Cost of living in United States
Summary of cost of living in United States
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: $4,611
- Single person estimated monthly costs: $2,601
- Cost of living in United States is more expensive than in 77% of countries in the World (19 out of 77)
Change the currency:
| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | $15 | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | $8 | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | $4.25 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | $0.88 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | $2.94 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | $4.11 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | $6 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | $3.31 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | $1.67 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | $3.31 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | $14 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | $1.99 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | $2.05 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | $2,210 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | $1,545 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | $178 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | $1,525 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | $1,113 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | $111 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | $50 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | $271 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | $127 | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | $11 | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | $22 | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | $47 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | $44 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | $87 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | $109 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | $23,505 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | $0.64 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | $75 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | $7 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | $16 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | $112 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | $7 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | $3.45 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | $4.93 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | $3.64 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | $1.82 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | $22 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | $46 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | $25 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | $205 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | $79 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | $12 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | $5.03 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | $5.80 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | $420 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | $0.51 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | $50 | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | $8 | ||
Map of Cost of Living in United States
This map shows only the top cities in United States. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Cost of Living Ranking in United States
(top cities by data quality)
Price Index:
To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Are you moving to United States? Do you know how much money you will need there to maintain your current standard of living?
Find out what is the real equivalent in USA of your current salary and improve your chances of a happy relocation.
Get your own salary calculation
List of all cities available in United States
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Cleveland, Ohio is 40% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in New York City is about the same as in London
- Cost of living in New York City is 21% more expensive than in Paris
- Cost of living in Memphis, Tennessee is 29% cheaper than in Toronto
- Cost of living in Greenville, South Carolina is 48% cheaper than in Grand Cayman
- Cost of living in New York City is 35% more expensive than in Doha
- Cost of living in San Francisco, California is 18% more expensive than in Los Angeles, California
- Cost of living in New York City is 295% more expensive than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in New York City is 206% more expensive than in Corrientes
- Cost of living in Los Angeles, California is 18% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Seattle, Washington is 21% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in New York City is 35% more expensive than in Toronto
- Cost of living in Midland, Texas is 65% more expensive than in Mexico City
- Cost of living in New York City is 17% more expensive than in Washington D.C.
- Cost of living in Indianapolis, Indiana is 21% cheaper than in Toronto
- Cost of living in Los Angeles, California is about the same as in Washington D.C.
- Cost of living in Houston, Texas is 21% more expensive than in San Antonio, California
- Cost of living in New York City is 63% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in New York City is 197% more expensive than in São Paulo
- Cost of living in Houston, Texas is about the same as in Provo, Utah
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- One-way ticket in public transport in Los Angeles, California costs $1.75 (33 minutes ago)
- Public transport in Los Angeles, California costs $100 (33 minutes ago)
- 1 us gal of gasoline in Los Angeles, California costs $0.96 (33 minutes ago)
- Monthly rent - 900 sqft furnished accommodation in expensive area in Los Angeles, California costs $2,897 (33 minutes ago)
- 1 lb of rice in Los Angeles, California costs $3.64 (33 minutes ago)
- Bread for 2 people for 1 day (250 g) in Los Angeles, California costs $3.50 (about 1 hour ago)
- 2 liters of coca-cola in Los Angeles, California costs $2.25 (about 1 hour ago)
- 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality in Los Angeles, California costs $8 (about 1 hour ago)
- 12 oz domestic beer in the supermarket in Los Angeles, California costs $3.31 (33 minutes ago)
- 5 lb bag of potatoes in Los Angeles, California costs $1.32 (33 minutes ago)