet in Washington, D.C.21
6. Oakland, California
Being located on the opposite end of the Bay Bridge might make living in Oakland a cheaper alternative to San Francisco, but the city is still a more expensive place to live than most cities in the United States. Median home prices are $866,668, while it costs in excess of $3,000 per month to rent.22 That is nearly double the national rent average of $1,600.4
7. San Jose, California
Anyone looking to escape high prices in the Bay Area will find little respite in San Jose, located within commuting distance of San Francisco and Oakland. The presence of Silicon Valley makes everything in San Jose expensive, including median home prices that top $1 million.23
The median household income hovers at around $109,500.24 The numerous tech industry employers in the city account for a lower-than-average unemployment rate, which is 6% for San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara as of December 2020.25
8. San Diego, California
A strong defense department presence and military contracting firms, such as Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), make California’s southernmost city one of the priciest in America.
Residents in this city of approximately 1.4 million enjoy a median household income of $79,600, giving them the opportunity to spend on luxuries such as high-end eateries, yacht clubs, and other pricey forms of entertainment.26 The median home value is $754,900.27 The unemployment rate in San Diego and the surrounding area is 8% as of December 2020, which is slightly above the national average.28
9. Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles brings to mind wealthy, glamorous movie stars, but the movie industry plays a small role in the city’s booming economy. The city's shipping industry also plays a role, 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, such as the much-ballyhooed 90210, drive up housing costs.
The median home value in Los Angeles is $826,500.29 The median household income is around $62,100.30 A family of four would need an income of $87,239 to make ends meet in Los Angeles.31 About 18% of the city's residents live below the poverty line, compared with 10.5% nationally.30
10. Miami, Florida
Miami is the only southern U.S. city ranking on the top 10 most expensive list. A high population of wealthy foreigners, the presence of numerous international financial institutions, and the busiest cruise ship port in the world give life in Miami a high price tag. The median household income for Miami Beach stands at about $53,900, while the unemployment rate of 7.9% as of December 2020 is above the national average.3233 A family of four would need an income of $71,500 to make ends meet in this stylish city replete with newly constructed residential and commercial buildings.34
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