Around 64 percent of U.S. consumers spend less on non-essentials amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis in 2023. This is according to a survey conducted by We are Social and Statista Q, which shows that rising inflation rates have caused around a similar percentage of customers to pay more attention to bargains, good deals, or offers (when going shopping). Furthermore, around 39 percent of U.S. consumers do not go out for dinner/lunch anymore to deal with the situation.

According to an April 2023 survey by We Are Social and Statista Q, 40 percent of U.S. consumers feel highly affected by the ongoing cost of living crisis, whereas only 6 percent don't feel affected at all.

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.

Residential rents in urban areas in the United States have grown faster than the general basket of products and services of the urban population. In 2024, the consumer price index (CPI) for rent of primary residences reached 420 index points, more than 100 index points more than the CPI for all items. The CPI measures the development of prices, with 1984 chosen as a base year. An index value of 400 indicates that rents have quadrupled since 1984.

The average for 2021 based on 20 countries was 97.17 index points. The highest value was in Bermuda: 212.7 index points and the lowest value was in Nicaragua: 49.42 index points. The indicator is available from 2017 to 2021. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Graph and download economic data for Estimated Mean Real Household Wages Adjusted by Cost of Living for Lake County, OH (MWACL39085) from 2009 to 2023 about Lake County, OH; Cleveland; adjusted; OH; average; wages; real; and USA.

The average for 2021 based on 11 countries was 67.5 index points. The highest value was in Uruguay: 100.24 index points and the lowest value was in Suriname: 43.15 index points. The indicator is available from 2017 to 2021. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

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.

This statistic shows the average increase in cost to live alone in one- to three- bedroom rental units in the United States in 2017, by state. Georgia was the most expensive state in which to rent alone, as it cost on average ***** percent more to live alone there than with roommates.

Graph and download economic data for Estimated Mean Real Household Wages Adjusted by Cost of Living for York County, ME (MWACL23031) from 2009 to 2023 about York County, ME; Portland; ME; adjusted; average; wages; real; and USA.

This statistic shows the most affordable metro areas in the Unites States in 2017, by share of income spent on living expenses. In 2017, Omaha was the second most affordable metro area because ***** percent of the median blending annual household income was spent on the average cost of owning or renting a home as well the average cost of utilities and taxes.

Graph and download economic data for Estimated Mean Real Household Wages Adjusted by Cost of Living for Davidson County, TN (MWACL47037) from 2009 to 2023 about Davidson County, TN; Nashville; adjusted; TN; average; wages; real; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Estimated Mean Real Household Wages Adjusted by Cost of Living for Clark County, WA (MWACL53011) from 2009 to 2023 about Clark County, WA; Portland; adjusted; WA; average; wages; real; and USA.

In 2023, the average consumer unit in the United States spent about 9,985 U.S. dollars on food. Americans spent the most on housing, at 25,436 U.S. dollars, reflecting around one third of annual expenditure. The total average U.S. consumer spending amounted to 77,280 U.S. dollars.

The average monthly cost for senior housing in the U.S. in 2024 was the highest for memory care and the lowest for independent living facilities. In the fourth quarter of the year, the average monthly cost for independent living housing was ***** U.S. dollars. That nearly *** U.S. dollars (** percent) higher than in the first quarter of 2019. Senior housing costs also vary vastly across different states.

Graph and download economic data for Estimated Mean Real Household Wages Adjusted by Cost of Living for Indiana County, PA (MWACL42063) from 2016 to 2023 about Indiana County, PA; adjusted; PA; average; wages; real; and USA.

In 2023, the average annual expenditures of consumer units in the United States totaled to 77,280 U.S. dollars. This is an increase from the previous year, when the average annual expenditures of consumer units totaled to 72,967 U.S. dollars.

Half of American Millennials believed that term life insurance cost ************ U.S. dollars or more per year in *****, whereas only ** percent of non-Millennials said the same. The average cost of such a policy is about *** U.S. dollars annually, according to the source, which shows that many Americans, especially Millennials, overestimate the cost of term life insurance.

In 2023, the average U.S. consumer unit residing in the northeast U.S. spent about 87,445 U.S. dollars, almost twenty thousand dollars more than those living in the south. The average U.S. consumer spending amounted to 77,280 U.S. dollars.

In 2024, the CPI in U.S. cities averaged at 313.7. However, the CPI for the New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area amounted to about 334.21. Prices in New York City were significantly higher than the U.S. average. Nonetheless, the San Diego-Carlsbad area ranked first with a CPI of 373.32.The monthly inflation rate for the United States can be found here.