Most Expensive Cities to Live in the U.S. (2026 Data)

Top 15 by price parity

Ranking: BEA regional price parity 2024 (all items: goods, rents and services), highest first.

#	Metro area	Price parity	Average salary	Price parity	Home value
1	San Francisco, CA	115.6	$100,220	115.6	$1,149,215
2	Miami, FL	114.2	$67,190	114.2	$475,622
3	Los Angeles, CA	113.6	$77,270	113.6	$968,608
4	New York, NY	112.6	$86,310	112.6	$727,625
5	Napa, CA	112.6	$72,110	112.6	$890,662
6	San Diego, CA	111.9	$79,060	111.9	$946,365
7	Seattle, WA	111.1	$91,790	111.1	$750,279
8	Honolulu, HI	111.0	$71,940	111.0	$851,163
9	Oxnard, CA	110.5	$71,810	110.5	$883,047
10	San Jose, CA	110.4	$119,230	110.4	$1,610,466
11	Santa Cruz, CA	109.9	$73,140	109.9	$1,157,157
12	Kiryas Joel, NY	109.4	$67,700	109.4	$364,400
13	Kahului, HI	109.4	$68,720	109.4	$997,307
14	Salinas, CA	109.0	$65,160	109.0	$850,461
15	Washington, DC	108.9	$91,930	108.9	$583,013
16	Santa Maria, CA	108.8	$71,660	108.8	$1,005,339
17	San Luis Obispo, CA	108.6	$70,150	108.6	$909,699
18	Vallejo, CA	108.5	$74,900	108.5	$576,614
19	Boston, MA	108.3	$89,620	108.3	$741,868
20	Santa Rosa, CA	107.8	$73,640	107.8	$796,761
21	Bridgeport, CT	106.9	$84,700	106.9	$689,914
22	Sacramento, CA	106.7	$77,150	106.7	$582,707
23	Riverside, CA	106.4	$65,160	106.4	$585,378
24	Denver, CO	105.8	$81,690	105.8	$573,221
25	Manchester, NH	105.7	$72,800	105.7	$526,340

Ranking: BEA regional price parity 2024 (all items: goods, rents and services), highest first.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas.
Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.

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