Cost of Living in United States - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: United States
Address: US

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,132 (excluding rent), and $2,767 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,781 (excluding rent), and $5,405 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$11.98 $11.98

$39.93 $39.93

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.7 $74.7

$49.78 $49.78

$149 $149

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.40 $11.40

$9.91 $9.91

$14.86 $14.86

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$3.08 $3.08

$8.20 $8.20

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.05 $2.05

$4.11 $4.11

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.48 $1.48

$2.95 $2.95

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.90 $5.90

$3.94 $3.94

$8.85 $8.85

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.02 $7.02

$5.01 $5.01

$12.03 $12.03

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.54 $0.54

$2.11 $2.11

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$1.92 $1.92

$6.53 $6.53

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$2.08 $2.08

$9.03 $9.03

Eggs

$4.30 $4.30

$1.98 $1.98

$7.62 $7.62

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$6.67 $6.67

$26.69 $26.69

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.22 $12.22

$5.52 $5.52

$22.08 $22.08

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.36 $16.36

$9.94 $9.94

$26.50 $26.50

Apples (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$2.17 $2.17

$8.71 $8.71

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.11 $1.11

$4.46 $4.46

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.13 $2.13

$11.24 $11.24

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.18 $2.18

$8.91 $8.91

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.11 $1.11

$6.70 $6.70

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.72 $1.72

$6.50 $6.50

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.32 $1.32

$5.00 $5.00

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$0.97 $0.97

$3.40 $3.40

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.83 $9.83

$7.87 $7.87

$18.68 $18.68

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$9.10 $9.10

$25.29 $25.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.69 $1.69

$3.49 $3.49

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$1.49 $1.49

$6.95 $6.95

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.49 $1.49

$3.98 $3.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.1 $66.1

$35.60 $35.60

$134 $134

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.65 $2.65

$7.13 $7.13

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.28 $1.28

$3.18 $3.18

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.48 $29.48

$21.62 $21.62

$44.21 $44.21

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.72 $0.72

$1.29 $1.29

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$23.5K $23.5K

$35.5K $35.5K

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.0K $25.0K

$28.3K $28.3K

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

$206 $206

$119 $119

$383 $383

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

$56.9 $56.9

$29.74 $29.74

$99.1 $99.1

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.8 $72.8

$50.7 $50.7

$110 $110

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.23 $45.23

$19.72 $19.72

$140 $140

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.84 $21.84

$7.98 $7.98

$64.4 $64.4

Cinema Ticket

$13.79 $13.79

$10.34 $10.34

$19.70 $19.70

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

$1,355 $1,355

$789 $789

$3,122 $3,122

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.6K $22.6K

$12.0K $12.0K

$39.9K $39.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 $51.3

$28.46 $28.46

$78.5 $78.5

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.37 $42.37

$23.87 $23.87

$69.6 $69.6

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 $88.6

$59.1 $59.1

$128 $128

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$65.8 $65.8

$202 $202

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,763 $1,763

