Cost of Living in United States - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,160 (excluding rent), and $2,824 including rent.
Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,773 (excluding rent), and $5,499 including rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.72 $19.72
$11.83 $11.83
$39.44 $39.44
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.5 $73.5
$49.02 $49.02
$147 $147
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.68 $11.68
$10.16 $10.16
$15.24 $15.24
Cappuccino
$5.25 $5.25
$3.01 $3.01
$8.02 $8.02
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.94 $1.94
$3.89 $3.89
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.47 $1.47
$2.94 $2.94
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.14 $6.14
$4.10 $4.10
$9.22 $9.22
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 $7.10
$5.07 $5.07
$12.18 $12.18
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.54 $0.54
$2.11 $2.11
White Bread (500g)
$3.62 $3.62
$1.96 $1.96
$6.67 $6.67
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.98 $1.98
$8.62 $8.62
Eggs
$4.27 $4.27
$1.97 $1.97
$7.56 $7.56
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.81 $12.81
$6.56 $6.56
$26.28 $26.28
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.04 $12.04
$5.43 $5.43
$21.75 $21.75
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.53 $16.53
$10.04 $10.04
$26.78 $26.78
Apples (1kg)
$5.39 $5.39
$2.24 $2.24
$9.00 $9.00
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.12 $1.12
$4.50 $4.50
Oranges (1kg)
$4.63 $4.63
$2.15 $2.15
$11.34 $11.34
Tomato (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$2.10 $2.10
$8.58 $8.58
Potato (1kg)
$2.96 $2.96
$1.11 $1.11
$6.65 $6.65
Onion (1kg)
$3.14 $3.14
$1.77 $1.77
$6.71 $6.71
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.33 $1.33
$5.01 $5.01
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.03 $1.03
$3.59 $3.59
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.11 $10.11
$8.09 $8.09
$19.22 $19.22
Wine (Bottle)
$14.90 $14.90
$8.94 $8.94
$24.83 $24.83
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.77 $1.77
$3.65 $3.65
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 $3.70
$1.54 $1.54
$7.18 $7.18
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.56 $2.56
$1.53 $1.53
$4.09 $4.09
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.0 $66.0
$35.51 $35.51
$134 $134
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.79 $3.79
$2.63 $2.63
$7.08 $7.08
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.22 $1.22
$3.04 $3.04
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.91 $29.91
$21.94 $21.94
$44.87 $44.87
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$0.75 $0.75
$1.34 $1.34
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$24.3K $24.3K
$36.7K $36.7K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$24.9K $24.9K
$28.1K $28.1K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 $210
$121 $121
$390 $390
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.1 $58.1
$30.33 $30.33
$101 $101
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.5 $70.5
$49.05 $49.05
$107 $107
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.42 $45.42
$19.80 $19.80
$141 $141
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.94 $21.94
$8.01 $8.01
$64.7 $64.7
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$10.71 $10.71
$20.40 $20.40
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,399 $1,399
$815 $815
$3,223 $3,223
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.8K $22.8K
$12.1K $12.1K
$40.3K $40.3K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.4 $51.4
$28.54 $28.54
$78.7 $78.7
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.81 $41.81
$23.56 $23.56
$68.7 $68.7
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.8 $88.8
$59.2 $59.2
$128 $128
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$65.3 $65.3
$201 $201
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 $1,737
$1,102 $1,102
$4,150 $4,150
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,418 $1,418
$939 $939
$2,759 $2,759
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,929 $2,929
$1,833 $1,833
$8,542 $8,542
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,417 $2,417
$1,617 $1,617
$5,271 $5,271
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,365 $3,365
$1,444 $1,444
$20.5K $20.5K
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,688 $2,688
$1,299 $1,299
$9,639 $9,639
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,394 $4,394
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6
7

