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.

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.

As of mid-2024, Montevideo ranked as the second Latin American and Caribbean metropolis with the highest cost of living index. The Uruguayan capital obtained an index score of ****, only second to Port of Spain, in Trinidad and Tobago, with **** points. Monterrey and Panama City were the third and fourth most expensive cities to live in Latin America and the Caribbean that year, with scores surpassing ** points each.

As of March 2024, the cost of living in Bogota was the highest among major Colombian cities. In total, the average cost per month amounted to *** U.S. dollars. Cartagena followed in the ranking, with a monthly cost of living of *** U.S. dollars at that time.

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.

Of the cities who have experienced cost of living increases, the top three are located in Latin America, two in Mexico and one in Costa Rica. Each moved 38, 39, and 48 spots in the ranking respectively since 2022. Due to increases in interest rates, the Mexican peso and Costa Rican colón have both appreciated against the U.S. Dollar. Comparatively, Singapore and Zurich were ranked the most expensive cities in the world.

D.C.'s median rent for a one bedroom apartment stands at $2,495, significantly higher than the national median rent of approximately $1,567. Click on different U.S. cities to see the median rent for a one bedroom apartment2.The map on the left side shows the percentage of people by census tract that are considered "cost burdened" by housing costs, by paying 30% or more of their household income on rent and utilities3. The map on the right side shows the median household income by census tract4. You can click on the "list" icon in the lower left corner to see the map legend, and meanings of map symbology. Areas that are cost burdened are often areas with the lowest median household incomes. There are also areas in wards where median incomes are high, but the cost of living is also high, leading to a greater cost burden.

Large white, Grade A chicken eggs, sold in a carton of a dozen. Includes organic, non-organic, cage free, free range, and traditional."

Apartment prices in Tel Aviv are the highest among the major cities in Israel. In the first quarter of 2023, the average cost of dwellings in Tel Aviv amounted to over 4.2 million Israeli shekels (roughly 1.13 million U.S. dollars). That was a slight rise compared to the previous quarter. The average price of apartments in the city slightly fluctuated but overall increased during the observed period. Due to the high housing prices in the city, many who wish to live in the city can afford only rented housing. The The number of households  living in rented dwellings in Tel Aviv amounted to 110,000 in 2020, making it the most common type of residency that year.  

High demand for housing in Tel Aviv 

Tel Aviv is the financial and cultural capital of Israel. Important companies in the Israeli economy and most of the influential cultural institutions in Israel are located in the city. As a result, many are interested in living in the city permanently, so housing prices remain high and even rise. Tel Aviv is the most important city in the Israeli high-tech industry, one of the most essential industries in the Israeli economy. As a result, many of the industry workers live in the city. In 2022, StartupBlink ranked Tel Aviv first in its list of leading cities for startups in Israel, with a score of 54.89. 

Residence in Jerusalem and Haifa is more affordable 

Jerusalem, the largest city in Israel, offers more affordable housing than Tel Aviv. In the first quarter of 2023, the aaverage price of apartments in Jerusalem amounted to just over 2.5 million Israeli shekels (around 673,000 U.S. dollars). Although the price is lower than in Tel Aviv, many Israelis hesitate to reside there. Jerusalem has a traditional character; therefore, it has fewer leisure and nightlife options than Tel Aviv can offer. The standard price of dwellings in Haifa, the largest city in the northern part of Israel, is lower than both towns. In the same quarter, it reached almost 1.64 million Israeli shekels (approximately 440,000 U.S. dollars).

According to Cognitive Market Research, the global smart cities market size is USD 552158.6 million in 2024. It will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.00% from 2024 to 2031.

