The cost of living continues to increase across the US and its territories – between 2021 and 2024 alone it grew by a staggering 20%.

America's most populous cities often feel the brunt of rising prices, from sky-high rents and soaring mortgage payments to hikes in everyday groceries. But which urban areas require the most wealth to live comfortably and what can you expect to pay for housing in these hotspots?

Click or scroll on to discover the US's 20 most expensive cities to live in and find out more about their property markets...

Our ranking is based on research from American media publisher U.S. News & World Report. Its data set includes a Value Index that examined the least affordable places to live in the US in 2024-2025 by comparing the ratio of annual housing and living costs to median household income against other cities of a similar size. Annual housing costs include homeowner mortgage payments, median gross rents, taxes and utilities. 

The publisher drew on data from government sources such as the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the US Census Bureau, the FBI and the US Department of Labor, as well as its own internal resources. 

All figures were correct at the time of publishing.

Ranked the 20th most expensive city to live in the US, Springfield in western Massachusetts is the bustling heart of the Pioneer Valley – a region known for its rolling hills, mountains and outdoor lifestyle. The city is home to numerous event venues and museums, the most famous of which is the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. 

According to U.S. News & World Report's data, the median household income in Springfield is $53,348 (£43.8k), that's almost half the national median of $80,610 (£66.2k) according to 2023 data from the US Census Bureau.

Median home prices sit at $197,477 (£162k), with monthly rents amounting to $1,135 (£932). Property costs may be reasonable in comparison to national figures, but the low income level in the city can make it unaffordable for some. Expenses such as groceries and utilities can be higher than the national average too, further exacerbating the issue.

While Springfield has apartments and multi-family units, it's also known as the City of Homes after its beautiful Victorian mansions and grand single-family houses. Pictured here is Mattoon Street, one of Springfield's most historic roads and the only one in the city lined with bow-fronted rowhouses.

Home to Brown University, Providence, the state capital of Rhode Island, is peppered with charming 18th- and 19th-century architecture. The city has a rich cultural scene, from its numerous art festivals to its diverse eateries, which draws in young professionals and artists alike. This beloved spot even ranked second on CNN's list of the best places to visit in America in 2024. 

However, according to research by the U.S. News & World Report, Providence doesn't offer residents great financial value in comparison to other cities of a similar size. It scored 5.2 out of 10 on the publication's Value Index, which compares typical housing costs to household income.

The median house price in Providence is $369,551 (£303k), around 30% higher than the national median when the data was gathered. However, the median household income is more than 17% lower than country-wide levels at $68,686 (£56k). While the cost of living is higher than in many areas in the US, Providence still offers better levels of affordability than its East Coast metro neighbour Boston.

As you can see in this image, where a modern apartment block stands next to Italianate, Colonial and Gothic-style homes, the city's housing stock is diverse. Some of the area's most iconic historic homes can be found on the cobblestone streets of College Hill, pictured here.

Cradled by mountains on one side and water on the other, Seattle offers the best of city life on the doorstep of breathtaking natural landscapes. Famous for its music scene, the city's unique charm also caught the eye of some of the world's largest global corporations including Amazon, Google and Microsoft, who all have offices here.

It's hardly surprising that this flourishing tech hub is one of the most expensive cities to live in the US. Over the years, home prices and living costs have been pushed up to astronomical levels by the influx of wealthy tech workers to this corner of the Pacific Northwest.

While the lucrative local economy sees households take home a sizeable median income of $124,473 (£102k), median home prices are still incredibly steep at $868,876 (£714k). Because of this, many low-income residents are forced to move out to the suburbs or further afield.

In a bid to find more affordable accommodation, some Seattle residents are turning to Lake Union. During the Great Depression, houseboats offered cheap accommodation for those struggling to make ends meet. Now, Seattleites are embracing life on the water again. For a small houseboat in need of renovation, prices can start from as little as $100,000 (£82k).

