Economic Research Institute’s Cost of Living Index ranks the price of goods and services in heavily populated U.S. cities.
This list is ordered from the highest to lowest cost of living index by city as of January 2020. The percentages are based on the national average for a two person household with a combined yearly income of $100,000 renting a 900 square foot apartment with one car using ERI’s Relocation Assessor.
1) San Francisco, CA
Cost of living: 57.80% higher than the national average
2) New York City, NY
Cost of Living: 36.30% higher than the national average
3) Boston, MA
Cost of Living: 36.30% higher than the national average
4) Washington D.C.
Cost of Living: 35.70% higher than the national average
5) Los Angeles, CA
Cost of Living: 31.20% higher than the national average
6) Seattle, WA
Cost of Living: 29.20% higher than the national average
7) San Diego, CA
Cost of Living: 28.90% higher than the national average
8) Chicago, IL
Cost of Living: 24.90% higher than the national average
9) Philadelphia, PA
Cost of Living: 21.90% higher than the national average
10) Minneapolis, MN
Cost of Living: 15.20% higher than the national average
11) Denver
Cost of Living: 12.80% higher than the national average
12) Salt Lake City
Cost of Living: 6.30% higher than the national average
13) Charlotte
Cost of Living: 3.50% higher than the national average
14) Austin
Cost of Living: 1.20% higher than the national average
15) Houston
Cost of Living: 1% higher than the national average
16) Columbus
Cost of Living: 0.60% higher than the national average
17) Phoenix
Cost of Living: 0.40% higher than the national average
18) Indianapolis
Cost of Living: 0.90% lower than the national average
19) Jacksonville
Cost of Living: 3.80% lower than the national average
20) San Antonio
Cost of Living: 4.6% lower than the national average
Rankings for the Cost-of-Living Index are determined by the prices of goods and services (housing, consumables, transportation, health services, and tax obligations) by area.
Calculations are based on income and expenditure assumptions for a typical mid-level, professional lifestyle. The assumptions are held constant across all cities included in the index.
Based on ERI Economic Research Institute Relocation Assessor data as of January 2020.
