Walk with me down memory lane for a quick example of how expensive some cities costs.
My old rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in San Francisco, CA in 2013 – $2,000.
My mortgage for a 4-bedroom house in Durham, NC in 2013 — $1,300.
The rent on that old apartment now… around $5,000. My mortgage now? Still $1,300.
The cost of San Francisco was one the major factors in our decision to leave, but is San Francisco even the most expensive city in America?
According to the most recent data, San Francisco, CA is actually the most expensive city in the United States. We used Saturday Night Science to compare the cost of living across cities. A big portion of that is housing costs, but things like healthcare, groceries, and utilities also play a role.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Cities In The United States For 2025
The least expensive city in America? Cleveland, Oh.
California is home to a major portion of the most expensive cities in the top 20. A lot of that does in fact have to do with housing costs, but San Francisco didn’t take the top spot because things like services and groceries aren’t as expensive.
For more on the top twenty, read on. Or if you’re looking for some cheaper places to live, check out:
The Top 20 Most Expensive Cities In America
#1 Most Expensive City In America
San Francisco, CA
Population: 836,321
Cost Of Living Index: 239
Median Income: $141,446
Home Prices: $1,254,030
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.9x (11th most affordable)
More on San Francisco: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate





I live here now and I like that it has what I call “flavor”. I grew up in a small suburban very safe small town. It was ranked “Best small town to raise a family in CA” once in some random magazine. I like that San Francisco has character, lots of activities to do, and it is a beautiful city just to live in. I also live in the Inner Sunset neighborhood near the golden gate park and do not experience seeing lots of homeless people around me so thats probably why I feel favorably about how SF feels.
One of my favorite places is Lands end and golden gate park. There are always activities going on in the park and it is just really nice to be able to access such a beautiful place easily by bike. I like that there are large concerts in golden gate park, night life experiences at the museums in the park, and large open spaces for family gatherings.
#2 Most Expensive City In America
Fremont, CA
Population: 228,518
Cost Of Living Index: 221
Median Income: $176,350
Home Prices: $1,480,796
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.4x (12th most affordable)
More on Fremont: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
#3 Most Expensive City In America
San Jose, CA
Population: 990,054
Cost Of Living Index: 209
Median Income: $141,565
Home Prices: $1,382,249
Home Price To Income Ratio: 9.8x (7th most affordable)
More on San Jose: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate





I love the library of san jose, there are a lot of book in different language juste like the people in this city.
santana row is my favorite place, a lot of store, restaurants, large place, easy to park beautiful place to hang out with friends or family.
#4 Most Expensive City In America
Irvine, CA
Population: 308,160
Cost Of Living Index: 198
Median Income: $129,647
Home Prices: $1,550,367
Home Price To Income Ratio: 12.0x (most affordable)
More on Irvine: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate





Irvine is an extremely safe city with regular, active, and diligent police patrols on all major roads. It has a reputation for being one of, if not the safest city in America, and is also a beautiful city due to the planned nature of its housing communities and nature. While this does make Irvine feel like a bubble, it also ensures that it is a safe and secure environment for those living in it and especially for children, as they are guaranteed an education that is held to a higher standard than other cities. Schools are consistently excellent, and there are very few schools that are riddled with disciplinary or financial problems due to Irvine Company’s excellent management of the city’s allocated funding.
Irvine’s food is mostly chains, and there are few private businesses due to the high cost of retail spaces. As a result, your experiences in Irvine when it comes to food and shopping will always be consistently safe, but also expensive and somewhat vanilla in terms of variety. The city also begins to feel quite sterile after living there for a few years because of how safe and well-maintained it is. Transportation without a vehicle can also be difficult due to the long intervals between buses, as well as the distance from houses to retail plazas.
#5 Most Expensive City In America
Oakland, CA
Population: 438,072
Cost Of Living Index: 183
Median Income: $97,369
Home Prices: $700,691
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.2x (19th most affordable)
More on Oakland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate





To everybody thinking about moving to Oakland : It’s dreadful, horrible chaos. Please just stay where you are.
Actually, Oakland s a wonderful place to live. We just don’t need any more people here. Really.
Bad: weather. Bad: diverse, fun population. You’ve been warned. Lol
#6 Most Expensive City In America
Seattle, WA
Population: 741,440
Cost Of Living Index: 179
Median Income: $121,984
Home Prices: $847,417
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.9x (2most affordable)
More on Seattle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate





I loved the city of Seattle. The city was full of life, the market place was amazing and the restaurants were wonderful. I would go back there in a heart beat!
I loved the market place. It was artsy, fun and something I never experienced before. Having the fish people throwing fish around in the market place was a lot of fun.
#7 Most Expensive City In America
Arlington, VA
Population: 235,463
Cost Of Living Index: 178
Median Income: $140,160
Home Prices: $808,201
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.8x (32nd most affordable)
More on Arlington: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
#8 Most Expensive City In America
Los Angeles, CA
Population: 3,857,897
Cost Of Living Index: 171
Median Income: $80,366
Home Prices: $936,303
Home Price To Income Ratio: 11.7x (2nd most affordable)
More on Los Angeles: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate




Living in Los Angeles is a lot of fun, there is a lot of diversity and a lot of natural hiking trails. The food here is amazing and there is a lot of variety available.
One of my favorite places is the Hollywood sign, you can hike up there or just drive to see the sign. One of the bad things about Los Angeles is it’s traffic and parking due to high population.
#9 Most Expensive City In America
San Diego, CA
Population: 1,385,061
Cost Of Living Index: 170
Median Income: $104,321
Home Prices: $981,175
Home Price To Income Ratio: 9.4x (10th most affordable)
More on San Diego: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate



San Diego has the best weather in all of the USA. The oceans are a thing of beauty and the outdoor activities are perfect for any outdoor enthusiast. There is always a place to go and always something to do. There are a vast amount of choices for food and beverages in all the different neighborhoods and the ambiance is only enhanced with the ocean views. Most of San Diego is very secure with minimal crime, but there are areas to stay away from especially late at night with the amount of homeless.
Go for a hike one day the beach the next then hang out in downtown, three completely different experiences all within half hour drive. The housing market is difficult, you absolutely pay for the weather as it is very expensive to live in a descent neighborhood.
#10 Most Expensive City In America
New York, NY
Population: 8,516,202
Cost Of Living Index: 169
Median Income: $79,713
Home Prices: $806,834
Home Price To Income Ratio: 10.1x (4th most affordable)
More on New York: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate





The crime level is higher than most cities but in general it feels safe because there are always people around especially during the day. There are a lot of good schools in the city but many of them are expensive private ones. It’s probably the best city in terms of things to do due to the variety. There are plenty of restaurants, shopping, and activities for all different types of people. There are a lot of great fitness classes and speciality boutiques that sell organic products.
Some of my favorite places are Central Park, the river, yoga studios, and the Lincoln center to see ballets. The negative part of the city is the crowds, traffic, and unreliable subway system.
#11 Most Expensive City In America
Boston, MA
Population: 663,972
Cost Of Living Index: 167
Median Income: $94,755
Home Prices: $785,238
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.3x (14th most affordable)
More on Boston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate




My aunt and I like visiting the city due to a crime envionment and there’s many fun places to visit like restaurants, health food restaurant I enjoy trying out, museums, candy, gifts and health foods shops. Nice for a short vacation spot.
The crime rate is very low in this city and many fun places to visit like restaurants, museums and shops. Farmers and flea markets.
#12 Most Expensive City In America
Santa Clarita, CA
Population: 229,021
Cost Of Living Index: 164
Median Income: $119,926
Home Prices: $792,509
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.6x (23rd most affordable)
More on Santa Clarita: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate



Overall, Santa Clarita from a younger individual’s perspective is very bland. The city simply lacks of things to do.
What stood out the most about Santa Clarita is how I felt secured in this city. Also the family appears to be more about raising a family.
#13 Most Expensive City In America
Anaheim, CA
Population: 344,553
Cost Of Living Index: 160
Median Income: $90,583
Home Prices: $918,825
Home Price To Income Ratio: 10.1x (3rd most affordable)
More on Anaheim: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate




There is so much stuff to do in Anaheim. You can visit local parks and catch free movies on some nights. You can also visit Disneyland and have a fun-filled day. Some neighborhoods are better than others. I really enjoy going to the park and taking walks around the track.
Parking is a little hectic so please plan ahead. Some things can get a little pricey as well.
#14 Most Expensive City In America
Long Beach, CA
Population: 458,491
Cost Of Living Index: 158
Median Income: $83,969
Home Prices: $835,128
Home Price To Income Ratio: 9.9x (6th most affordable)
More on Long Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate




