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The 10 Most Expensive Cities to Live In

When the time finally came to move out of my mom’s apartment and venture off onto my own, I left Michigan and settled on Las Vegas for a few reasons: my sister was here, I liked the weather, and the cost of living is very reasonable. It surprised me a bit, since Las Vegas is considered by many as the entertainment capital of the world. Sure, you can head to the Strip and the prices soar; but outside that stretch of road, things are relatively affordable.

Such is not the case everywhere else in the US. Depending on where you are, you can expect to pay quite a bit more in living expenses. Here are the cities and states that rank as some of the priciest in the United States.

1. Manhattan and Brooklyn, NY

The Big Apple is so popular that about one in every 38 US residents live there! Both Manhattan and Brooklyn make it onto the list of some of the most expensive cities. The average rent for a furnished 900-square-foot space in New York comes out at around $2,800.

expensive cities

2. Honolulu, HI

It’s estimated that in general, things in Hawaii cost about 30% more than they do elsewhere in the country. Why? There are a few reasons, namely the fact that it costs more to get goods there. Hawaii is about 2,400 miles from California!

hawaii

3. San Francisco, CA

There’s more to San Fran than you might think, with its 11 historical districts and 14,000 Victorian homes. To fall in line with the standard of living in California, you need an annual salary of at least $95,000.

golden gate bridge

4. Stamford, CT

The cost of living in Connecticut is higher than average on all counts — including housing, health, transportation, groceries, and utilities. Not too surprising, considering Connecticut is home to one of the most prestigious colleges in our country: Yale.

most expensive cities

5. Washington, D.C.

Unbeknownst to many, living in our nation’s capital isn’t cheap. (It is, after all, the seat of our country’s government.) You can expect to pay around $2,000 for 900 square feet of furnished living space.

washington dc

6. Dallas, TX

While Dallas isn’t as pricey as a place like New York, you can still expect your monthly expenses for a family of four — minus rent — to be around $3,000, easily making it one of the most expensive cities to live in. (The average monthly salary after taxes is estimated around $3,200.)

expensive homes

7. Seattle, WA

Seattle: Home of the Starbucks headquarters! While food and transportation aren’t much higher than the national average (and utilities are actually less expensive), housing skyrockets. On a national average of 100, Seattle checks in at 252.

seattle, washington

8. Miami, FL

Miami is beautiful; and plenty of people are willing to pay over $1,000 for a furnished, 450-square-foot studio. Even breakfast can be a bit pricey, with a dozen eggs costing you around $5.30.

expensive cities to live in

9. Chicago, IL

Chicago is one of those must-see destinations for travelers. While the city rivals the architecture of New York, the prices aren’t quite as steep — although they’re still up there. The average rent for a one-bedroom comes in at around $1,300. A three-bedroom will cost you approximately $2,200.

expensive city

10. Boston, MA

Full of history, Boston is home to the first US chocolate factory and our country’s oldest public park. The average renter pays around $1,600 to live here, but this is referring to residents with roommates. Live alone and you can expect the cost to hit about $2,200 a month.

massachussetts