Of the most populous cities in the U.S., San Jose, California had the highest annual income requirement at ******* U.S. dollars annually for homeowners to have an affordable and comfortable life in 2024. This can be compared to Houston, Texas, where homeowners needed an annual income of ****** U.S. dollars in 2024.

In the last quarter of 2024, three of the ten most expensive cities in the United States for business travel when it comes to food costs were located in California. However, the ranking was topped by Honolulu, which average daily food cost amounted to *** U.S. dollars at that time.

New York was the world's most expensive city for business tourism in the 4th quarter of 2024, reaching an average daily cost of around *** U.S. dollars. Among the top ten of that period, three cities were located in the United States.

In the last quarter of 2024, Geneva registered the world's highest food cost for business travelers, with a daily rate of approximately *** U.S. dollars. Three cities in Switzerland were included in the top 10 for that period.

As of October 2024, the city with the most expensive hotel rate in the United States was Boston. Visitors to the East Coast city could expect to pay 320 U.S. dollars for a doube room during that period. Meanwhile, New York ranked third with an average rate of 284 U.S. dollars.

As of July 2025, the cost of living in Barrancabermeja was the highest among major Colombian cities. In total, the average cost per month amounted to *** U.S. dollars. Medellín followed in the ranking, with a monthly cost of living of *** U.S. dollars at that time.

West Virginia and Kansas had the lowest cost of living across all U.S. states, with composite costs being half of those found in Hawaii. This was according to a composite index that compares prices for various goods and services on a state-by-state basis. In West Virginia, the cost of living index amounted to **** — well below the national benchmark of 100. Virginia— which had an index value of ***** — was only slightly above that benchmark. Expensive places to live included Hawaii, Massachusetts, and California. Housing costs in the U.S. Housing is usually the highest expense in a household’s budget. In 2023, the average house sold for approximately ******* U.S. dollars, but house prices in the Northeast and West regions were significantly higher. Conversely, the South had some of the least expensive housing. In West Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana, the median price of the typical single-family home was less than ******* U.S. dollars. That makes living expenses in these states significantly lower than in states such as Hawaii and California, where housing is much pricier. What other expenses affect the cost of living? Utility costs such as electricity, natural gas, water, and internet also influence the cost of living. In Alaska, Hawaii, and Connecticut, the average monthly utility cost exceeded *** U.S. dollars. That was because of the significantly higher prices for electricity and natural gas in these states.

Ontario's construction costs 2023, by building type Published by Fernando de Querol Cumbrera, Dec 10, 2024 Ambulatory healthcare was the type of building with the highest construction costs in Ontario (Canada) in 2023. The cost of that type of building ranged from 7,110 to 8,750 Canadian dollars per square meter. Townhouses with mid-end specifications were, along with warehouses, among the cheapest buildings to construct, even though the townhouse sale price in Canada was much higher in 2023 than in a decade earlier. On the other side of the residential spectrum, the construction cost of high-rise buildings with mid-end specifications could reach up to 5,370 Canadian dollars per square meter. The housing sector in Ontario The fast population growth in Toronto, the main city in Ontario, has put pressure on its housing market. From 2001 to 2022, the number of people living in Canada’s largest city increased by over 37 percent. During the past years, house prices in Ontario rose at a similarly fast pace. Combined, these elements signal a strong demand for homes in Toronto and Ontario as a whole. The construction sector has responded to this trend: In 2022, most housing starts in Canada took place in the province of Ontario. That same year, EllisDon Corporation, with headquarters in Mississauga (Ontario), was the second-largest contractor in Canada. One of its largest residential/mixed-use projects under development is the 489-539 King St. West Development, in Toronto. Construction cost in North America Building construction costs in Quebec, the second most populous province in Canada after Ontario, had a similar cost range: Ambulatory healthcare buildings were the most expensive, and warehouses were the cheapest to build. However, enclosed malls and higher education buildings were significantly more expensive in Quebec than in Ontario. Across the border, the cities with the highest residential construction costs in the U.S. were San Francisco for multi-family housing, and New York City for single-family housing. Meanwhile, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York had the highest hotel construction costs in the U.S.

In 2024, the annual rent of a retail space in Upper 5th Avenue (49th to 60th Sts) in New York amounted to 2,000 U.S. dollars per square foot, making it the second-most expensive high street worldwide. Via Montenapoleone in Milan ranked top, with prime rents amounting to 2,047 U.S. dollars.

New York was the business travel destination with the highest hotel expenses at the end of 2024, registering an average daily cost of *** U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, the non-U.S. corporate travel destination with the highest hotel costs was London.

Amsterdam is set to maintain its position as Europe's most expensive city for apartment rentals in 2025, with median costs reaching 2,500 euros per month for a furnished unit. This figure is double the rent in Prague and significantly higher than other major European capitals like Paris, Berlin, and Madrid. The stark difference in rental costs across European cities reflects broader economic trends, housing policies, and the complex interplay between supply and demand in urban centers. Factors driving rental costs across Europe The disparity in rental prices across European cities can be attributed to various factors. In countries like Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, a higher proportion of the population lives in rental housing. This trend contributes to increased demand and potentially higher living costs in these nations. Conversely, many Eastern and Southern European countries have homeownership rates exceeding 90 percent, which may help keep rental prices lower in those regions. Housing affordability and market dynamics The relationship between housing prices and rental rates varies significantly across Europe. As of 2024, countries like Turkey, Iceland, Portugal, and Hungary had the highest house price to rent ratio indices. This indicates a widening gap between property values and rental costs since 2015. The affordability of homeownership versus renting differs greatly among European nations, with some countries experiencing rapid increases in property values that outpace rental growth. These market dynamics influence rental costs and contribute to the diverse rental landscape observed across European cities.

