You probably know someone with a tech job in San Francisco or an advertising gig in New York. She eats at world-class restaurants, travels to foreign countries on business and boasts a LinkedIn profile sparkling with brand names and blockbuster deals. But what gets under your skin most is her salary, which rumors peg more than 50 percent higher than yours.
It’s enough to make any American envious — until you factor in the cost of living.
When adjusted for housing, food, transportation, childcare and other necessities, that six-figure paycheck leaves little left over. And just because your friend dines at Eleven Madison Park for once-per-year business dinners doesn’t mean she can afford a single entrée on her own dime.
At CareerTrends, part of the Graphiq network, we turned to the Economic Policy Institute to rank the 50 metros with the highest cost of living. A metro, or metropolitan statistical area, is defined by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget. Put simply, a “metro” must have a core central area with more than 50,000 people, as well as social and economic integration with nearby areas, measured by commuting ties.
For each metro on this list, we’ve broken down the overall cost of maintaining a secure but modest living in that area, highlighting categories like childcare, food and housing. We’ll list cost estimates for both single and married people, and visualize expenses for families ranging from zero to four children. We’ll also compare each metro’s costs to the cost of living for both the state and country at large, broken down by expense types.
The metros on the list are ranked by an overall cost of living index, a single percentage comparing each metro to the nation at large. The index takes into account every cost category and compares the overall figure to the national average. For example, a metro with a 50 percent index is 50 percent more expensive than the nation as a whole.
We’ll run down the list from No. 50, concluding with the most expensive metros of all — yes, places even pricier than the Big Apple or the City by the Bay.
A previous version of this list rounded the cost of living index percentages to the nearest whole number, resulting in many ties. The list has been updated with percentages rounded to the nearest tenth, which changed the order of the list slightly. The overall list composition and order of the top 10 metros remain unchanged.
#50. Worcester, Massachusetts
Overall Cost of Living Index: 11.2% above the national average
Total Population: 924,722
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,493
– Married Couple: $3,517
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,530
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,131
#49. Springfield, Massachusetts
Overall Cost of Living Index: 11.5% above the national average
Total Population: 626,775
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,533
– Married Couple: $3,532
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,538
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,139
#48. Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Overall Cost of Living Index: 11.7% above the national average
Total Population: 163,658
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,259
– Married Couple: $3,211
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,574
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,175
Note that for a few metros on this list — including Eau Claire — the cost of living with zero children is actually less than the national average. But with all family sizes included, these metros are indeed more expensive than the nation, on average.
#47. Buffalo-Niagara Falls, New York
Overall Cost of Living Index: 12.2% above the national average
Total Population: 1,135,667
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,337
– Married Couple: $3,168
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,970
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,487
#46. Rochester, Minnesota
Overall Cost of Living Index: 12.3% above the national average
Total Population: 210,004
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,405
– Married Couple: $3,355
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,610
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,203
#45. Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville, California
Overall Cost of Living Index: 12.3%* above the national average
Total Population: 2,197,422
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,669
– Married Couple: $3,702
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,232
– Married Couple with Two Children: $5,775
*Note that Rochester, Minnesota and this metro have the same cost of living index. We broke the tie by looking at the monthly cost for a married couple.
