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.

This collection contains data obtained from families of wage earners or salaried workers in industrial locales scattered throughout the United States. The purpose of the survey was to estimate the cost of living of a "typical" American family. The completed questionnaires contain information about income sources and family expenditures including specific quantities and costs of food, housing, clothing, fuel, furniture, and miscellaneous household items for the calendar year. Demographic characteristics recorded for each household member include relationship to head, age, sex, occupation, weeks spent in the household and employed, wage rate, and total earnings.

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.

The cost of living is spiraling. Prices are going up, household expenses are rising, and the U.S. inflation rate reached a 40-year record high in 2023. Many consumers are looking for new ways to deal with this situation and refer to social media for support. So, which social media platforms have the most helpful content to deal with the current cost of living crisis in the U.S.? According to an exclusive survey by We Are Social and Statista Q, around 61 percent of TikTok users in the United States find helpful content there. Coming on number second is YouTube, as 56 percent of YouTube users find life hacks, tricks, money saving tips and other suitable advice to deal with inflation in 2023.

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 25.18 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 Lake County, OH (MWACL39085) from 2009 to 2023 about Lake County, OH; Cleveland; adjusted; OH; average; wages; real; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Estimated Mean Real Household Wages Adjusted by Cost of Living for St. Louis County, MO (MWACL29189) from 2009 to 2023 about St. Louis County, MO; St. Louis; adjusted; MO; average; wages; real; and USA.

Household income is a potential predictor for a number of environmental influences, for example, application of urban pesticides. This product is a U.S. conterminous mapping of block group income derived from the 2010-2014 Census American Community Survey (ACS), adjusted by a 2013 county-level Cost-of-Living index obtained from the Council for Community and Economic Research. The resultant raster is provided at 200-m spatial resolution, in units of adjusted household income in thousands of dollars per year.

Graph and download economic data for Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States (MSPUS) from Q1 1963 to Q1 2025 about sales, median, housing, and USA.

YouTube and TikTok are the most popular social networks among Generation X for finding helpful content on the cost of living crisis in the United States in 2023. While 56 percent of YouTube users state they find helpful content there, it's 47 percent among TikTok users respectively.

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.

United States - Total Expenses for Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services, All Establishments was 10.50000 % Chg. in October of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Total Expenses for Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services, All Establishments reached a record high of 30.60000 in October of 2020 and a record low of -21.40000 in January of 2012. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Total Expenses for Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services, All Establishments - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

United States - Total Expenses for Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services, All Establishments was 12587.00000 Mil. of $ in October of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Total Expenses for Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services, All Establishments reached a record high of 12587.00000 in October of 2024 and a record low of 5840.00000 in January of 2009. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Total Expenses for Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services, All Establishments - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

Characteristics of the United States housing inventory listed in this file include the age, size, and type of living quarters, property values, and the presence of commercial establishments on the property. Additional data focus on the presence and condition of kitchen and plumbing facilities and the type and cost of utilities, as well as housing expenses, property repair or alteration, and insurance costs. Many of the same characteristics are given for housing previously occupied by recent movers. Information on age, sex, race, marital status, and income is provided for each household member, with additional data on education, Spanish origin, and household tenure for the head of household. Indicators provided for housing quality include privacy and structural condition. For neighborhood quality, indicators assess noise, crime, air quality, and the presence of abandoned structures, along with the adequacy of neighborhood services such as police protection, parks, health care, and public transportation.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Estimated Mean Real Household Wages Adjusted by Cost of Living for New York County, NY (MWACL36061) from 2009 to 2023 about New York County, NY; adjusted; New York; average; NY; wages; real; and USA.

United States CES: Below 25Yrs: AAE: Housing: HO: Other Household Expenses data was reported at 360.000 USD in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 357.000 USD for 2015. United States CES: Below 25Yrs: AAE: Housing: HO: Other Household Expenses data is updated yearly, averaging 72.000 USD from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2016, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 360.000 USD in 2016 and a record low of 33.000 USD in 1985. United States CES: Below 25Yrs: AAE: Housing: HO: Other Household Expenses data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H040: Consumer Expenditure Survey: By Age Group.

United States CES: AAE: Housing: HO: Other Household Expenses data was reported at 927.000 USD in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 882.000 USD for 2015. United States CES: AAE: Housing: HO: Other Household Expenses data is updated yearly, averaging 358.000 USD from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2016, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 927.000 USD in 2016 and a record low of 186.000 USD in 1986. United States CES: AAE: Housing: HO: Other Household Expenses data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H039: Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Detailed cost of living comparison between United States and United States

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.