Once the epicentre of the California Gold Rush, Sacramento, the state capital of California, is undergoing something of a renaissance. A booming population and growing economic development have seen the city flourish in recent years. Taking advantage of the verdant valley around it, Sacramento has cemented itself as a leader in America's farm-to-fork movement, establishing a strong food culture throughout the city.

While its growing stature has resulted in a median household income of $81,757 (£67k), living costs here are around 20% higher than country-wide figures.

Home prices are also above national levels at $454,072 (£372k) – that's around 43% more than the rest of the country according to U.S. News & World Report. Still, the city is more affordable than other major urban areas in the state.

Pictured here is Crocker Village just south of downtown Sacramento. The new-build development comprises a community of high-end, single-family rental homes for the city's 34.5% of residents who rent. As of January 2025, a three-bedroom home spanning 1,620 square feet (150sqm) was around $3,947 (£3.2k) per month to lease in the complex.

Heading south, San Jose is another Californian hub that's strikingly unaffordable for many. Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, prices here have seen dramatic hikes due to the city's proximity to tech headquarters including Apple and Google.

But beyond its more recent identity as a tech town, San Jose retains its centuries-old charm. The bustling Downtown Historic District is lined with 19th-century architecture and brimming with buzzy restaurants, boutique stores and nightlife. 

However, it's impossible to ignore the economic impact of the tech boom. The influx of wealthy workers to the city has pushed the median household income to $142,931 (£117k) and the median house price to an enormous $1.1 million (£901k), while typical rents are $2,697 (£2.2k). It's no wonder that San Jose scored 4.9/10 in U.S. News & World Report's Value Index.

Alongside the city's historic Victorian, Edwardian and Craftsman-style homes, there's been a surge in the construction of apartment blocks to accommodate the population of tech workers. In fact, one new development is proposing to use the excess heat from data centres to warm six new housing blocks.

A thriving college city thanks to the numerous universities based here, Worcester, Massachusetts features an exciting cultural landscape with an array of restaurants, theatres, entertainment venues and an underground music scene. 

As you might expect from a metro area with a high student population, median household incomes are around 15% lower than the national median at $68,357 (£56k). The cost of living is higher than country-wide figures too, earning Worcester a Value Index score of just 4.9/10. 

On a positive note, home prices here are far cheaper than in other locations in this roundup with a median of $292,633 (£240k). However, the city's lower income levels can make household finances tight.

Worcester's varied neighbourhoods attract different demographics. Cosmopolitan downtown is popular with young people and students, while families populate the suburbs due to their plentiful green spaces.

Pictured here is Elm Street in one of the city's historic districts, which is lined with Queen Anne-style Victorian homes that first housed the city's white-collar renters in the early 20th century. 

Featuring an attractive waterfront on the Napa River, the Californian city of Vallejo offers shopping, nightlife, a theme park, green spaces and no shortage of arts and culture venues. While it may not be as high-profile as its Bay Area neighbours, the city is becoming something of a refuge for those seeking a more affordable lifestyle.

That's not to say Vallejo is cheap by any stretch of the imagination. It may be one of the more reasonable regions in the San Francisco Bay Area, but the cost of living here is still above the national average. 

Single-family houses account for around 70% of available accommodation in the city. Sprawling, planned communities are common here, from Hiddenbrooke near the border of Napa County to Glen Cove, a waterfront enclave in the south of Vallejo. 

The median house price in the city is $500,381 (£410k), 77% higher than nationwide figures. While household incomes are almost 14% higher than the US median at $92,596 (£76k), it doesn't bridge the gap in home affordability for Vallejo's 129,415 residents.

The birthplace of author John Steinbeck, Salinas celebrates its most famous historic resident with libraries, museums and festivals named in his honour. Alongside its literary heritage, the Californian city has also earned the nickname the "Salad Bowl of the World" due to the area's vast agricultural industry. Consequently, the city's Oldtown district is packed with farmers' markets and eateries serving local produce.

Despite its small-town feel, Salinas is becoming increasingly less affordable for its residents. The city scores 4.8/10 on the Value Index, in large part due to its high cost of living and hiked real estate prices, which are around double the national median.