#44. Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wisconsin
Overall Cost of Living Index: 13% above the national average
Total Population: 1,565,368
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,342
– Married Couple: $3,359
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,764
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,343
#43. Ocean City, New Jersey
Overall Cost of Living Index: 14.1% above the national average
Total Population: 96,286
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,472
– Married Couple: $3,628
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,455
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,114
#42. Vallejo-Fairfield, California
Overall Cost of Living Index: 14.2% above the national average
Total Population: 421,624
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,669
– Married Couple: $3,758
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,336
– Married Couple with Two Children: $5,820
#41. Seattle-Bellevue, Washington
Overall Cost of Living Index: 14.3% above the national average
Total Population: 3,557,037
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,677
– Married Couple: $3,691
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,414
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,023
#40. Madison, Wisconsin
Overall Cost of Living Index: 14.4% above the national average
Total Population: 620,368
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,452
– Married Couple: $3,388
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,776
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,271
#39. Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, New Jersey
Overall Cost of Living Index: 14.5% above the national average
Total Population: 157,429
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,737
– Married Couple: $3,831
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,554
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,202
#38. Baltimore-Towson, Maryland
Overall Cost of Living Index: 15.7% above the national average
Total Population: 2,753,396
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,833
– Married Couple: $3,807
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,708
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,202
#37. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pennsylvania
Overall Cost of Living Index: 16.1% above the national average
Total Population: 6,015,336
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,814
– Married Couple: $3,896
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,731
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,366
#36. Anchorage, Alaska
Overall Cost of Living Index: 16.4% above the national average
Total Population: 392,021
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,751
– Married Couple: $3,799
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,463
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,295
#35. Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia
Overall Cost of Living Index: 16.8% above the national average
Total Population: 1,697,898
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $3,056
– Married Couple: $3,869
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,582
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,166
#34. Rochester, New York
Overall Cost of Living Index: 17.6% above the national average
Total Population: 1,082,578
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,398
– Married Couple: $3,406
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,260
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,759
#33. Syracuse, New York
Overall Cost of Living Index: 17.7% above the national average
Total Population: 662,236
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,416
– Married Couple: $3,334
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,221
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,747
#32. Norwich-New London, Connecticut
Overall Cost of Living Index: 18.1% above the national average
Total Population: 274,071
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,646
– Married Couple: $3,562
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,940
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,484
#31. Binghamton, New York
Overall Cost of Living Index: 18.7% above the national average
Total Population: 249,261
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,420
– Married Couple: $3,365
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,176
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,817
#30. Atlantic City-Hammonton, New Jersey
Overall Cost of Living Index: 19.8% above the national average
Total Population: 275,325
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,835
– Married Couple: $3,923
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,731
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,336
#29. Los Angeles-Long Beach, California
Overall Cost of Living Index: 19.9% above the national average
Total Population: 13,060,534
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,907
– Married Couple: $3,959
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,769
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,157
#28. Utica-Rome, New York
Overall Cost of Living Index: 20.5% above the national average
Total Population: 298,273
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,576
– Married Couple: $3,456
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,324
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,926
#27. Boulder, Colorado
Overall Cost of Living Index: 21.1% above the national average
Total Population: 305,166
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,826
– Married Couple: $3,793
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,812
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,335
#26. Trenton-Ewing, New Jersey
Overall Cost of Living Index: 22.3% above the national average
Total Population: 369,526
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $3,037
– Married Couple: $4,109
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,917
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,499
#25. Elmira, New York
Overall Cost of Living Index: 22.6% above the national average
Total Population: 88,681
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,418
– Married Couple: $3,565
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,477
– Married Couple with Two Children: $7,135
#24. Salinas, California
Overall Cost of Living Index: 22.7% above the national average
Total Population: 424,927
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $3,022
– Married Couple: $4,037
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,723
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,239
#23. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York
Overall Cost of Living Index: 22.9% above the national average
Total Population: 875,567
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,629
– Married Couple: $3,596
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,545
– Married Couple with Two Children: $7,033
