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.

The Consumer Sentiment Index in the United States stood at 51 in November 2025. This reflected a drop of 2.6 point from the previous survey. Furthermore, this was its lowest level measured since June 2022. The index is normalized to a value of 100 in December 1964 and based on a monthly survey of consumers, conducted in the continental United States. It consists of about 50 core questions which cover consumers' assessments of their personal financial situation, their buying attitudes and overall economic conditions.

The US Family Budget Dataset provides insights into the cost of living in different US counties based on the Family Budget Calculator by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI).

This dataset offers community-specific estimates for ten family types, including one or two adults with zero to four children, in all 1877 counties and metro areas across the United States.

Interesting Task Ideas:

1. See how family budgets compare to the federal poverty line and the Supplemental Poverty Measure in different counties.
2. Look into the money challenges faced by different types of families using the budgets provided.
3. Find out which counties have the most affordable places to live, food, transportation, healthcare, childcare, and other things people need.
4. Explore how the average income of families relates to the overall cost of living in different counties.
5. Investigate how family size affects the estimated budget and find counties where bigger families have higher costs.
6. Create visuals showing how the cost of living varies across different states and big cities.
7. Check whether specific counties are affordable for families of different sizes and types.
8. Use the dataset to compare living standards and economic security in different US counties.

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The ACCRA Cost of Living Index (COLI) is a measure of living cost differences among urban areas compiled by the Council for Community and Economic Research. Conducted quarterly, the index compares the price of goods and services among approximately 300 communities in the United States and Canada. This Microsoft Excel file contains the average prices of goods and services published in the ACCRA Cost of Living Index since 1990.

In 2025, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for medical professional services in the United States was at 432.46, compared to the period from 1982 to 1984 (=100). The CPI for hospital services was at 1,102.12.

Judgement on economic and social conditions in the USA in comparison to the FRG.

Topics: Development of personal economic conditions and the standard of living in the FRG; reasons for the so-called economic miracle and share of the USA in the economic recovery; perceived linking of German economic development with other countries; attitude to a European Common Market; reasons for the high American standard of living; comparison between the USA and the FRG regarding working conditions, productivity, social security and job security of workers; image of Americans; knowledge of economic data of the USA; investment inclination; attitude to the competitive economy; assumed ownership of various branches of the economy in the FRG and in the USA, differences according to government and private; expected influence of the American government on the economy and vice versa; estimated proportion of members of the middle classes; image of American agriculture; judgement on the ideological influence of the USA on the FRG; sources of information about America; membership in clubs and organizations and offices taken on; party preference; self-assessment of social class; local residency.

Demography: age (classified); marital status; religious denomination; school education; occupation; employment; household income; state; refugee status.

Interviewer rating: social class and willingness of respondent to cooperate; number of contact attempts.

Also encoded were: age of interviewer and sex of interviewer; city size.

Assessment of economic and social conditions in the USA in comparison to the FRG.

Topics: Judgement on development of personal economic situation; evaluation of cooperation between the German and the American economy; evaluation of German and American commercial life, the economic strength of America, the German and American standard of living as well as the influence of American ideas on the FRG; reasons for the economic strength of America and the high standard of living as well as for American aid for European countries; differences between German and American trade unions and assumed political influence of American trade unions; economic strength of European countries; comparison of shopping habits of Germans and Americans; attitude to America and the Americans; use of sources of information about America; assessment of the best form of provision for one´s old age; naming the American film city and automobile city; estimate of quota of vehicle possession in the FRG and the USA.

Demography: age (classified); marital status; religious denomination; school education; occupation; employment; household income; party preference; self-assessment of social class; state; refugee status; present and past offices held; membership.

Interviewer rating: social class and willingness of respondent to cooperate; number of contact attempts.

Also encoded were: age of interviewer and sex of interviewer; city size.

This table contains data on the living wage and the percent of families with incomes below the living wage for California, its counties, regions and cities/towns. Living wage is the wage needed to cover basic family expenses (basic needs budget) plus all relevant taxes; it does not include publicly provided income or housing assistance. The percent of families below the living wage was calculated using data from the Living Wage Calculator and the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. The table is part of a series of indicators in the Healthy Communities Data and Indicators Project of the Office of Health Equity. The living wage is the wage or annual income that covers the cost of the bare necessities of life for a worker and his/her family. These necessities include housing, transportation, food, childcare, health care, and payment of taxes. Low income populations and non-white race/ethnic have disproportionately lower wages, poorer housing, and higher levels of food insecurity. More information about the data table and a data dictionary can be found in the About/Attachments section.

Graph and download economic data for Expenses for Assisted Living Facilities for The Elderly, All Establishments, Employer Firms (ALFFTEEAEEF3623312) from 2013 to 2022 about elderly, assistance, employer firms, establishments, expenditures, and USA.