I moved to Long Beach to attend Cal State University Long Beach. Honestly, it changed my life. I grew up in a different suburb in California, but Long Beach is so different. I wouldn’t necessarily live here for my whole life, but it was definitely worth coming here for college. I like coming back and visiting here to see my friends.
My favorite thing about Long Beach is that there are honestly always places to go to, and it’s not too far to go to other fun cities like LA. It’s not too quiet but never too loud either unless you live somewhere that is filled with college students. The weather is great, too. And of course, we’re near a few beaches, so that’s great.
#15 Most Expensive City In America
Chula Vista, CA
Population: 275,030
Cost Of Living Index: 157
Median Income: $105,173
Home Prices: $827,510
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.9x (15th most affordable)
More on Chula Vista: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
#16 Most Expensive City In America
Santa Ana, CA
Population: 311,639
Cost Of Living Index: 154
Median Income: $88,354
Home Prices: $838,228
Home Price To Income Ratio: 9.5x (9th most affordable)
More on Santa Ana: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
#17 Most Expensive City In America
Jersey City, NJ
Population: 289,691
Cost Of Living Index: 143
Median Income: $94,813
Home Prices: $646,545
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.8x (22nd most affordable)
More on Jersey City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
#18 Most Expensive City In America
Portland, OR
Population: 642,715
Cost Of Living Index: 138
Median Income: $88,792
Home Prices: $524,552
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.9x (27th most affordable)
More on Portland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate





Every time I visit Portland I am reminded of how much I love it. The atmosphere ia always vibrant and the people are so nice! There are so many things to do that you will never be bored.
Breweries on every corner. I love to go from brewery to brewery and taste all the different beers. Portland is the epitomy of melting pot. There are so many diverse groups and fron that comes a large market of ethnic foods. You can find any ethnic food you can think of.
#19 Most Expensive City In America
Riverside, CA
Population: 316,241
Cost Of Living Index: 137
Median Income: $88,575
Home Prices: $639,778
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.2x (18th most affordable)
More on Riverside: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate





I’ve lived in Riverside most of my life and never once heard it refered to by anyone as wiggerside.
Of course I can’t hear much of anything over the ranchero music…||But I promise you the acre of land I live on in Riverside is 100% more picturesque and beautiful then the shithole apartment your typing this clickbate from somewhere in Canoga Park.”
#20 Most Expensive City In America
Scottsdale, AZ
Population: 242,169
Cost Of Living Index: 136
Median Income: $107,372
Home Prices: $835,288
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.8x (16th most affordable)
More on Scottsdale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Cities To Live In The USA For 2025
To create our list of the most expensive cities in America, we used Saturday Night Science to look at the cost of living index across several bundles of goods for the 100 biggest cities in the United States.
We derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2019-2023 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
To create a score, we ranked every city on its cost of living index. We crowned the city with the highest score as the “Most Expensive City In America For 2025.” We updated this article for 2025. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive cities in the United States.
Summary: The Most Expensive Big Cities In The US
After measuring the cost of living in every city in the county, San Francisco is the most expensive city there is to live.
The cities in the United States with the highest cost of living are San Francisco, CA, Fremont, CA, San Jose, CA, Irvine, CA, Oakland, CA, Seattle, WA, Arlington, VA, Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, and New York, NY.
My plan now? Stay in Durham for as long as I can — it’s one of the cheaper big cities to call home in America.
And for those playing at home, here’s a look at the least expensive cities in America:
- Cleveland
- Buffalo
- Memphis
For more, read on:
Most Expensive Cities In The US For 2025
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | 836,321 | 239 | $141,446 | $1,254,030 | 8.9x |
| 2 | Fremont, CA | 228,518 | 221 | $176,350 | $1,480,796 | 8.4x |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | 990,054 | 209 | $141,565 | $1,382,249 | 9.8x |
| 4 | Irvine, CA | 308,160 | 198 | $129,647 | $1,550,367 | 12.0x |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | 438,072 | 183 | $97,369 | $700,691 | 7.2x |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | 741,440 | 179 | $121,984 | $847,417 | 6.9x |
| 7 | Arlington, VA | 235,463 | 178 | $140,160 | $808,201 | 5.8x |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | 3,857,897 | 171 | $80,366 | $936,303 | 11.7x |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | 1,385,061 | 170 | $104,321 | $981,175 | 9.4x |
| 10 | New York, NY | 8,516,202 | 169 | $79,713 | $806,834 | 10.1x |
| 11 | Boston, MA | 663,972 | 167 | $94,755 | $785,238 | 8.3x |
| 12 | Santa Clarita, CA | 229,021 | 164 | $119,926 | $792,509 | 6.6x |
| 13 | Anaheim, CA | 344,553 | 160 | $90,583 | $918,825 | 10.1x |
| 14 | Long Beach, CA | 458,491 | 158 | $83,969 | $835,128 | 9.9x |
| 15 | Chula Vista, CA | 275,030 | 157 | $105,173 | $827,510 | 7.9x |
| 16 | Santa Ana, CA | 311,639 | 154 | $88,354 | $838,228 | 9.5x |
| 17 | Jersey City, NJ | 289,691 | 143 | $94,813 | $646,545 | 6.8x |
| 18 | Portland, OR | 642,715 | 138 | $88,792 | $524,552 | 5.9x |
| 19 | Riverside, CA | 316,241 | 137 | $88,575 | $639,778 | 7.2x |
| 20 | Scottsdale, AZ | 242,169 | 136 | $107,372 | $835,288 | 7.8x |
| 21 | Denver, CO | 713,734 | 134 | $91,681 | $535,896 | 5.8x |
| 22 | Sacramento, CA | 524,802 | 134 | $83,753 | $474,399 | 5.7x |
| 23 | Gilbert, AZ | 271,118 | 133 | $121,351 | $569,865 | 4.7x |
| 24 | Anchorage, AK | 289,069 | 130 | $98,152 | $400,569 | 4.1x |
| 25 | Tacoma, WA | 220,482 | 130 | $83,857 | $485,448 | 5.8x |
| 26 | Plano, TX | 287,339 | 129 | $108,649 | $498,576 | 4.6x |
| 27 | Chandler, AZ | 278,123 | 128 | $103,691 | $522,553 | 5.0x |
| 28 | Stockton, CA | 320,470 | 126 | $76,851 | $430,816 | 5.6x |
| 29 | Miami, FL | 446,663 | 125 | $59,390 | $578,128 | 9.7x |
| 30 | Bakersfield, CA | 408,366 | 123 | $77,397 | $393,462 | 5.1x |
| 31 | Austin, TX | 967,862 | 121 | $91,461 | $497,814 | 5.4x |
| 32 | Aurora, CO | 390,201 | 121 | $84,320 | $463,246 | 5.5x |
| 33 | Reno, NV | 268,959 | 121 | $78,448 | $558,136 | 7.1x |
| 34 | Fresno, CA | 543,615 | 118 | $66,804 | $386,172 | 5.8x |