$1,119 $1,119

$4,214 $4,214

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,432 $1,432

$948 $948

$2,787 $2,787

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,827 $2,827

$1,769 $1,769

$8,243 $8,243

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,358 $2,358

$1,577 $1,577

$5,143 $5,143

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,391 $3,391

$1,457 $1,457

$20.7K $20.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,614 $2,614

$1,264 $1,264

$9,376 $9,376

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,326 $4,326

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 3, 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)
251	Cathedral City, CA	51493	129	$1,035	$2,579	$2,562	$4,951	255.34	378.6
252	Cedar City, UT	28857	120	$1,426	$2,414	$2,853	$5,176	127.35	393.11
253	Cedar Rapids, IA	137710	102	$1,101	$2,057	$2,932	$4,102	80.63	264.49
254	Cedarhurst, NY	7000	131	$1,121	$2,637	$2,387	$5,128	48.14	288.01
255	Cedartown, GA	10000	124	$985	$2,491	$1,994	$4,571	4.82	372.71
256	Centennial, CO	-	152	$1,225	$3,042	$2,946	$5,461	52.44	115.19
257	Central Valley, NY	-	129	$971	$2,542	$2,764	$4,880	208.08	298.81
258	Centreville, VA	74000	197	$1,591	$3,942	$3,694	$7,867	34.18	169.97
259	Cerritos, CA	49041	132	$1,036	$2,622	$2,840	$5,024	104.4	353.55
260	Champaign, IL	88302	100	$964	$2,009	$2,047	$3,354	57.31	265.1
261	Chandler, AZ	248631	137	$1,067	$2,788	$2,641	$5,394	229	364.12
262	Chapel Hill, NC	61960	131	$841	$2,605	$2,440	$5,222	39.86	383.9
263	Charles Town, WV	6500	138	$1,284	$2,711	$2,805	$5,172	222.4	353.36
264	Charleston, SC	150227	149	$1,148	$2,920	$2,771	$5,669	291.61	333.17
265	Charleston, WV	150227	90	$941	$1,824	$2,402	$3,582	108.49	321.43
266	Charlotte, MI	751087	114	$1,003	$2,241	$2,026	$3,932	235.13	411.79
267	Charlotte, NC	-	146	$1,225	$2,878	$2,948	$5,606	76.03	340.41
268	Charlottesville, VA	43475	168	$1,608	$3,337	$3,326	$6,700	81.79	297.8
269	Chattanooga, TN	176588	126	$1,063	$2,468	$2,363	$4,857	34.35	304.92
270	Chelan, WA	4200	131	$990	$2,654	$2,469	$4,923	157.48	215
271	Cherry Hill, NJ	71586	162	$1,468	$3,165	$3,943	$6,453	226.81	348.26
272	Chesapeake, VA	249422	128	$1,108	$2,552	$2,740	$4,487	152.28	333.79
273	Chester, CA	36801	137	$1,000	$2,711	$2,615	$5,122	153.3	346.31
274	Chesterfield, MI	49999	128	$1,028	$2,577	$2,313	$5,036	104.59	377.82
275	Chesterfield, MO	49999	119	$780	$2,392	$1,721	$4,121	114.63	331.54
276	Chevy Chase, MD	3000	138	$1,136	$2,800	$2,715	$5,235	52.71	334.17
277	Cheyenne, WY	65035	102	$955	$1,999	$1,987	$4,576	275.77	412.87
278	Chicago, IL	2746388	154	$1,264	$3,062	$3,194	$6,244	24.57	352.21
279	Chico, CA	90316	129	$1,292	$2,598	$2,737	$5,153	29.74	334.07
280	Christiansburg, VA	22259	133	$906	$2,616	$2,184	$3,644	171.32	344.32
281	Chula Vista, CA	275487	161	$1,291	$3,264	$2,712	$6,007	48.25	378.6
282	Cincinnati, OH	298800	108	$1,010	$2,162	$2,373	$4,406	23.95	326.27
283	Claremont, NH	35103	134	$1,044	$2,671	$2,965	$5,325	73.95	342.1
284	Clarinda, IA	5400	127	$832	$2,542	$1,865	$4,674	227.2	267.85
285	Clarksburg, WV	16039	129	$1,047	$2,604	$2,423	$4,899	94.78	356.12
286	Clarksville, TN	180716	124	$1,045	$2,447	$2,745	$4,027	264.41	339.9
287	Clayton, NC	17355	128	$1,121	$2,559	$2,412	$5,034	277.97	339.44
288	Clearwater, FL	107742	148	$1,119	$2,947	$2,751	$5,822	272.54	411.86
289	Clemson, SC	17681	129	$1,191	$2,603	$2,680	$4,443	302.75	294.53
290	Cleveland, MS	367991	120	$984	$2,390	$2,140	$4,538	76.88	312.93
291	Cleveland, OH	367991	123	$1,121	$2,426	$2,685	$4,664	142.66	354.36
292	Cleveland, TN	367991	115	$851	$2,253	$2,187	$4,732	105.57	364.76
293	Clewiston, FL	7500	133	$1,068	$2,677	$2,922	$5,140	26.53	301.68
294	Clifton, NJ	79606	150	$987	$2,932	$3,196	$5,257	135.05	380.83
295	Clinton, IA	-	126	$1,034	$2,525	$2,546	$4,685	67.23	376.9
296	Clovis, NM	38567	102	$1,125	$2,074	$3,128	$5,319	90.19	286.76
297	Cobleskill, NY	4500	130	$1,070	$2,586	$2,341	$4,940	32.11	306.93
298	Cody, WY	10000	125	$846	$2,482	$2,439	$4,577	59.16	301.48
299	Coeur d'Alene, ID	49122	135	$1,015	$2,658	$2,219	$5,011	55.78	362.65
300	College Park, MD	34740	150	$1,079	$3,039	$2,736	$5,840	85.5	267.31

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.