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)
1351
100670
186 $1,209 $3,695 $3,029 $6,114
38.49
344.02
1352
5300
129 $973 $2,629 $2,472 $4,952
183.05
310.17
1353
4000
140 $1,033 $2,763 $2,873 $5,408
86.76
211.4
1354
56426
84 $1,058 $1,702 $2,525 $4,268
55.37
337.48
1355
121692
140 $1,081 $2,732 $2,871 $6,289
63.47
367.8
1356
10000
126 $1,003 $2,511 $2,157 $4,760
112.54
250.76
1357
34151
108 $986 $2,121 $2,776 $4,123
34.85
354.16
1358
11000
130 $948 $2,545 $2,223 $4,905
61.81
71.64
1359
190915
137 $1,099 $2,739 $2,663 $5,034
136.68
376.52
1360
40885
153 $1,107 $3,026 $3,055 $6,243
27.91
365.01
1361
104423
175 $1,107 $3,514 $2,659 $6,223
167.05
322.06
1362
1046
129 $1,025 $2,557 $2,575 $4,941
132.56
368.91
1363
15220
137 $1,033 $2,759 $2,424 $4,902
227.16
339.68
1364
65534
134 $1,249 $2,670 $2,978 $5,217
98.46
344.08
1365
122225
143 $884 $2,887 $1,843 $4,827
67.04
395.78
1366
60724
129 $1,042 $2,533 $2,495 $4,899
21.67
367.1
1367
459470
131 $1,089 $2,667 $2,809 $5,638
161.05
327.13
1368
130104
123 $1,095 $2,486 $2,400 $5,005
135.43
335.11
1369
98381
154 $1,060 $3,007 $2,481 $5,882
55.72
312.28
1370
-
131 $1,249 $2,554 $2,653 $5,199
186.7
306.8
1371
138486
137 $908 $2,759 $2,561 $4,757
64.2
347.13
1372
-
151 $1,348 $2,969 $3,168 $5,844
200.35
320.05
1373
15313
135 $1,083 $2,700 $2,828 $5,238
94.21
301.58
1374
71894
156 $1,383 $3,100 $2,993 $6,259
210.52
348.11
1375
-
128 $1,123 $2,599 $2,710 $4,650
-
-
1376
-
134 $1,296 $2,672 $2,642 $5,227
127.73
310.92
1377
34060
116 $1,001 $2,320 $2,673 $4,457
133.96
278.81
1378
44740
124 $892 $2,510 $2,506 $4,686
199.74
372.75
1379
70166
172 $1,080 $3,390 $2,720 $6,744
90.4
371.06
1380
31294
119 $862 $2,350 $2,490 $4,642
233.22
337.29
1381
60636
199 $1,093 $3,954 $2,596 $8,206
152.68
324.25
1382
74854
117 $1,124 $2,345 $1,988 $4,300
105.25
388.47
1383
3000
116 $871 $2,306 $2,053 $4,606
397.21
193.73
1384
134188
128 $1,125 $2,575 $2,185 $4,878
190.12
350.13
1385
134188
90 $776 $1,798 $2,063 $3,342
66.16
454.22
1386
134188
134 $903 $2,714 $2,528 $5,022
178.75
244.04
1387
20251
117 $825 $2,326 $1,977 $4,339
277.86
447.28
1388
10000
131 $1,139 $2,596 $2,381 $4,848
267.84
359.62
1389
13082
112 $743 $2,268 $2,217 $4,239
107.5
338.4
1390
85925
142 $1,047 $2,780 $2,837 $5,454
214.36
296.74
1391
672228
188 $1,477 $3,741 $3,734 $7,980
23.23
330.38
1392
672228
134 $988 $2,676 $2,485 $4,863
41.03
354.37
1393
9000
137 $1,231 $2,764 $2,628 $4,824
73.66
192.87
1394
110366
182 $1,549 $3,620 $3,883 $7,057
66.04
422.03
1395
19517
129 $1,050 $2,551 $2,508 $5,072
30.98
361.06
1396
67314
93 $817 $1,880 $2,052 $3,190
236.15
315.3
1397
31915
98 $921 $1,980 $2,415 $4,367
165.54
329.16
1398
31915
122 $1,069 $2,460 $2,180 $4,670
258.46
308.53
1399
6200
129 $911 $2,630 $2,565 $5,025
118.36
247.03
1400
89321
129 $1,018 $2,581 $2,512 $4,896
324.65
324.27
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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