The median house in Salinas will cost buyers $529,926 (£435k), while the median household income is $87,298 (£71.5k), which is around the typical US income.

The city's housing stock is diverse. 19th-century Victorian homes are found throughout the urban centre, while to the south you'll find modern homes on sprawling acreages.

Pictured here is a modern family home in Las Palmas Ranch, a gated community in the foothills of the Salinas Valley. Homes here go for far more than the average Salinas property, with a median list price of $995,000 (£815k) as of January 2025.

Long considered one of the Pacific Coast’s most desirable destinations, San Francisco is famous for its hilly terrain, beautiful old Victorian homes and iconic landmarks, including the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge.

San Francisco, or "Frisco" as it is colloquially known, is considered the cultural, commercial and financial hub of Northern California. Its thriving tech scene has increasingly attracted a younger, highly educated population, but it's also pushed living costs sky-high. Even everyday essentials like groceries are well above national average prices.

Property in San Francisco is infamously pricey, putting it well out of reach of most younger buyers. Zoning restrictions have limited the construction of new homes, increasing demand for the city's limited housing stock. Consequently, the median home price is just under $1.4 million (£1.2m), the highest median we’ve seen so far. 

That being said, the median household income for San Franciscans is $145,225 (£119k), nearly twice the national median.

Homes in San Francisco vary from sleek, contemporary apartments and mid-century modern houses to colourful Victorian and Edwardian homes. Pictured here are the Painted Ladies, a colourful row of homes on the eastern side of Alamo Square Park.

Known for its world-famous beaches, sunny climate and leafy parks, as well as its museums, cultural events and restaurants, San Diego combines the best of coastal and city living in Southern California.

But residents pay a premium for the temperate weather and year-round outdoor lifestyle. Referred to by locals as the "sunshine tax", the cost of living is markedly higher than in other areas of America's most expensive state. Despite the median household income of $109,765 (£90k), the city's elevated prices overstretch many residents, earning it 4.6/10 on the Value Index. 

The median house price in San Diego is $807,264 (£661k), more than double the national price according to U.S. News & World Report's data.

Captured here are high-end homes on Ocean Front Walk just north of the centre overlooking Mission Beach and the glittering North Pacific Ocean.

On the opposite side of the city, San Diego's downtown features swathes of apartment and condominium complexes, however, these often come with hefty homeowners' association fees, further exacerbating the cost of living.

The Californian city of Santa Rosa is situated in the heart of Sonoma County's wine country. Orchards, vineyards and large estates line the outskirts of the centre, while the city itself is home to gourmet restaurants, boutique shops and gyms.

The median household in Santa Rosa takes home $100,511 (£83k) a year, almost 20% more than the rest of the country. However, home prices are more than 50% more expensive than national levels, resulting in affordability issues across the city.

Homebuyers in Santa Rosa can expect to pay a median of $661,707 (£543k) for a property, significantly higher than the US median.

Single-family homes make up more than half of Santa Rosa's housing stock, while multi-family homes make up almost 30%, according to local government data.

Modern and heritage homes sit side by side in the urban area. Here's a 19th-century house on Cherry Street, a historic area of the city. It was designed in the Eastlake style, with intricate woodwork framing the porch and a perforated gable.

With its historic cobblestone streets, beautiful brownstones and lush public parks, Boston has long been a dream destination for people from all over the country and indeed all over the world. Offering countless museums and some of the world’s leading hospitals, Boston has more universities per capita than anywhere else in the US, with around 54% of the population below the age of 35.

Boston has a median household income of $95,674 (£78.6k) and while this is just above national figures, the notoriously inflated cost of living here can mean it's hard to make ends meet.

A small city, Boston’s real estate is at a premium and prices are correspondingly high. Homeowners can expect a median house price of $744,221 (£612k), while renters pay around $1,984 (£1.6k) a month.