North America held the major market share for more than 40% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 220863.44 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.2% from 2024 to 2031.
Europe accounted for a market share of over 30% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 1656432771.08 million.
Asia Pacific held a market share of around 23% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 126996.48 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.0% from 2024 to 2031.
Latin America had a market share for more than 5% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 27607.93 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.4% from 2024 to 2031.
Middle East and Africa had a market share of around 2% of the global revenue and was estimated at a market size of USD 11043.17 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.7% from 2024 to 2031.
The smart transportation

Market Dynamics of Smart cities Market

Key Drivers for Smart cities Market

Rapid urban growth to increase the demand globally

Rapid urban growth is significantly driving the global demand for smart city solutions. As cities expand, the need for efficient management of resources and infrastructure becomes critical. This urbanization surge is accompanied by increasing populations, leading to greater strain on transportation systems, energy supplies, and public services. To address these challenges, cities worldwide are turning to smart technologies. These innovations enhance urban living by improving traffic management, reducing energy consumption, and streamlining waste disposal. Additionally, smart solutions foster economic development and environmental sustainability. By leveraging advanced technologies such as IoT and AI, urban areas can become more resilient, adaptive, and efficient. This transformation is essential for accommodating the burgeoning urban populations and ensuring sustainable growth in the future.

Policies and funding for smart city projects to propel market growth

Policies and funding for smart city projects are crucial drivers of market growth, providing the necessary framework and resources for development. Governments worldwide are recognizing the importance of smart cities in addressing urban challenges and enhancing the quality of life. By implementing supportive policies, they create an environment conducive to innovation and collaboration between public and private sectors. Significant financial investments are being directed towards infrastructure upgrades, technology deployment, and research initiatives. These funds facilitate the integration of advanced technologies such as IoT, AI, and data analytics into urban planning and management. Additionally, grants and incentives encourage businesses and startups to participate in smart city initiatives. This robust support accelerates the development and adoption of smart city solutions, driving substantial market expansion and progress.

Restraint Factor for the Smart cities Market

Challenges in ensuring different systems and technologies work seamlessly together to Limit the Sales

Ensuring different systems and technologies work seamlessly together poses significant challenges that can limit sales in the smart cities market. Interoperability issues arise due to the diverse range of technologies, platforms, and standards used in smart city solutions. These discrepancies can lead to integration difficulties, where systems fail to communicate effectively, resulting in inefficiencies and data silos. Additionally, the lack of unified standards and protocols complicates the deployment and scaling of smart solutions. This fragmentation not only increases implementation costs but also deters potential investors and city planners wary of technical complexities and risks. As a result, the market's growth is hampered by the slow adoption rate, as stakeholders seek reliable and compatible solutions to ensure seamless operation and long-term sustainability.

Impact of Covid-19 on the Smart cities Market

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a notable negative impact on the smart cities market. Economic downturns and budget reallocations have led to ...

How many incorporated places are registered in the U.S.?

There were 19,502 incorporated places registered in the United States as of July 31, 2019. 16,410 had a population under 10,000 while, in contrast, only 10 cities had a population of one million or more.

Small-town America

Suffice it to say, almost nothing is more idealized in the American imagination than small-town America. When asked where they would prefer to live, 30 percent of Americans reported that they would prefer to live in a small town. Americans tend to prefer small-town living due to a perceived slower pace of life, close-knit communities, and a more affordable cost of living when compared to large cities.

An increasing population

Despite a preference for small-town life, metropolitan areas in the U.S. still see high population figures, with the New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago metro areas being the most populous in the country. Metro and state populations are projected to increase by 2040, so while some may move to small towns to escape city living, those small towns may become more crowded in the upcoming decades.

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.

Montevideo, Uruguay's capital, leads Latin American cities with the highest apartment sale prices in 2024, averaging ***** U.S. dollars per square meter. This figure surpasses other major metropolitan areas like Mexico City and Buenos Aires, highlighting significant disparities in real estate markets across the region. The data underscores the varying economic conditions and housing demand in different Latin American urban centers. Regional housing market trends While Montevideo tops the list for apartment prices, other countries in Latin America have experienced notable changes in their housing markets. Chile, for instance, saw the most substantial increase in house prices since 2010, with its nominal house price index surpassing *** points in early 2024. However, when adjusted for inflation, Mexico showed the highest inflation-adjusted percentage increase in house prices, growing by nearly five percent in the first quarter of 2024, contrasting with a global decline of one percent. Home financing in Mexico The methods of home financing vary across Latin America. A breakdown of homeownership by financing method in Mexico reveals that about two-thirds of owner-occupied housing units were financed through personal resources in 2022. Nevertheless, government-backed loans such as Infonavit (Mexico’s National Housing Fund Institute), Fovissste (Housing Fund of the Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers), and Fonhapo (National Fund for Popular Housing), play an important role for homebuyers, with just over ** percent of home purchases relying on such finance. Bank credit, which offers mortgage loans with interest rates ranging between **** and ** percent, appeared as a less popular option.

