Cost of Living in United States - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: United States
Address: US

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,142 (excluding rent), and $2,847 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,829 (excluding rent), and $5,393 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.19 $20.19

$12.11 $12.11

$40.38 $40.38

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 $73.6

$49.06 $49.06

$147 $147

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.58 $11.58

$10.07 $10.07

$15.10 $15.10

Cappuccino

$5.29 $5.29

$3.03 $3.03

$8.08 $8.08

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

$2.60 $2.60

$2.03 $2.03

$4.06 $4.06

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.47 $1.47

$2.94 $2.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$4.06 $4.06

$9.14 $9.14

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.89 $6.89

$4.92 $4.92

$11.81 $11.81

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.52 $0.52

$2.01 $2.01

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 $3.58

$1.94 $1.94

$6.59 $6.59

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$1.98 $1.98

$8.60 $8.60

Eggs

$4.22 $4.22

$1.94 $1.94

$7.48 $7.48

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.15 $13.15

$6.74 $6.74

$26.97 $26.97

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.14 $12.14

$5.48 $5.48

$21.93 $21.93

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.44 $16.44

$9.99 $9.99

$26.65 $26.65

Apples (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$2.24 $2.24

$8.98 $8.98

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.07 $1.07

$4.28 $4.28

Oranges (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$2.14 $2.14

$11.26 $11.26

Tomato (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$2.11 $2.11

$8.60 $8.60

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.12 $1.12

$6.70 $6.70

Onion (1kg)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.73 $1.73

$6.55 $6.55

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.27 $1.27

$4.81 $4.81

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.01 $1.01

$3.55 $3.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.92 $9.92

$7.94 $7.94

$18.85 $18.85

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$9.10 $9.10

$25.28 $25.28

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.68 $1.68

$3.46 $3.46

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 $3.63

$1.51 $1.51

$7.05 $7.05

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.51 $1.51

$4.02 $4.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.7 $64.7

$34.81 $34.81

$131 $131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.71 $3.71

$2.57 $2.57

$6.93 $6.93

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.21 $1.21

$3.02 $3.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.61 $29.61

$21.71 $21.71

$44.41 $44.41

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$0.76 $0.76

$1.37 $1.37

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)

