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 2026
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: 830,235
Cost Of Living Index: 247
Median Income: $140,970
Home Prices: $1,356,661
Home Price To Income Ratio: 9.6x (7th most affordable)
More on San Francisco: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate




In San francisco, my school,colleges are my best days of life.those moments are my unforgettable moments.i have been spending my life with joy.
my good things are school and college days.i felt happy to share my feelings.
#2 Most Expensive City In America
Fremont, CA
Population: 228,295
Cost Of Living Index: 227
Median Income: $181,506
Home Prices: $1,543,131
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.5x (12th most affordable)
More on Fremont: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
#3 Most Expensive City In America
San Jose, CA
Population: 990,138
Cost Of Living Index: 216
Median Income: $146,427
Home Prices: $1,463,614
Home Price To Income Ratio: 10.0x (4th most affordable)
More on San Jose: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate



The crime is very low if you are away from the east side. Even then, for a continually growing city of over 1 million. The local sports team is major league hockey so during hockey season, there is a lot of excitement going on in downtown. Culturally, there is a good mixture of all ethnicity so food selection is diverse. As more people move in for job opportunities due to the tech industry, traffic is getting worse and worse. Most people are here for the jobs and weather.
The thing that will be shocking about the place is the cost of living. A decent house will cost upward of a million dollars. Living here is a struggle unless you make a lot of money. Everything is expensive, especially rent. If you live anywhere near a big tech firm, prepare to pay a lot for that luxury. As mentioned before, traffic is a nightmare. Going anywhere during rush hour and on major freeways like the 101 will take forever. Due to property prices, many have no choice but to commute and sit in traffic – adding an extra 1-2 hours to their workday.
#4 Most Expensive City In America
Irvine, CA
Population: 311,690
Cost Of Living Index: 209
Median Income: $136,719
Home Prices: $1,557,981
Home Price To Income Ratio: 11.4x (2nd 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: 439,418
Cost Of Living Index: 190
Median Income: $101,600
Home Prices: $716,248
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.0x (18th 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: 754,195
Cost Of Living Index: 181
Median Income: $123,860
Home Prices: $868,680
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.0x (20th most 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
New York, NY
Population: 8,483,844
Cost Of Living Index: 180
Median Income: $80,483
Home Prices: $812,861
Home Price To Income Ratio: 10.1x (3rd most affordable)
More on New York: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate





I ABSOLUTELY LOVE NEW YORK! FROM THE PEOPLE TO THE AMBIANCE TO THE SITES TO SEE. WE USED TO GO AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR BUT HAVE NOT BEEN BACK FOR ABOUT 8 YEARS. MUCH NEEDED TRIP DUE SOON.
LOVE THE BARS AND RESTAURANTS THERE. GREAT PLACE OVERALL AND GREAT AMBIANCE. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE LIFE THERE.
#8 Most Expensive City In America
Arlington, VA
Population: 236,254
Cost Of Living Index: 180
Median Income: $142,114
Home Prices: $823,811
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.8x (24th most affordable)
More on Arlington: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
#9 Most Expensive City In America
Los Angeles, CA
Population: 3,857,263
Cost Of Living Index: 179
Median Income: $81,939
Home Prices: $952,183
Home Price To Income Ratio: 11.6x (most affordable)
More on Los Angeles: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate



Is very diverse. A lot of things to do and places to go. I love LA.
Bad things are extreme traffic and too many people make things expensive.
#10 Most Expensive City In America
San Diego, CA
Population: 1,389,526
Cost Of Living Index: 175
Median Income: $108,077
Home Prices: $1,001,264
Home Price To Income Ratio: 9.3x (9th most affordable)
More on San Diego: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate





“Rich in History and Rich for Future Growth”
LIttle Italy is by far my favorite Downtown Neighborhood and yes I am biased because I do live here. I have lived here for 6+ years and I love it more each day. I don’t know of any other community in San Diego that has its own association. The Little Italy Association has taken charge of this historic neighborhood and is constantly involved in maintaining its roots and heritage while at the same time improving the neighborhood. I love that I can call the association and let them know if there is an issue that has to be addressed such as an outage with a street light or graffiti, they take care of it ASAP. Little Italy is Preserve America Community.
Everyone knows there are no shortage of Italian Restaurants in Little Italy, but we also have some of the best burgers in San Diego as well. You can find those at the Waterfront Bar or at Burger Lounge. There have been a few newer restaurants that do not serve Italian Food and they have been very successful with the locals, because Little Italians need something different once in awhile. Craft and Commerce, Underbelly and El Camino have been welcome additions to the non-italian menus around town.
#11 Most Expensive City In America
Boston, MA
Population: 666,442
Cost Of Living Index: 171
Median Income: $97,344
Home Prices: $798,216
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.2x (13th most affordable)
More on Boston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate





Everything was great!
Everything is definitely great!
#12 Most Expensive City In America
Anaheim, CA
Population: 344,521
Cost Of Living Index: 168
Median Income: $95,227
Home Prices: $950,503
Home Price To Income Ratio: 10.0x (5th most affordable)
More on Anaheim: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate




Anaheim, California is a very clean city to live in. The city is fairly new and the buildings elegant, the streets are clean and people are friendly. There is diversity in the city of Anaheim, CA. The food in this city is exceptional thanks to its diverse population. The most fascinating attraction located in this city is Disneyland. Disneyland is an awesome place to bring family and little ones to enjoy the weekend of a holiday, definitely it is a fascinating world.
Disneyland stood out more to me. The place is a world of wonders. The food at the attraction is mouth watering and people in there are educated and friendly. The rides in the park are fun and entertaining. The bad thing about it is that the tickets are too expensive.
#13 Most Expensive City In America
Santa Clarita, CA
Population: 230,221
Cost Of Living Index: 165
Median Income: $123,062
Home Prices: $802,016
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.5x (22nd 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.
#14 Most Expensive City In America
Long Beach, CA
Population: 455,548
Cost Of Living Index: 163
Median Income: $87,430
Home Prices: $857,860
Home Price To Income Ratio: 9.8x (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
Santa Ana, CA
Population: 312,534
Cost Of Living Index: 161
Median Income: $93,999
Home Prices: $866,065
Home Price To Income Ratio: 9.2x (10th most affordable)
More on Santa Ana: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
#16 Most Expensive City In America
Chula Vista, CA
Population: 276,375
Cost Of Living Index: 161
Median Income: $108,032
Home Prices: $846,371
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.8x (15th most affordable)
More on Chula Vista: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
#17 Most Expensive City In America
Jersey City, NJ
Population: 294,078
Cost Of Living Index: 146
Median Income: $97,710
Home Prices: $658,269
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.7x (2most affordable)
More on Jersey City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
#18 Most Expensive City In America
Scottsdale, AZ
Population: 243,821
Cost Of Living Index: 144
Median Income: $110,886
Home Prices: $858,022
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.7x (16th most affordable)
More on Scottsdale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
#19 Most Expensive City In America
Denver, CO
Population: 718,877
Cost Of Living Index: 142
Median Income: $94,718
Home Prices: $539,666
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.7x (28th most affordable)
More on Denver: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate





Denver is a great city to live in or visit. There are a wide array of things to do within 30 minutes, you can get downtown to see a play, concert or sporting event or drive to the mountains to ski, hike or mountain bike. There are diverse neighborhoods to fit anyone and you’re able to select which school your child attends.
Crimes such as thefts are going up due to the influx of new people. Make sure you keep your car locked up!
#20 Most Expensive City In America
Portland, OR
Population: 641,165
Cost Of Living Index: 139
Median Income: $90,919
Home Prices: $534,638
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.9x (23rd 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.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Cities To Live In The USA For 2026
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 2020-2024 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 2026.” We updated this article for 2026. This article is our eleventh 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, New York, NY, Arlington, VA, Los Angeles, CA, and San Diego, CA.
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
- Detroit
- Toledo
For more, read on:
Most Expensive Cities In The US For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | 830,235 | 247 | $140,970 | $1,356,661 | 9.6x |
| 2 | Fremont, CA | 228,295 | 227 | $181,506 | $1,543,131 | 8.5x |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | 990,138 | 216 | $146,427 | $1,463,614 | 10.0x |
| 4 | Irvine, CA | 311,690 | 209 | $136,719 | $1,557,981 | 11.4x |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | 439,418 | 190 | $101,600 | $716,248 | 7.0x |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | 754,195 | 181 | $123,860 | $868,680 | 7.0x |
| 7 | New York, NY | 8,483,844 | 180 | $80,483 | $812,861 | 10.1x |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | 236,254 | 180 | $142,114 | $823,811 | 5.8x |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | 3,857,263 | 179 | $81,939 | $952,183 | 11.6x |
| 10 | San Diego, CA | 1,389,526 | 175 | $108,077 | $1,001,264 | 9.3x |
| 11 | Boston, MA | 666,442 | 171 | $97,344 | $798,216 | 8.2x |
| 12 | Anaheim, CA | 344,521 | 168 | $95,227 | $950,503 | 10.0x |
| 13 | Santa Clarita, CA | 230,221 | 165 | $123,062 | $802,016 | 6.5x |
| 14 | Long Beach, CA | 455,548 | 163 | $87,430 | $857,860 | 9.8x |
| 15 | Santa Ana, CA | 312,534 | 161 | $93,999 | $866,065 | 9.2x |
| 16 | Chula Vista, CA | 276,375 | 161 | $108,032 | $846,371 | 7.8x |
| 17 | Jersey City, NJ | 294,078 | 146 | $97,710 | $658,269 | 6.7x |
| 18 | Scottsdale, AZ | 243,821 | 144 | $110,886 | $858,022 | 7.7x |
| 19 | Denver, CO | 718,877 | 142 | $94,718 | $539,666 | 5.7x |
| 20 | Portland, OR | 641,165 | 139 | $90,919 | $534,638 | 5.9x |
| 21 | Riverside, CA | 319,069 | 138 | $91,045 | $646,784 | 7.1x |
| 22 | Sacramento, CA | 528,706 | 137 | $87,321 | $479,765 | 5.5x |
| 23 | Miami, FL | 459,745 | 131 | $62,462 | $579,563 | 9.3x |
| 24 | Anchorage, AK | 288,976 | 130 | $103,284 | $410,782 | 4.0x |
| 25 | Gilbert, AZ | 280,262 | 129 | $122,551 | $572,507 | 4.7x |
| 26 | Aurora, CO | 394,432 | 127 | $88,368 | $463,080 | 5.2x |
| 27 | Henderson, NV | 332,141 | 127 | $90,138 | $486,156 | 5.4x |
| 28 | Stockton, CA | 322,326 | 126 | $79,907 | $431,328 | 5.4x |
| 29 | Tacoma, WA | 222,758 | 126 | $85,884 | $493,839 | 5.8x |
| 30 | Chandler, AZ | 280,136 | 125 | $108,095 | $524,155 | 4.8x |
| 31 | Reno, NV | 273,212 | 125 | $80,760 | $567,856 | 7.0x |
| 32 | Austin, TX | 979,539 | 124 | $93,658 | $508,530 | 5.4x |
| 33 | Bakersfield, CA | 411,986 | 124 | $80,540 | $396,047 | 4.9x |
| 34 | Fresno, CA | 545,970 | 122 | $70,991 | $391,328 | 5.5x |
| 35 | Colorado Springs, CO | 487,887 | 122 | $84,818 | $449,451 | 5.3x |
| 36 | Newark, NJ | 310,178 | 121 | $52,060 | $478,454 | 9.2x |
| 37 | Plano, TX | 290,594 | 120 | $112,253 | $498,989 | 4.4x |
| 38 | Enterprise, NV | 240,464 | 120 | $98,462 | $488,020 | 5.0x |
| 39 | Atlanta, GA | 505,268 | 119 | $85,652 | $385,599 | 4.5x |
| 40 | Virginia Beach, VA | 456,349 | 118 | $92,968 | $427,031 | 4.6x |
