Most Expensive Cities in the US (2026)
Data-driven city rankings · 2026
Overview
America's most expensive cities command premium prices for a reason: world-class job markets, cultural amenities, and network effects that can accelerate careers. Understanding the true cost helps you decide whether the trade-off is worth it for your specific situation and career stage.
These rankings show the 20 most expensive US metros by overall cost-of-living index. For each city, we break down where the money goes and what you get in return.
Ranking Criteria
Ranked by overall cost-of-living index, highest to lowest. No filters applied — this is a pure ranking of the most expensive places to live in America by our composite measure.
Top Cities
| # | City | Index | Rent | Home Price | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manhattan, NY | 235 | $4,200/mo | $1,150,000 | $93,651 |
| 2 | Brooklyn, NY | 195 | $2,900/mo | $780,000 | $65,294 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | 190 | $3,400/mo | $1,200,000 | $119,136 |
| 4 | Santa Barbara, CA | 190 | $3,000/mo | $1,200,000 | $70,819 |
| 5 | New York City, NY | 187 | $3,200/mo | $680,000 | $67,046 |
| 6 | Honolulu, HI | 186 | $2,400/mo | $720,000 | $71,465 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | 182 | $3,100/mo | $1,300,000 | $117,324 |
| 8 | Cambridge, MA | 178 | $3,100/mo | $890,000 | $103,154 |
| 9 | Irvine, CA | 178 | $3,000/mo | $1,050,000 | $108,038 |
| 10 | Hilo, HI | 173 | $2,010/mo | $503,000 | $93,100 |
| 11 | Los Angeles, CA | 166 | $2,700/mo | $850,000 | $65,290 |
| 12 | Oakland, CA | 165 | $2,700/mo | $780,000 | $73,692 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | 162 | $2,800/mo | $620,000 | $76,298 |
| 14 | Jersey City, NJ | 162 | $2,600/mo | $540,000 | $80,820 |
| 15 | San Diego, CA | 160 | $2,500/mo | $800,000 | $79,646 |
| 16 | Stamford, CT | 158 | $2,400/mo | $580,000 | $95,272 |
| 17 | Long Beach, CA | 155 | $2,200/mo | $700,000 | $60,567 |
| 18 | Seattle, WA | 152 | $2,300/mo | $750,000 | $97,185 |
| 19 | Washington, DC | 152 | $2,300/mo | $580,000 | $90,842 |
| 20 | Boulder, CO | 148 | $2,300/mo | $750,000 | $73,123 |
City-by-City Breakdown
1. Manhattan, NY (Index: 235)
Manhattan sits 135% above the national average with a cost index of 235. Median rent runs $4,200/mo per month, and the median home price is $1,150,000. With a median household income of $93,651, residents benefit from a strong job market that helps offset higher costs. Housing is indexed at 421, which drives most of the overall cost in Manhattan.
2. Brooklyn, NY (Index: 195)
Brooklyn sits 95% above the national average with a cost index of 195. Median rent runs $2,900/mo per month, and the median home price is $780,000. With a median household income of $65,294, residents benefit from a strong job market that helps offset higher costs. Housing is indexed at 325, which drives most of the overall cost in Brooklyn.
3. San Francisco, CA (Index: 190)
San Francisco sits 90% above the national average with a cost index of 190. Median rent runs $3,400/mo per month, and the median home price is $1,200,000. With a median household income of $119,136, residents benefit from a strong job market that helps offset higher costs. Housing is indexed at 327, which drives most of the overall cost in San Francisco.
4. Santa Barbara, CA (Index: 190)
Santa Barbara sits 90% above the national average with a cost index of 190. Median rent runs $3,000/mo per month, and the median home price is $1,200,000. With a median household income of $70,819, residents benefit from a strong job market that helps offset higher costs. Housing is indexed at 340, which drives most of the overall cost in Santa Barbara.
5. New York City, NY (Index: 187)
New York City sits 87% above the national average with a cost index of 187. Median rent runs $3,200/mo per month, and the median home price is $680,000. With a median household income of $67,046, residents benefit from a strong job market that helps offset higher costs. Housing is indexed at 302, which drives most of the overall cost in New York City.
6. Honolulu, HI (Index: 186)
Honolulu sits 86% above the national average with a cost index of 186. Median rent runs $2,400/mo per month, and the median home price is $720,000. With a median household income of $71,465, residents benefit from a strong job market that helps offset higher costs. Housing is indexed at 275, which drives most of the overall cost in Honolulu.
7. San Jose, CA (Index: 182)
San Jose sits 82% above the national average with a cost index of 182. Median rent runs $3,100/mo per month, and the median home price is $1,300,000. With a median household income of $117,324, residents benefit from a strong job market that helps offset higher costs. Housing is indexed at 308, which drives most of the overall cost in San Jose.
8. Cambridge, MA (Index: 178)
Cambridge sits 78% above the national average with a cost index of 178. Median rent runs $3,100/mo per month, and the median home price is $890,000. With a median household income of $103,154, residents benefit from a strong job market that helps offset higher costs. Housing is indexed at 280, which drives most of the overall cost in Cambridge.
9. Irvine, CA (Index: 178)
Irvine sits 78% above the national average with a cost index of 178. Median rent runs $3,000/mo per month, and the median home price is $1,050,000. With a median household income of $108,038, residents benefit from a strong job market that helps offset higher costs. Housing is indexed at 294, which drives most of the overall cost in Irvine.
10. Hilo, HI (Index: 173)
Hilo sits 73% above the national average with a cost index of 173. Median rent runs $2,010/mo per month, and the median home price is $503,000. With a median household income of $93,100, residents benefit from a strong job market that helps offset higher costs. Housing is indexed at 161, which is the most affordable category in Hilo.
How to Use This Data
High-cost cities are not automatically bad financial decisions. A $150,000 salary in a 160-index city may still provide more absolute savings than an $80,000 salary in an 85-index city. The key calculation is take-home pay minus essential expenses. Use our salary equivalence calculator and city comparison tool to run the numbers for your specific income level before ruling out expensive metros.
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