Cost of Living in United States - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: United States
Address: US

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,157 (excluding rent), and $2,765 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,809 (excluding rent), and $5,361 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

$12.13 $12.13

$40.43 $40.43

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.7 $75.7

$50.4 $50.4

$151 $151

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.47 $11.47

$9.97 $9.97

$14.96 $14.96

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$2.94 $2.94

$7.84 $7.84

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.04 $2.04

$4.08 $4.08

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.53 $1.53

$3.07 $3.07

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$4.12 $4.12

$9.26 $9.26

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 $7.07

$5.05 $5.05

$12.12 $12.12

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.54 $0.54

$2.11 $2.11

White Bread (500g)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.03 $2.03

$6.89 $6.89

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$2.01 $2.01

$8.73 $8.73

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$1.93 $1.93

$7.44 $7.44

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.02 $13.02

$6.67 $6.67

$26.71 $26.71

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.18 $12.18

$5.50 $5.50

$22.00 $22.00

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.14 $16.14

$9.81 $9.81

$26.15 $26.15

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$2.21 $2.21

$8.88 $8.88

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.12 $1.12

$4.50 $4.50

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.13 $2.13

$11.23 $11.23

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$2.18 $2.18

$8.90 $8.90

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.12 $1.12

$6.74 $6.74

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.72 $1.72

$6.50 $6.50

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.28 $1.28

$4.84 $4.84

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$0.98 $0.98

$3.44 $3.44

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.16 $10.16

$8.12 $8.12

$19.30 $19.30

Wine (Bottle)

