Ranked: U.S. Cities With the Highest Cost of Living 💸

Key Takeaways

• New York City is the most expensive place to live globally.
• Ranking in second is San Francisco, where prices are about 15% cheaper than in the Big Apple.
• Cities were ranked according to daily living expenses like food, utilities, housing costs, and transportation based on data from Numbeo as of mid-year 2025.

New York City Tops the List in 2025

Despite an exodus seen during the pandemic, living costs in New York City remain high—with a one bedroom apartment averaging $4,107 per month.

While many have flocked to Miami (#9), living costs remain 28% lower than in New York City.

An even greater discount is seen in Dallas (#20), where the cost of living is nearly 43% less expensive thanks to lower taxes and greater housing supply.