This data package includes the underlying data and files to replicate the calculations, charts, and tables presented in The Payoff to America from Globalization: A Fresh Look with a Focus on Costs to Workers, PIIE Policy Brief 17-16. If you use the data, please cite as: Hufbauer, Gary Clyde, and Zhihao (Lucy) Lu. (2017). The Payoff to America from Globalization: A Fresh Look with a Focus on Costs to Workers. PIIE Policy Brief 17-16. Peterson Institute for International Economics.

According to a recent study, Colombia had the lowest monthly cost of living in Latin America with 546 U.S. dollars needed for basic living. In contrast, four countries had a cost of living above one thousand dollars, Costa Rica, Chile, Panama and Uruguay. In 2022, the highest minimum wage in the region was recorded by Ecuador with 425 dollars per month.

Can Latin Americans survive on a minimum wage? Even if most countries in Latin America have instated laws to guarantee citizens a basic income, these minimum standards are often not enough to meet household needs. For instance, it was estimated that almost 22 million people in Mexico lacked basic housing services. Salary levels also vary greatly among Latin American economies. In 2022, the average net monthly salary in Brazil was lower than Ecuador's minimum wage.

What can a minimum wage afford in Latin America? Latin American real wages have generally risen in the past decade. However, consumers in this region still struggle to afford non-basic goods, such as tech products. Recent estimates reveal that, in order to buy an iPhone, Brazilian residents would have to work more than two months to be able to pay for it. A gaming console, on the other hand, could easily cost a Latin American worker several minimum wages.

Using data from a randomized experiment, we find that poor rural Mexican households invested part of their cash transfers from the Oportunidades program in productive assets, increasing agricultural income by almost 10 percent after 18 months of benefits. We estimate that for each peso transferred, households consume 74 cents and invest the rest, permanently increasing long-term consumption by about 1.6 cents. Results suggest that cash transfers can achieve long-term increases in consumption through investment in productive activities, thereby permitting beneficiary households to attain higher living standards that are sustained even after transitioning off the program. (JEL D14, H23, I38, O12)

This table contains data on the living wage and the percent of families with incomes below the living wage for California, its counties, regions and cities/towns. Living wage is the wage needed to cover basic family expenses (basic needs budget) plus all relevant taxes; it does not include publicly provided income or housing assistance. The percent of families below the living wage was calculated using data from the Living Wage Calculator and the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. The table is part of a series of indicators in the Healthy Communities Data and Indicators Project of the Office of Health Equity. The living wage is the wage or annual income that covers the cost of the bare necessities of life for a worker and his/her family. These necessities include housing, transportation, food, childcare, health care, and payment of taxes. Low income populations and non-white race/ethnic have disproportionately lower wages, poorer housing, and higher levels of food insecurity. More information about the data table and a data dictionary can be found in the About/Attachments section.

Graph and download economic data for Estimated Mean Real Household Wages Adjusted by Cost of Living for Salt Lake County, UT (MWACL49035) from 2009 to 2023 about Salt Lake County, UT; Salt Lake City; UT; adjusted; average; wages; real; and USA.

Einschätzung der wirtschaftlichen und gesellschaftlichen Verhältnissein den USA im Vergleich zur BRD. Themen: Beurteilung der Entwicklung der eigenen wirtschaftlichen Lage;Bewertung der Zusammenarbeit zwischen der deutschen und deramerikanischen Wirtschaft; Bewertung des deutschen und amerikanischenGeschäftslebens, der wirtschaftlichen Stärke Amerikas, des deutschen undamerikanischen Lebensstandards sowie des Einflusses amerikanischer Ideenauf die BRD; Gründe für die wirtschaftliche Stärke Amerikas und denhohen Lebensstandard sowie für die amerikanische Hilfe an europäischenStaaten; Unterschiede zwischen deutschen und amerikanischenGewerkschaften und vermuteter politischer Einfluß der amerikanischenGewerkschaften; wirtschaftliche Stärke europäischer Länder; Vergleichder Kaufgewohnheiten von Deutschen und Amerikanern; Einstellung zuAmerika und den Amerikanern; Nutzung von Informationsquellen überAmerika; Einschätzung der besten Form der Altersversorgung; Nennung deramerikanischen Filmstadt und Autostadt; Schätzung der Kfz-Besitzquotenin der BRD und den USA. Demographie: Alter (klassiert); Familienstand; Konfession;Schulbildung; Beruf; Berufstätigkeit; Haushaltseinkommen;Parteipräferenz; Selbsteinschätzung der Schichtzugehörigkeit;Bundesland; Flüchtlingsstatus; innegehabte und innehabende Ämter;Mitgliedschaft. Interviewerrating: Kooperationsbereitschaft und Schichtzugehörigkeitdes Befragten; Anzahl der Kontaktversuche. Zusätzlich verkodet wurden: Intervieweralter und Interviewergeschlecht;Ortsgröße. Assessment of economic and social conditions in the USA in comparisonto the FRG. Topics: Judgement on development of personal economic situation;evaluation of cooperation between the German and the American economy;evaluation of German and American commercial life, the economicstrength of America, the German and American standard of living as wellas the influence of American ideas on the FRG; reasons for the economicstrength of America and the high standard of living as well as forAmerican aid for European countries; differences between German andAmerican trade unions and assumed political influence of American tradeunions; economic strength of European countries; comparison of shoppinghabits of Germans and Americans; attitude to America and the Americans;use of sources of information about America; assessment of the bestform of provision for one´s old age; naming the American film city andautomobile city; estimate of quota of vehicle possession in the FRG andthe USA. Demography: age (classified); marital status; religious denomination;school education; occupation; employment; household income; partypreference; self-assessment of social class; state; refugee status;present and past offices held; membership. Interviewer rating: social class and willingness of respondent tocooperate; number of contact attempts. Also encoded were: age of interviewer and sex of interviewer; citysize.