Of course, housing costs fluctuate across the city. The upmarket Beacon Hill neighbourhood (pictured) with its Federal-style rowhouses and antique gas streetlights has an average house price of just over $1 million (£822k), as of December 2024. Contrastingly, homes in the more affordable neighbourhood of Brighton in the northwest corner of the city are almost half the average price at $578,582 (£475k). 

San Juan, the capital of US overseas territory Puerto Rico, is the island's largest city. Located on the northeastern coastline, the urban centre is renowned for its vibrant, multicoloured buildings and charming cobblestone streets. Old San Juan is the city's main historic hub, which includes two 16th-century military fortresses, boutique shops, restaurants, hotels, a boardwalk and the ferry port.

At face value, living costs in San Juan seem affordable compared to those across the continental US. However, the median household takes home just $33,470 ($27.4k) a year – that's 58% less than national levels – which makes day-to-day life here exceedingly expensive for residents.

San Juan's home prices may be less than the US median at $184,536 (£151k), but high energy bills that exceed average prices on the US mainland further contribute to making life in the city untenable for some. 

There are swathes of public housing blocks and mixed-income units across San Juan to help address issues of affordability, as well as streets of period houses and luxury properties. 

Here, a row of beautiful historic homes, complete with wrought-iron balconies and colourful exteriors, line Calle Recinto Sur in Old San Juan, a street away from the waterfront. 

With sandy beaches, tropical flowers and glorious weather year-round, it’s no wonder that Honolulu is considered an island paradise. Hawaii’s capital attracts thousands of tourists every year for surfing and the sun, and many more want to make the city their permanent home.

But there's a very costly reality attached to living in this Pacific Ocean paradise. Because most consumer goods have to be delivered to Hawaii either by boat or by plane, the cost of living is steep for Honolulu residents.

From urban high-rises to suburban bungalows, this gateway city to Hawaii’s island chain offers a wide assortment of properties for those who can afford them.

The median house price in Honolulu is $869,639 (£713k), more than 66% higher than the overall US median according to U.S. News & World Report. While the median household income is above national levels at $103,096 (£85k), it's not enough to bridge the gap in affordability, scoring the city 4.4/10 in the Value Index.

Hugging the coastline of the North Pacific Ocean, the city of Santa Barbara is a playground for California's rich and famous. With its beaches and proximity to the Santa Ynez Mountains, the urban centre offers an outdoor lifestyle coupled with high-end shopping, restaurants and entertainment, including alfresco concerts at the Santa Barbara Bowl. 

The city sits adjacent to celebrity hotspot Montecito, home to the likes of Oprah and Prince Harry and Meghan. Its position on such an affluent stretch of coast has resulted in sky-high living costs, with many Santa Barbara workers forced to commute in from outside the city limits.

The median house here costs a staggering $1.3 million (£1m), while rental costs are a steep $2,467 (£2k). Even with a median household income of $118,858 (£97.5k), housing is a financial stretch for many residents. 

Options for those who can afford property in the exclusive city range from condos and multi-family housing to detached homes and lavish mansions.

Pictured here is a Spanish Colonial Revival-style home with a red clay-tiled roof and plaster walls, a common architectural style found throughout the city. 

Cemented in popular culture, New York City is the beating heart of America’s theatrical and cultural scene, as well as a bustling hub of trade and commerce. Offering multiple top universities, countless museums and galleries, as well as the world-famous Broadway and Central Park, the city is home to a diverse population of 8.8 million – and draws tens of millions of tourists every year. 

But for residents, calling New York City home doesn't come cheap. The average cost of living in the Big Apple is 78% higher than the national average, with grocery costs alone some 26% higher. 

One of the largest financial challenges faced by New Yorkers is housing. The median house price in the city is $834,096 (£685k), while monthly rents for pocket-sized one-bedroom apartments can amount to several thousand dollars. At the higher end of the scale, the average price for a brownstone (pictured) in Brooklyn Heights can range from $3.5 million (£2.9m) to $10 million (£8.2m) according to local realtor Corbett & Dullea Real Estate.