$25.9K $25.9K

$24.8K $24.8K

$28.0K $28.0K

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

$212 $212

$122 $122

$393 $393

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

$56.4 $56.4

$29.45 $29.45

$98.2 $98.2

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.5 $72.5

$50.5 $50.5

$110 $110

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.98 $44.98

$19.61 $19.61

$139 $139

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.28 $22.28

$8.14 $8.14

$65.7 $65.7

Cinema Ticket

$13.94 $13.94

$10.45 $10.45

$19.91 $19.91

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

$1,396 $1,396

$813 $813

$3,216 $3,216

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$11.9K $11.9K

$39.6K $39.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.5 $52.5

$29.14 $29.14

$80.4 $80.4

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.94 $41.94

$23.63 $23.63

$68.9 $68.9

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 $88.9

$59.3 $59.3

$128 $128

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$64.5 $64.5

$198 $198

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,725 $1,725

$1,095 $1,095

$4,124 $4,124

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 $1,407

$932 $932

$2,738 $2,738

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,904 $2,904

$1,817 $1,817

$8,468 $8,468

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 $2,355

$1,575 $1,575

$5,136 $5,136

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,416 $3,416

$1,464 $1,464

$20.8K $20.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,656 $2,656

$1,283 $1,283

$9,517 $9,517

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,388 $4,388

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

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

Last update: March 15, 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	$982	$2,465	$2,153	$4,803	83.9	211.73
2	Aberdeen, WA	24071	100	$1,078	$2,020	$2,174	$4,051	86.77	320.94
3	Abilene, TX	-	103	$1,104	$2,040	$2,329	$4,139	115.58	185.48
4	Abingdon, MD	31000	129	$995	$2,617	$2,437	$4,855	219.34	339.02
5	Abingdon, VA	8000	77	$954	$1,530	$2,331	$3,275	104.58	229.39
6	Abington, MA	16378	130	$886	$2,545	$2,666	$4,944	267.69	356.25
7	Acton, MA	-	136	$988	$2,677	$2,502	$7,226	61.13	353.89
8	Acworth, GA	22698	87	$905	$1,696	$2,024	$3,497	250.73	376.31
9	Ada, OK	17000	124	$762	$2,473	$2,415	$4,774	94.75	122.62
10	Addison, IL	37035	119	$983	$2,354	$2,087	$4,939	48.96	334.38
11	Adelanto, CA	38644	130	$1,027	$2,619	$2,500	$4,818	7.94	410.21
12	Adrian, MI	21703	129	$1,061	$2,590	$2,647	$4,847	18.89	335.09
13	Agoura Hills, CA	22666	136	$1,073	$2,732	$2,883	$5,349	166.67	316.04
14	Aiken, SC	28829	115	$1,094	$2,249	$2,014	$4,295	36.28	326.34
15	Airway Heights, WA	10757	137	$1,073	$2,725	$2,636	$5,049	70.85	275.57
16	Akron, OH	-	116	$1,005	$2,290	$2,331	$4,509	169.93	377.49
17	Alameda, CA	77624	190	$1,444	$3,746	$3,228	$6,580	159.23	344.5
18	Alamogordo, NM	31384	101	$1,124	$2,041	$2,790	$3,955	31.11	269.37
19	Alamosa, CO	10000	122	$807	$2,400	$2,352	$4,603	91.05	286.02
20	Albany, GA	99224	123	$949	$2,466	$2,527	$4,488	78.76	323.41
21	Albany, NY	-	133	$1,170	$2,611	$2,788	$5,696	244.73	295.77
22	Albany, OR	99224	131	$936	$2,561	$2,475	$4,955	26.92	372.67
23	Albert Lea, MN	17758	94	$946	$1,899	$2,418	$3,657	16.42	341.6
24	Albertville, AL	22386	126	$1,088	$2,490	$2,520	$4,910	117.31	304.46
25	Albrightsville, PA	-	147	$1,557	$2,886	$4,202	$6,121	146.66	260.78
26	Albuquerque, NM	-	114	$1,048	$2,308	$2,524	$4,622	107.57	316.99
27	Alexandria, LA	160035	107	$977	$2,114	$2,512	$4,722	61.15	333.14
28	Alexandria, MN	160035	111	$1,079	$2,229	$2,932	$4,569	301.79	295.01
29	Alexandria, VA	160035	166	$1,265	$3,268	$2,752	$5,958	64.18	359.17
30	Alhambra, CA	83089	159	$917	$3,218	$2,191	$4,950	58.69	359.81
31	Aliso Viejo, CA	41489	194	$1,348	$3,917	$3,022	$7,232	22.82	302.13
32	Allegan, MI	5000	136	$1,315	$2,749	$3,114	$5,325	217.43	400.09
33	Allen, TX	106874	133	$1,083	$2,639	$2,578	$4,953	114.03	407.32
34	Allentown, PA	120443	134	$1,086	$2,619	$2,598	$5,088	11.64	292.04
35	Alliance, OH	21000	125	$1,046	$2,504	$2,313	$4,622	211.03	336.92
36	Alpena, MI	10637	127	$856	$2,575	$2,354	$4,857	36.48	264.05
37	Alpharetta, GA	65799	162	$1,216	$3,189	$2,858	$5,742	217.49	372.98
38	Alton, IL	25676	134	$1,101	$2,718	$2,526	$5,166	14.02	365.97
39	Alvin, TX	24236	125	$880	$2,503	$1,891	$4,687	44.58	364.95
40	Amarillo, TX	-	109	$828	$2,195	$2,275	$4,617	124.06	340.18
41	American Canyon, CA	19454	129	$1,117	$2,614	$2,240	$4,896	30.11	342.59
42	Ames, IA	66427	104	$952	$2,122	$2,375	$4,369	100.19	273.17
43	Amherst, MA	37819	149	$1,121	$2,920	$3,049	$6,499	38.69	359.08
44	Amherst, NY	37819	131	$927	$2,616	$2,518	$5,081	105.58	315.11
45	Anacortes, WA	17637	127	$1,047	$2,501	$2,125	$4,804	136.72	307.16
46	Anaheim, CA	-	168	$1,109	$3,281	$2,552	$6,434	123.23	348.73
47	Anchorage, AK	-	143	$1,375	$2,842	$3,310	$5,786	151.88	192.87
48	Anderson, IN	57496	117	$803	$2,291	$1,992	$4,431	50.32	302.29
49	Anderson, SC	57496	114	$1,049	$2,312	$2,955	$4,598	203.91	362.21
50	Andover, MA	33475	141	$1,376	$2,851	$2,642	$5,457	16.96	311.45

United States Median Internet Speeds (Updated January 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

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

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.