Dubai was the city with the most expensive pint of beer in the world in 2021. On average, consumers could expect to pay 10.40 GBP for a pint. Sydney was in distant second place at 6.70 GBP per pint.

Cost of living can vary wildly depending on the city that people live in. Some are hugely expensive while others are comparatively cheaper. This variety can also be seen in the average overnight price of hotels. In September 2023, New York held the highest hotel rate in North America when compared to other selected cities. The average overnight price for a hotel room in New York was 504 U.S. dollars.

In the second quarter of 2025, Portland was one of the U.S. cities with the most expensive average construction cost for industrial warehouses. Constructing a warehouse in that city could have a cost that ranged between *** and *** U.S. dollars per square foot. It was followed by Honolulu and San Francisco, although at some distance. Meanwhile, Miami and Austin were the least expensive cities to build warehouses. The most expensive U.S. cities to construct residential buildings were New York, Honolulu and San Francisco.

The graph depicts the average price of a hotel room in 2010 and 2011* around the world. In Europe, the average cost for a hotel room was 167.76 U.S. dollars.The Hotel Price Index (HPI) is based on bookings made on hotels.com. The prices shown are those actually paid by the customer. The sample set are about 110,000 properties in more than 18,000 global locations.

Average hotel room prices - additional information

In both 2010 and 2011, the Caribbean was the most expensive region in the world to for hotel stays, with an average hotel room price of 207.11 U.S. dollars in 2011. The Caribbean, located to the south east of North America and the Gulf of Mexico, includes many popular vacation destinations such as the Bahamas, Cuba, Barbados and the Dominican Republic. The region is well-known for its natural beauty and luxury resorts. In 2013, Soufriere, St. Lucia, was one of the most expensive destinations for U.S. travelers in terms of hotel costs, second only to Bora Bora in French Polynesia, where the average daily rate for a hotel was 770 U.S. dollars. Despite the cost, Caribbean cruises were the most popular vacations in the U.S. according to travel company Travel Leaders Group.

A close neighbour of the Caribbean, North America saw the lowest average hotel price in 2010 and 2011. While low in comparison to other regions, the average daily rate of hotels in the U.S. has risen year-on-year since the global recession of 2009 and, in 2013, the U.S. hotel industry generated 163 billion U.S. dollars in revenue. The United States also has some expensive destinations of its own: the most expensive U.S. city for hotel rates in 2013 was Honolulu, Hawaii, with an average daily rate of 230 U.S. dollars. New York ranked second at 211 U.S. dollars a night.

As well as being the region with the second highest average hotel price, hotels in Europe also charge the most for room service. Six out of ten of the most expensive cities in the world for hotel room service were located in Europe in 2014. Helsinki in Finland was the most expensive at just under 90 U.S. dollars.

Portugal, Canada, and the United States were the countries with the highest house price to income ratio in 2024. In all three countries, the index exceeded 130 index points, while the average for all OECD countries stood at 116.2 index points. The index measures the development of housing affordability and is calculated by dividing nominal house price by nominal disposable income per head, with 2015 set as a base year when the index amounted to 100. An index value of 120, for example, would mean that house price growth has outpaced income growth by 20 percent since 2015. How have house prices worldwide changed since the COVID-19 pandemic? House prices started to rise gradually after the global financial crisis (2007–2008), but this trend accelerated with the pandemic. The countries with advanced economies, which usually have mature housing markets, experienced stronger growth than countries with emerging economies. Real house price growth (accounting for inflation) peaked in 2022 and has since lost some of the gain. Although, many countries experienced a decline in house prices, the global house price index shows that property prices in 2023 were still substantially higher than before COVID-19. Renting vs. buying In the past, house prices have grown faster than rents. However, the home affordability has been declining notably, with a direct impact on rental prices. As people struggle to buy a property of their own, they often turn to rental accommodation. This has resulted in a growing demand for rental apartments and soaring rental prices.

Innsbruck was the most expensive Austrian city to buy an apartment in, with average values of 7,700 euros per square meter in the first quarter of 2025. The price of an apartment in Graz was significantly lower at 4,590 euros per square meter.

In 2011, Buffalo, New York was the major city in the United States with the most partial to heavy cloud cover, with 311 days of clouds in that year. Seattle, Pittsburg, Rochester, and Cleveland rounded out the top five cities.

Buffalo’s climate

Buffalo, New York, is located on the eastern end of Lake Erie and is the origin point of the Niagara River, and its location on Lake Erie helps to regulate the city’s climate. However, between 1981 and 2010, it had an average of 167 days with more than 0.01 inches of rainfall per year, and also had an average wind speed of 11.8 miles per hour.

The second largest city in New York

Buffalo is the second largest city in New York state, with a metro area population of 1.13 million in 2017. The city is not far from Niagara Falls, which was listed as one of the most expensive summer destinations in the state of New York.

The Fan Cost Index strives to calculate the cost of taking a family to an NHL game, including tickets, concessions, and parking. In 2025, the most expensive day out in the league was at the New York Rangers, where a family of four could expect to pay close to 1,400 U.S. dollars at Madison Square Garden.

When it comes to global tourism, some cities are more expensive than others. They may also attract tourists that are willing to spend a bit more. Dubai had by far the largest international visitor spending in the world in 2018 at 30.82 billion U.S. dollars.