Housing costs continue to rise across the city's boroughs, causing some to look further afield to New Jersey and Connecticut where more affordable accommodation can be found. Many residents of these nearby states commute to the Big Apple for work each day.

Home to Yale University and no end of museums, galleries and coffee shops, New Haven in Connecticut is a jewel of a city on the East Coast. This New England hotspot is renowned for its exquisite architecture, rich cultural calendar, leafy parks and walking trails.

Nevertheless, affordability can be a real issue for its population of more than 134,000. Despite its typical house price sitting around the US median, day-to-day living costs including groceries, utilities and transportation are higher than national levels, while wages are lower. The city scored 3.7/10 on the Value Index, with U.S. News & World Report stating that it offers less value than cities of a similar size.  

Here, multicoloured clapboard homes line the scenic bank of the Mill River, which runs between the city's Wooster Square and Fair Haven neighbourhoods.

New Haven's median home price is a seemingly affordable $273,625 (£224k). However, with a median household income of just $59,436 (£49k), which works out at 26% less than the rest of the US, it can be an especially costly place to live.

Sun, sea, sand and cosmopolitan living –  it's no surprise that Miami has attracted a population of more than 461,000. With its perennially warm tropical climate, outdoor pursuits from golf to scuba diving are popular among residents, while the city's arts districts are world-renowned. Miami is also known for its vibrant nightlife, which includes the stylish bars that line Miami Beach and the Cuban dance clubs of Little Havana.

Life in the coastal hotspot can prove a financial drain for many. The median income per household is $64,587 (£53k), almost 20% lower than the median national income. 

 The median home here costs buyers $448,531 (£365k), just less than double the country-wide median when U.S. News & World Report conducted its research. Housing is the most expensive cost for most residents, contributing most significantly to the city's Value Index score of 3.5/10.

You'll find scores of multimillion-dollar homes in exclusive Miami enclaves such as Indian Creek Island – also known as Billionaire Bunker – where high-net-worth neighbours include Jeff Bezos, Ivanka Trump and Tom Brady. However, the metro area also has sprawling suburbs of detached family homes, cottage-style bungalows and city condos with waterfront views.

The epicentre of the American film and television industry, this sprawling southern California city is the largest in the state and the second-most populous in the US after New York.

The metro area's Mediterranean climate, countless celebrity residents and the towering letters of the Hollywood sign have attracted a diverse population, with a median household income of $84,891 (£69k) – only just above the national median.

The cost of living in this glittering metropolis is steep and housing-related expenses typically put the most financial pressure on households.

The median home price in the City of Angels is $869,305 (£707k), an unachievable sum for many Angelinos given the median household income. 

Los Angeles has a housing shortage and a severe lack of affordable homes, exacerbated by a growing population and properties lost to wildfires. Even with a budget of just under a million dollars, homes are scarce and you don’t get as much value for money as you might in other places. 

Pictured here are streets of family homes in the suburbs of the San Fernando Valley, known locally as The Valley, which lies northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

One of America's oldest cities, Hartford in the East Coast state of Connecticut celebrates its past with a bustling centre filled with museums, galleries and historic attractions. Together with a diverse food scene, nightlife, parks and beauty spots, this well-rounded city has something for everyone.

But how does a low-key New England metro area become America's least affordable city to live in? It's mostly down to income. The median household here takes home just $46,377 (£37.7k) a year, around 42% less than national figures. To make matters worse, daily living costs such as groceries and transportation are higher than the US average, resulting in a Value Index of 3.3/10, the lowest in this round-up.

While home prices in Hartford are a little lower than the national median at $214,546 (£174k), it doesn't compensate for the higher-than-average living costs and low income levels. 

Still, if you can afford to live here, there's some amazing real estate on offer. Heritage homes are peppered throughout the city, with 20% of Hartford's buildings classed as protected historic structures. Pictured here is the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, the one-time home of the famous 19th-century author and abolitionist. It's just south of the West End neighbourhood where the city's priciest homes are found – the average property value as of December 2024 is $326,032 (£265k).

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