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.

Cities in the United States dominate the list of cities with the highest rents worldwide. New York was ranked as the most expensive city to rent in, ahead of San Francisco, with an index score of ***. Boston followed in third.

The price per square meter in a luxury apartment in Cape Town, South Africa, reached ***** U.S. dollars in 2018. It was double of the price measured in Umhlanga, also a city in South Africa, and second in the ranking. The index tracked the square meter price in selected prime apartments, measuring from *** to *** square meters, mainly in exclusive living complexes.

Nassau was the city with the highest grocery prices in Latin America and the Caribbean, as of mid-2020. The capital city of Bahamas scored ***** in the grocery price index ranking that year, followed by the Puerto Rican capital of San Juan, with an index score of *****. According to the calculation system used for the ranking, this means that people living in these two cities paid for groceries ***** percent and ***** percent less than the inhabitants of New York City, the city used as base for the index.

The average transaction price of new housing in Europe was the highest in Norway, whereas existing homes were the most expensive in Austria. Since there is no central body that collects and tracks transaction activity or house prices across the whole continent or the European Union, not all countries are included. To compile the ranking, the source weighed the transaction prices of residential properties in the most important cities in each country based on data from their national offices. For example, in Germany, the cities included were Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Berlin. House prices have been soaring, with Sweden topping the ranking Considering the RHPI of houses in Europe (the price index in real terms, which measures price changes of single-family properties adjusted for the impact of inflation), however, the picture changes. Sweden, Luxembourg and Norway top this ranking, meaning residential property prices have surged the most in these countries. Real values were calculated using the so-called Personal Consumption Expenditure Deflator (PCE), This PCE uses both consumer prices as well as consumer expenditures, like medical and health care expenses paid by employers. It is meant to show how expensive housing is compared to the way of living in a country. Home ownership highest in Eastern Europe The home ownership rate in Europe varied from country to country. In 2020, roughly half of all homes in Germany were owner-occupied whereas home ownership was at nearly ** percent in Romania or around ** percent in Slovakia and Lithuania. These numbers were considerably higher than in France or Italy, where homeowners made up ** percent and ** percent of their respective populations.For more information on the topic of property in Europe, visit the following pages as a starting point for your research: real estate investments in Europe and residential real estate in Europe.

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.

In 2023, there were about ******* homeless people estimated to be living in the United States, the highest number of homeless people recorded within the provided time period. In comparison, the second-highest number of homeless people living in the U.S. within this time period was in 2007, at *******. How is homelessness calculated? Calculating homelessness is complicated for several different reasons. For one, it is challenging to determine how many people are homeless as there is no direct definition for homelessness. Additionally, it is difficult to try and find every single homeless person that exists. Sometimes they cannot be reached, leaving people unaccounted for. In the United States, the Department of Housing and Urban Development calculates the homeless population by counting the number of people on the streets and the number of people in homeless shelters on one night each year. According to this count, Los Angeles City and New York City are the cities with the most homeless people in the United States. Homelessness in the United States Between 2022 and 2023, New Hampshire saw the highest increase in the number of homeless people. However, California was the state with the highest number of homeless people, followed by New York and Florida. The vast amount of homelessness in California is a result of multiple factors, one of them being the extreme high cost of living, as well as opposition to mandatory mental health counseling and drug addiction. However, the District of Columbia had the highest estimated rate of homelessness per 10,000 people in 2023. This was followed by New York, Vermont, and Oregon.