| 41 | Chesapeake, VA | 252,583 | 117 | $95,373 | $420,755 | 4.4x |
| 42 | Las Vegas, NV | 660,400 | 116 | $73,877 | $426,582 | 5.8x |
| 43 | Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | $85,395 | $433,996 | 5.1x |
| 44 | Minneapolis, MN | 427,246 | 116 | $80,846 | $330,882 | 4.1x |
| 45 | Tampa, FL | 401,618 | 116 | $75,475 | $374,888 | 5.0x |
| 46 | Orlando, FL | 319,758 | 116 | $72,336 | $374,135 | 5.2x |
| 47 | North Las Vegas, NV | 278,595 | 115 | $79,542 | $407,047 | 5.1x |
| 48 | Hialeah, FL | 226,165 | 115 | $55,594 | $443,803 | 8.0x |
| 49 | Chicago, IL | 2,711,226 | 114 | $77,902 | $317,282 | 4.1x |
| 50 | St. Petersburg, FL | 262,732 | 114 | $75,192 | $347,963 | 4.6x |
| 51 | Mesa, AZ | 511,764 | 112 | $82,752 | $435,133 | 5.3x |
| 52 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 232,491 | 112 | $80,648 | $383,297 | 4.8x |
| 53 | Richmond, VA | 229,359 | 112 | $64,587 | $369,645 | 5.7x |
| 54 | Phoenix, AZ | 1,642,323 | 111 | $81,332 | $410,168 | 5.0x |
| 55 | Durham, NC | 291,467 | 111 | $81,619 | $396,394 | 4.9x |
| 56 | Madison, WI | 278,001 | 110 | $78,050 | $423,766 | 5.4x |
| 57 | Jacksonville, FL | 977,670 | 109 | $69,872 | $282,894 | 4.0x |
| 58 | Baltimore, MD | 573,243 | 109 | $62,177 | $188,101 | 3.0x |
| 59 | Norfolk, VA | 233,596 | 109 | $66,109 | $306,226 | 4.6x |
| 60 | Spokane, WA | 230,293 | 109 | $70,064 | $395,324 | 5.6x |
| 61 | Charlotte, NC | 903,844 | 108 | $82,068 | $397,125 | 4.8x |
| 62 | New Orleans, LA | 371,853 | 108 | $56,631 | $242,492 | 4.3x |
| 63 | Glendale, AZ | 252,833 | 108 | $73,530 | $407,332 | 5.5x |
| 64 | Dallas, TX | 1,307,930 | 106 | $70,518 | $309,420 | 4.4x |
| 65 | Houston, TX | 2,328,253 | 104 | $64,813 | $264,336 | 4.1x |
| 66 | Fort Worth, TX | 963,194 | 104 | $79,507 | $298,050 | 3.7x |
| 67 | Philadelphia, PA | 1,579,706 | 103 | $61,953 | $231,814 | 3.7x |
| 68 | St. Paul, MN | 307,284 | 103 | $73,394 | $293,972 | 4.0x |
| 69 | Albuquerque, NM | 562,218 | 102 | $68,317 | $344,457 | 5.0x |
| 70 | Tucson, AZ | 547,073 | 102 | $57,073 | $324,023 | 5.7x |
| 71 | Irving, TX | 256,492 | 101 | $81,830 | $341,503 | 4.2x |
| 72 | Omaha, NE | 488,837 | 100 | $73,201 | $294,188 | 4.0x |
| 73 | Corpus Christi, TX | 317,419 | 100 | $67,394 | $223,501 | 3.3x |
| 74 | Garland, TX | 246,844 | 100 | $76,320 | $286,805 | 3.8x |
| 75 | Baton Rouge, LA | 222,771 | 100 | $49,994 | $228,414 | 4.6x |
| 76 | Arlington, TX | 397,742 | 99 | $75,171 | $310,971 | 4.1x |
| 77 | Greensboro, NC | 301,198 | 99 | $61,515 | $264,427 | 4.3x |
| 78 | San Antonio, TX | 1,479,835 | 98 | $65,056 | $249,809 | 3.8x |
| 79 | Kansas City, MO | 510,612 | 98 | $69,166 | $250,207 | 3.6x |
| 80 | Pittsburgh, PA | 304,759 | 98 | $65,742 | $237,533 | 3.6x |
| 81 | Buffalo, NY | 276,854 | 97 | $50,041 | $238,088 | 4.8x |
| 82 | Lubbock, TX | 264,814 | 97 | $60,895 | $209,436 | 3.4x |
| 83 | Columbus, OH | 914,802 | 96 | $66,082 | $245,979 | 3.7x |
| 84 | Oklahoma City, OK | 697,125 | 96 | $68,656 | $206,712 | 3.0x |
| 85 | Lincoln, NE | 294,856 | 96 | $71,867 | $291,062 | 4.1x |
| 86 | Huntsville, AL | 222,791 | 96 | $74,714 | $287,569 | 3.8x |
| 87 | El Paso, TX | 680,130 | 95 | $59,745 | $234,774 | 3.9x |
| 88 | Milwaukee, WI | 566,973 | 95 | $54,234 | $220,136 | 4.1x |
| 89 | Indianapolis, IN | 885,860 | 94 | $66,219 | $229,209 | 3.5x |
| 90 | Cincinnati, OH | 311,224 | 94 | $52,909 | $249,567 | 4.7x |
| 91 | Laredo, TX | 257,619 | 94 | $63,915 | $220,330 | 3.4x |
| 92 | Memphis, TN | 618,980 | 93 | $51,736 | $144,710 | 2.8x |
| 93 | Tulsa, OK | 413,794 | 93 | $59,838 | $217,450 | 3.6x |
| 94 | Winston-Salem, NC | 252,037 | 93 | $59,268 | $264,332 | 4.5x |
| 95 | Wichita, KS | 397,945 | 92 | $64,620 | $202,719 | 3.1x |
| 96 | Fort Wayne, IN | 268,589 | 91 | $61,422 | $242,384 | 3.9x |
| 97 | St. Louis, MO | 288,512 | 89 | $56,160 | $181,927 | 3.2x |
| 98 | Toledo, OH | 267,463 | 85 | $49,724 | $129,626 | 2.6x |
| 99 | Detroit, MI | 638,530 | 83 | $39,938 | $75,357 | 1.9x |
| 100 | Cleveland, OH | 366,097 | 80 | $40,801 | $115,536 | 2.8x |