#22. Fairbanks, Alaska
Overall Cost of Living Index: 23% above the national average
Total Population: 99,319
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,753
– Married Couple: $3,950
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,737
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,570
#21. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, California
Overall Cost of Living Index: 23.1% above the national average
Total Population: 3,183,143
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $3,037
– Married Couple: $3,948
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,770
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,202
#20. Barnstable Town, Massachusetts
Overall Cost of Living Index: 23.3% above the national average
Total Population: 215,167
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,817
– Married Couple: $3,765
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,097
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,676
#19. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, California
Overall Cost of Living Index: 23.6% above the national average
Total Population: 491,790
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,923
– Married Couple: $3,999
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,771
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,284
#18. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, Connecticut
Overall Cost of Living Index: 24.3% above the national average
Total Population: 1,215,159
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,757
– Married Couple: $3,887
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,269
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,802
#17. Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, California
Overall Cost of Living Index: 24.7% above the national average
Total Population: 431,555
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $3,265
– Married Couple: $4,268
– Single Parent with Two Children: $5,991
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,354
#16. Glens Falls, New York
Overall Cost of Living Index: 27.1% above the national average
Total Population: 128,298
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,564
– Married Couple: $3,712
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,679
– Married Couple with Two Children: $7,140
#15. Napa, California
Overall Cost of Living Index: 27.3% above the national average
Total Population: 139,253
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,898
– Married Couple: $4,103
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,035
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,470
#14. New Haven-Meriden, Connecticut
Overall Cost of Living Index: 27.4% above the national average
Total Population: 863,148
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,905
– Married Couple: $3,998
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,441
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,938
#13. Bridgeport, Connecticut
Overall Cost of Living Index: 27.6% above the national average
Total Population: 934,215
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,777
– Married Couple: $3,956
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,441
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,642
#12. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, California
Overall Cost of Living Index: 29.8% above the national average
Total Population: 835,790
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $3,085
– Married Couple: $4,202
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,212
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,613
#11. Kingston, New York
Overall Cost of Living Index: 30.2% above the national average
Total Population: 181,598
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,615
– Married Couple: $3,756
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,851
– Married Couple with Two Children: $7,339
#10. Burlington-South Burlington, Vermont
Overall Cost of Living Index: 31.6% above the national average
Total Population: 213,891
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $3,170
– Married Couple: $4,256
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,553
– Married Couple with Two Children: $7,081
#9. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California
Overall Cost of Living Index: 32.4% above the national average
Total Population: 267,203
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $3,192
– Married Couple: $4,341
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,469
– Married Couple with Two Children: $6,841
#8. Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Massachusetts
Overall Cost of Living Index: 33.6% above the national average
Total Population: 4,650,876
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $3,280
– Married Couple: $4,310
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,689
– Married Couple with Two Children: $7,149
#7. Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, New York
Overall Cost of Living Index: 39.1% above the national average
Total Population: 670,242
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $3,079
– Married Couple: $4,165
– Single Parent with Two Children: $7,339
– Married Couple with Two Children: $7,736
#6. Ithaca, New York
Overall Cost of Living Index: 39.5% above the national average
Total Population: 103,179
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $2,910
– Married Couple: $4,166
– Single Parent with Two Children: $7,159
– Married Couple with Two Children: $7,717
#5. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California
Overall Cost of Living Index: 39.6% above the national average
Total Population: 1,898,457
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $3,449
– Married Couple: $4,615
– Single Parent with Two Children: $6,654
– Married Couple with Two Children: $7,038
#4. New York City, New York
Overall Cost of Living Index: 49.4% above the national average
Total Population: 19,865,045
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $3,627
– Married Couple: $4,605
– Single Parent with Two Children: $7,795
– Married Couple with Two Children: $8,227
#3. San Francisco, California
Overall Cost of Living Index: 52.9% above the national average
Total Population: 4,466,251
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $3,632
– Married Couple: $5,104
– Single Parent with Two Children: $7,404
– Married Couple with Two Children: $7,649
#2. Honolulu, Hawaii
Overall Cost of Living Index: 53.2% above the national average
Total Population: 955,215
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $3,859
– Married Couple: $4,867
– Single Parent with Two Children: $7,440
– Married Couple with Two Children: $7,841
#1. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, District of Columbia
Overall Cost of Living Index: 63.5% above the national average
Total Population: 5,759,330
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for:
– Single Adult: $3,510
– Married Couple: $4,362
– Single Parent with Two Children: $8,669
– Married Couple with Two Children: $8,874