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

Last update: March 9, 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)
601
-
181 $911 $3,604 $2,292 $5,040
49.29
98.31
602
4500
134 $1,173 $2,698 $2,367 $4,968
159.93
236.69
603
350964
183 $1,584 $3,611 $3,872 $7,600
124.89
320.05
604
92606
129 $1,042 $2,527 $2,538 $4,902
90.06
372.69
605
9000
130 $1,099 $2,617 $2,421 $4,975
142.3
160.42
606
37930
77 $812 $1,509 $2,038 $3,333
95.19
256.01
607
8000
126 $1,068 $2,501 $2,027 $4,676
162.61
271.89
608
32657
118 $759 $2,372 $1,907 $4,377
85.17
317.93
609
2304580
127 $915 $2,509 $2,619 $4,970
74.48
163.49
610
2304580
130 $1,134 $2,633 $2,684 $5,435
42.6
394.39
611
53000
133 $1,029 $2,611 $2,711 $5,106
195.99
262.51
612
7000
121 $861 $2,381 $2,384 $4,627
290.02
322.63
613
193366
178 $1,207 $3,559 $3,085 $8,434
27.91
356.47
614
62165
127 $970 $2,493 $2,325 $4,945
135.13
380.76
615
6300
123 $1,136 $2,510 $2,429 $4,711
23.02
365.95
616
49138
129 $1,108 $2,558 $2,669 $5,017
207.21
321.64
617
49138
108 $973 $2,158 $2,147 $3,842
138.34
372.48
618
215006
114 $1,012 $2,305 $2,475 $4,608
37.95
371.23
619
41085
115 $689 $2,301 $1,651 $4,303
68.59
264.73
620
20097
139 $922 $2,786 $2,805 $5,026
105.69
326.48
621
61459
112 $1,013 $2,229 $2,070 $4,472
9.55
324.07
622
9462
129 $1,033 $2,580 $2,528 $4,998
67.53
368.91
623
117213
129 $939 $2,568 $2,871 $4,936
59.54
213.75
624
117213
108 $923 $2,155 $2,715 $4,094
238.71
451.13
625
882039
134 $1,157 $2,715 $2,793 $5,062
97.29
362.22
626
89137
123 $847 $2,481 $2,155 $4,548
203.65
362.55
627
7500
132 $967 $2,667 $2,549 $4,955
33.2
351.91
628
5400
118 $768 $2,358 $1,639 $4,159
40.37
328.54
629
74828
116 $1,074 $2,301 $2,643 $4,239
237.73
251.02
630
209716
192 $1,262 $3,852 $3,169 $7,349
19.68
387.87
631
256684
114 $771 $2,308 $2,114 $4,436
23.69
397.23
632
339938
136 $1,023 $2,758 $2,832 $5,476
252.42
335.41
633
40051
146 $1,266 $2,911 $3,396 $5,758
41.29
361.61
634
22283
112 $899 $2,281 $2,375 $4,611
131.88
308.09
635
153701
120 $1,020 $2,417 $2,208 $4,748
41.27
317.76
636
153701
99 $1,086 $1,978 $2,038 $3,920
10.8
283.34
637
153701
196 $1,234 $3,982 $3,390 $7,712
139.71
288.58
638
949611
125 $1,057 $2,528 $2,698 $4,942
112.71
386.3
639
949611
129 $979 $2,520 $2,135 $4,107
20.13
399.67
640
-
129 $1,073 $2,565 $2,897 $4,996
59.77
285.37
641
63575
103 $989 $2,093 $2,360 $4,028
58.68
339.35
642
15000
131 $1,092 $2,624 $3,127 $5,152
90.99
252.27
643
43079
127 $894 $2,553 $2,093 $4,689
89.97
313.7
644
49450
104 $837 $2,104 $2,585 $4,001
61.49
389.29
645
292449
193 $1,272 $3,929 $3,219 $6,900
102.97
345.12
646
66027
106 $844 $2,099 $2,549 $3,962
13.85
376.4
647
22269
89 $1,049 $1,812 $2,013 $3,403
106.02
261.51
648
150362
129 $1,041 $2,568 $2,481 $4,843
208.41
352.97
649
78576
97 $803 $1,949 $2,183 $4,400
215.32
344.12
650
51762
110 $986 $2,222 $1,848 $3,654
158.88
298.27
United States Median Internet Speeds (Updated January 2026)

Mobile

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
ms

Fixed Broadband

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
ms
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Cost of Living in United States - Frequently Asked Questions
How does affordability vary across the United States for travelers, expats, and digital nomads?
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.
What does day-to-day life look like for housing, groceries, transport, and coworking in the United States?
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.
How can you refine your budgeting framework and neighborhood fit for quality of life, seasonality, and savings?
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.

United States vs other spots: cost of living compared

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