Americans are questioned indepth about their quality of life, consumerism, and ways their standard of living affects the environment and economic patterns.Questions focus on means of reducing consumption, health hazards, health foods, personal attitudes toward buying, and value system. Respondents are also asked about vacation travels, current political events, and status of women.

According to a survey done in July 2023, nearly **** in *** Americans with public insurance reported that they had difficulty paying household bills (including electric/heating) due to medical debt. Americans without insurance and those with public health insurance were more likely to have difficulty affording living expenses due to medical debt, compared to those with private health insurance. This statistic depicts the share of Americans who experienced hardships in affording selected living expenses due to medical debt in 2023, by insurance status.

American States Water reported $118.96M in Operating Expenses for its fiscal quarter ending in September of 2025. Data for American States Water | AWR - Operating Expenses including historical, tables and charts were last updated by Trading Economics this last December in 2025.

Opinion on questions concerning security policy. East-West comparison.

Topics: Satisfaction with the standard of living; attitude to France, Great Britain, Italy, USA, USSR, Red China and West Germany; preferred East-West-orientation of one´s own country and correspondence of national interests with the interests of selected countries; judgement on the American, Soviet and Red Chinese peace efforts; judgement on the foreign policy of the USA and the USSR; trust in the foreign policy capabilities of the USA; the most powerful country in the world, currently and in the future; comparison of the USA with the USSR concerning economic and military strength, nuclear weapons and the areas of culture, science, space research, education as well as the economic prospects for the average citizen; significance of a landing on the moon; Soviet citizen or American as first on the moon; assumed significance of space research for military development; attitude to a united Europe and Great Britain´s joining the Common Market; preferred relation of a united Europe to the United States; fair share of the pleasant things of life; lack of effort or fate as reasons for poverty; general contentment with life; perceived growth rate of the country´s population and preference for population growth; attitude to the growth of the population of the world; preferred measures against over-population; attitude to a birth control program in the developing countries and in one´s own country; present politician idols in Europe and in the rest of the world; attitude to disarmament; trust in the alliance partners; degree of familiarity with the NATO and assessment of its present strength; attitude to a European nuclear force; desired and estimated loyalty of the Americans to the NATO alliance partners; evaluation of the development of the UN; equal voice for all members of the UN; desired distribution of the UN financial burdens; attitude to an acceptance of Red China in the United Nations; knowledge about battles in Vietnam; attitude to the Vietnam war; attitude to the behavior of America, Red China and the Soviet Union in this conflict; attitude to the withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam and preferred attitude of one´s own country in this conflict and in case of a conflict with Red China; opinion on the treatment of colored people in Great Britain, America and the Soviet Union; judgement on the American Federal Government and on the American population regarding the equality of Negros; degree of familiarity with the Chinese nuclear tests; effects of this test on the military strength of Red China; attitude to American private investments in the Federal Republic; the most influential groups and organizations in the country; party preference; religiousness.

Interviewer rating: social class of respondent.

Additionally encoded were: number of contact attempts; date of interview.

This table contains data on the percent of households paying more than 30% (or 50%) of monthly household income towards housing costs for California, its regions, counties, cities/towns, and census tracts. Data is from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Consolidated Planning Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) and the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). The table is part of a series of indicators in the [Healthy Communities Data and Indicators Project of the Office of Health Equity] Affordable, quality housing is central to health, conferring protection from the environment and supporting family life. Housing costs—typically the largest, single expense in a family's budget—also impact decisions that affect health. As housing consumes larger proportions of household income, families have less income for nutrition, health care, transportation, education, etc. Severe cost burdens may induce poverty—which is associated with developmental and behavioral problems in children and accelerated cognitive and physical decline in adults. Low-income families and minority communities are disproportionately affected by the lack of affordable, quality housing. More information about the data table and a data dictionary can be found in the Attachments.