$15.16 $15.16

$9.10 $9.10

$25.27 $25.27

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.75 $1.75

$3.62 $3.62

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 $3.71

$1.54 $1.54

$7.19 $7.19

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.49 $1.49

$3.96 $3.96

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.9 $63.9

$34.39 $34.39

$130 $130

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.56 $2.56

$6.90 $6.90

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.26 $1.26

$3.15 $3.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.06 $30.06

$22.05 $22.05

$45.09 $45.09

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$0.76 $0.76

$1.36 $1.36

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.2K $30.2K

$24.1K $24.1K

$36.3K $36.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.2K $25.2K

$28.4K $28.4K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$207 $207

$120 $120

$385 $385

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$57.0 $57.0

$29.80 $29.80

$99.3 $99.3

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.5 $71.5

$49.77 $49.77

$108 $108

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.91 $45.91

$20.02 $20.02

$142 $142

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.25 $22.25

$8.13 $8.13

$65.6 $65.6

Cinema Ticket

$14.13 $14.13

$10.60 $10.60

$20.18 $20.18

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,385 $1,385

$807 $807

$3,191 $3,191

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$11.8K $11.8K

$39.3K $39.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 $52.1

$28.90 $28.90

$79.8 $79.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.53 $42.53

$23.96 $23.96

$69.9 $69.9

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.9 $89.9

$60.0 $60.0

$130 $130

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$65.5 $65.5

$201 $201

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,743 $1,743

$1,106 $1,106

$4,166 $4,166

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,422 $1,422

$941 $941

$2,766 $2,766

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,821 $2,821

$1,766 $1,766

$8,227 $8,227

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 $2,370

$1,585 $1,585

$5,168 $5,168

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,338 $3,338

$1,549 $1,549

$21.3K $21.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,615 $2,615

$1,166 $1,166

$10.7K $10.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,230 $4,230

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: January 13, 2026

By City in United States

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Aberdeen, SD	24071	125	$1,048	$2,514	$2,299	$4,673	83.9	211.73
2	Aberdeen, WA	24071	100	$851	$1,980	$2,668	$3,986	86.77	320.94
3	Abilene, TX	-	103	$924	$2,092	$2,153	$4,121	115.58	185.48
4	Abingdon, MD	31000	129	$1,005	$2,624	$2,474	$4,886	219.34	339.02
5	Abingdon, VA	8000	77	$894	$1,538	$2,022	$3,247	104.58	229.39
6	Abington, MA	16378	130	$995	$2,588	$2,740	$4,922	267.69	356.25
7	Acton, MA	-	136	$934	$2,751	$2,496	$7,311	61.13	353.89
8	Acworth, GA	22698	87	$911	$1,739	$2,186	$3,566	250.73	376.31
9	Ada, OK	17000	124	$947	$2,464	$2,398	$4,817	94.75	122.62
10	Addison, IL	37035	119	$894	$2,344	$2,100	$4,945	48.96	334.38
11	Adelanto, CA	38644	130	$1,078	$2,549	$2,727	$4,869	7.94	410.21
12	Adrian, MI	21703	129	$1,126	$2,607	$2,669	$4,946	18.89	335.09
13	Agoura Hills, CA	22666	136	$1,000	$2,694	$3,157	$5,258	166.67	316.04
14	Aiken, SC	28829	115	$880	$2,291	$2,132	$4,381	36.28	326.34
15	Airway Heights, WA	10757	137	$1,043	$2,747	$2,255	$5,046	70.85	275.57
16	Akron, OH	-	116	$1,260	$2,360	$2,450	$4,522	169.93	377.49
17	Alameda, CA	77624	190	$1,228	$3,736	$3,277	$6,569	159.23	344.5
18	Alamogordo, NM	31384	101	$950	$2,040	$2,246	$4,046	31.11	269.37
19	Alamosa, CO	10000	122	$862	$2,448	$1,893	$4,560	91.05	286.02
20	Albany, GA	99224	123	$945	$2,442	$2,118	$4,536	78.76	323.41
21	Albany, NY	-	133	$1,134	$2,693	$2,868	$5,543	244.73	295.77
22	Albany, OR	99224	131	$942	$2,615	$2,520	$4,938	26.92	372.67
23	Albert Lea, MN	17758	94	$1,004	$1,840	$1,937	$3,677	16.42	341.6
24	Albertville, AL	22386	126	$1,026	$2,503	$2,185	$4,926	117.31	304.46
25	Albrightsville, PA	-	147	$1,239	$2,879	$3,486	$5,993	146.66	260.78
26	Albuquerque, NM	-	114	$1,036	$2,283	$2,571	$4,781	107.57	316.99
27	Alexandria, LA	160035	107	$1,093	$2,174	$2,158	$4,659	61.15	333.14
28	Alexandria, MN	160035	111	$1,116	$2,246	$2,242	$4,724	301.79	295.01
29	Alexandria, VA	160035	166	$1,343	$3,294	$3,059	$5,969	64.18	359.17
30	Alhambra, CA	83089	159	$1,083	$3,202	$2,655	$4,941	58.69	359.81
31	Aliso Viejo, CA	41489	194	$1,300	$3,911	$2,866	$7,421	22.82	302.13
32	Allegan, MI	5000	136	$1,159	$2,677	$3,028	$5,353	217.43	400.09
33	Allen, TX	106874	133	$1,233	$2,599	$2,457	$5,032	114.03	407.32
34	Allentown, PA	120443	134	$1,004	$2,652	$2,899	$5,094	11.64	292.04
35	Alliance, OH	21000	125	$1,054	$2,497	$2,373	$4,723	211.03	336.92
36	Alpena, MI	10637	127	$1,003	$2,509	$2,707	$4,813	36.48	264.05
37	Alpharetta, GA	65799	162	$1,192	$3,214	$2,820	$5,793	217.49	372.98
38	Alton, IL	25676	134	$1,161	$2,713	$2,251	$5,027	14.02	365.97
39	Alvin, TX	24236	125	$1,081	$2,543	$2,376	$4,581	44.58	364.95
40	Amarillo, TX	-	109	$866	$2,142	$2,262	$4,555	124.06	340.18
41	American Canyon, CA	19454	129	$912	$2,534	$2,686	$4,801	30.11	342.59
42	Ames, IA	66427	104	$985	$2,098	$2,819	$4,237	100.19	273.17
43	Amherst, MA	37819	149	$1,032	$2,957	$2,356	$6,360	38.69	359.08
44	Amherst, NY	37819	131	$999	$2,618	$2,554	$5,121	105.58	315.11
45	Anacortes, WA	17637	127	$1,027	$2,549	$2,607	$4,817	136.72	307.16
46	Anaheim, CA	-	168	$1,308	$3,374	$2,674	$6,419	123.23	348.73
47	Anchorage, AK	-	143	$1,342	$2,879	$3,322	$5,817	151.88	192.87
48	Anderson, IN	57496	117	$853	$2,308	$2,093	$4,392	50.32	302.29
49	Anderson, SC	57496	114	$1,069	$2,278	$2,826	$4,726	203.91	362.21
50	Andover, MA	33475	141	$1,238	$2,839	$3,359	$5,546	16.96	311.45

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in United States - Frequently Asked Questions

Affordability across the United States ranges from high-cost metros to more affordable midsize cities and towns. When you compare the Cost of Living in United States, you’ll quickly see housing and transportation dominate the differences, with healthcare and utilities adding nuance. Coastal cities and tech hubs tend to be pricier, while inland regions and college towns offer more breathing room. Your value comes from choosing the right neighborhood, lease length, and season. For digital nomads, consider brief stays in a few areas to test work-life balance, internet reliability, and social scenes. Tip: map a monthly budget by housing, groceries, and transit before you travel.

Day-to-day life varies by city, but some patterns hold. When housing hunting, search by neighborhood rather than building; factor walkability, safety, and commute times. Grocery options range from big-box stores to farmer markets, with regional specialties shaping meals. Public transit works well in many cities, though you may still rely on rideshares or bikes in others. Flexible coworking and coffee spaces help you balance cost and network. For errands, plan a weekly route that minimizes backtracking. United States living cost shifts with the seasons too – summer tourism can spike prices in popular places, while winter can quiet activity in others. Tip: negotiate longer leases to lock in steadier rates.

Build a simple budgeting framework that accounts for housing, utilities, food, transport, and leisure, with room for unexpected costs like healthcare or pet care. Use a core city as your baseline, then compare nearby neighborhoods by rent ranges, commute lengths, and access to amenities. Seasonality matters: some areas price up in summer or during events; others stay steady year-round. Prioritize neighborhoods with good internet, safe outdoor spaces, and a sense of community that fits your pace. For savings, consider long-term rentals, public transit passes, and shared housing or co-living options to reduce costs while keeping flexibility. Tip: try a month-long pilot in a couple of neighborhoods before committing.