| 35 | Atlanta, GA | 499,287 | 118 | $81,938 | $392,309 | 4.8x |
| 36 | Colorado Springs, CO | 483,099 | 118 | $83,198 | $448,632 | 5.4x |
| 37 | Henderson, NV | 324,523 | 118 | $88,654 | $487,109 | 5.5x |
| 38 | Madison, WI | 275,568 | 117 | $76,983 | $418,941 | 5.4x |
| 39 | Chesapeake, VA | 251,153 | 117 | $94,189 | $412,202 | 4.4x |
| 40 | San Bernardino, CA | 221,774 | 117 | $63,988 | $484,119 | 7.6x |
| 41 | Mesa, AZ | 507,478 | 116 | $78,779 | $432,494 | 5.5x |
| 42 | Virginia Beach, VA | 457,066 | 116 | $90,685 | $413,480 | 4.6x |
| 43 | Enterprise, NV | 232,043 | 116 | $93,980 | $493,078 | 5.2x |
| 44 | Hialeah, FL | 221,901 | 115 | $53,079 | $444,936 | 8.4x |
| 45 | Chicago, IL | 2,707,648 | 114 | $75,134 | $312,024 | 4.2x |
| 46 | Raleigh, NC | 470,763 | 112 | $82,424 | $435,712 | 5.3x |
| 47 | Newark, NJ | 307,188 | 112 | $48,416 | $485,175 | 10.0x |
| 48 | Las Vegas, NV | 650,873 | 111 | $70,723 | $426,948 | 6.0x |
| 49 | Orlando, FL | 311,732 | 111 | $69,268 | $374,018 | 5.4x |
| 50 | Charlotte, NC | 886,283 | 110 | $78,438 | $395,529 | 5.0x |
| 51 | Minneapolis, MN | 426,845 | 110 | $80,269 | $324,173 | 4.0x |
| 52 | Garland, TX | 245,298 | 110 | $74,717 | $285,590 | 3.8x |
| 53 | Irving, TX | 255,036 | 109 | $79,641 | $336,985 | 4.2x |
| 54 | New Orleans, LA | 376,035 | 108 | $55,339 | $238,620 | 4.3x |
| 55 | North Las Vegas, NV | 270,773 | 108 | $76,772 | $407,754 | 5.3x |
| 56 | Phoenix, AZ | 1,624,832 | 107 | $77,041 | $407,541 | 5.3x |
| 57 | Arlington, TX | 394,769 | 107 | $73,519 | $307,003 | 4.2x |
| 58 | Tampa, FL | 393,389 | 107 | $71,302 | $369,353 | 5.2x |
| 59 | Durham, NC | 288,465 | 107 | $79,234 | $399,062 | 5.0x |
| 60 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 220,453 | 107 | $78,137 | $383,958 | 4.9x |
| 61 | Dallas, TX | 1,299,553 | 106 | $67,760 | $304,348 | 4.5x |
| 62 | Spokane, WA | 229,228 | 106 | $65,745 | $393,670 | 6.0x |
| 63 | Richmond, VA | 227,595 | 106 | $62,671 | $360,452 | 5.8x |
| 64 | Fort Worth, TX | 941,311 | 103 | $76,602 | $296,328 | 3.9x |
| 65 | Baltimore, MD | 577,193 | 103 | $59,623 | $184,876 | 3.1x |
| 66 | Tucson, AZ | 543,348 | 103 | $54,546 | $324,534 | 5.9x |
| 67 | St. Paul, MN | 307,762 | 103 | $73,055 | $288,589 | 4.0x |
| 68 | St. Petersburg, FL | 260,646 | 103 | $73,118 | $349,235 | 4.8x |
| 69 | Norfolk, VA | 235,037 | 103 | $64,017 | $302,206 | 4.7x |
| 70 | Houston, TX | 2,300,419 | 102 | $62,894 | $262,302 | 4.2x |
| 71 | Philadelphia, PA | 1,582,432 | 102 | $60,698 | $232,442 | 3.8x |
| 72 | Glendale, AZ | 250,193 | 102 | $70,139 | $405,008 | 5.8x |
| 73 | Jacksonville, FL | 961,739 | 99 | $66,981 | $284,261 | 4.2x |
| 74 | Albuquerque, NM | 562,488 | 99 | $65,604 | $338,971 | 5.2x |
| 75 | Lincoln, NE | 291,932 | 99 | $69,991 | $286,251 | 4.1x |
| 76 | Omaha, NE | 488,197 | 97 | $72,708 | $286,994 | 3.9x |
| 77 | Pittsburgh, PA | 303,620 | 97 | $64,137 | $235,081 | 3.7x |
| 78 | San Antonio, TX | 1,458,954 | 96 | $62,917 | $248,761 | 4.0x |
| 79 | Columbus, OH | 906,480 | 95 | $65,327 | $244,665 | 3.7x |
| 80 | Baton Rouge, LA | 223,699 | 95 | $49,944 | $227,534 | 4.6x |
| 81 | Indianapolis, IN | 882,043 | 94 | $62,995 | $229,422 | 3.6x |
| 82 | Milwaukee, WI | 569,756 | 94 | $51,888 | $218,345 | 4.2x |
| 83 | Cincinnati, OH | 309,595 | 94 | $51,707 | $246,428 | 4.8x |
| 84 | Kansas City, MO | 508,233 | 93 | $67,449 | $245,367 | 3.6x |
| 85 | Wichita, KS | 396,488 | 93 | $63,072 | $198,019 | 3.1x |
| 86 | Corpus Christi, TX | 317,383 | 93 | $66,325 | $217,379 | 3.3x |
| 87 | Lubbock, TX | 261,078 | 93 | $60,487 | $205,508 | 3.4x |
| 88 | Winston-Salem, NC | 250,887 | 93 | $57,673 | $255,463 | 4.4x |
| 89 | Oklahoma City, OK | 688,693 | 92 | $66,702 | $203,240 | 3.0x |
| 90 | Tulsa, OK | 412,322 | 91 | $58,407 | $212,641 | 3.6x |
| 91 | Greensboro, NC | 298,564 | 91 | $58,884 | $258,592 | 4.4x |
| 92 | St. Louis, MO | 293,109 | 91 | $55,279 | $179,763 | 3.3x |
| 93 | Fort Wayne, IN | 266,235 | 91 | $60,293 | $237,567 | 3.9x |
| 94 | El Paso, TX | 678,147 | 90 | $58,734 | $229,134 | 3.9x |
| 95 | Laredo, TX | 255,949 | 90 | $63,264 | $213,703 | 3.4x |
| 96 | Toledo, OH | 268,461 | 87 | $47,532 | $127,837 | 2.7x |
| 97 | Detroit, MI | 636,644 | 85 | $39,575 | $78,806 | 2.0x |
| 98 | Memphis, TN | 629,063 | 84 | $51,211 | $143,247 | 2.8x |
| 99 | Buffalo, NY | 276,397 | 84 | $48,050 | $241,016 | 5.0x |
| 100 | Cleveland, OH | 367,523 | 81 | $39,187 | $112,347 | 2.9x |

