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 84.8 - well below the national benchmark of 100. Nevada - which had an index value of 100.1 - 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 427,000 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 200,000 U.S. dollars. That makes living costs in these states significantly lower than in states such as Hawaii and California, where housing is much more expensive. 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 500 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 54.1, only second to Port of Spain, in Trinidad and Tobago, with 56.4 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 45 points each.

In New York City, one of the United States’ most iconic destinations, Airbnb has established itself as a key player in the accommodation market. In 2025, Airbnb customers booked an average of 47 nights per stay, with an average price of 119 U.S. dollars per night. Meanwhile, the average income per property was 7,062 U.S. dollars that year. Are Airbnb rentals expensive in New York City? As of early 2024, the most expensive Airbnb properties per night in the United States were in San Francisco. This was followed by Los Angeles and San Diego. In comparison, the average cost of a night’s stay at an Airbnb property in New York City is less than half of the cost of a night in San Francisco. How many Airbnb properties are there in New York City? In early 2024, the Airbnb market in New York City offered more than 39.7 thousand properties accommodating to the different needs of visitors to the city. There are a variety of types of Airbnb properties in New York City, the most common of which were entire homes and apartments, followed by private rooms. The majority of Airbnb listings also catered to longer-term stays, in light of city regulations on housing.

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.

The U.S. housing market has slowed, after 13 consecutive years of rising home prices. In 2021, house prices surged by an unprecedented 18 percent, marking the highest increase on record. However, the market has since cooled, with the Freddie Mac House Price Index showing more modest growth between 2022 and 2024. In 2024, home prices increased by 4.2 percent. That was lower than the long-term average of 4.4 percent since 1990. Impact of mortgage rates on homebuying The recent cooling in the housing market can be partly attributed to rising mortgage rates. After reaching a record low of 2.96 percent in 2021, the average annual rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage more than doubled in 2023. This significant increase has made homeownership less affordable for many potential buyers, contributing to a substantial decline in home sales. Despite these challenges, forecasts suggest a potential recovery in the coming years. How much does it cost to buy a house in the U.S.? In 2023, the median sales price of an existing single-family home reached a record high of over 389,000 U.S. dollars. Newly built homes were even pricier, despite a slight decline in the median sales price in 2023. Naturally, home prices continue to vary significantly across the country, with West Virginia being the most affordable state for homebuyers.

Data revealed that Pakistan was the least expensive place in the world to get Netflix as of October 2023, with a monthly subscription for the standard plan costing 2.90 U.S. dollars. Egypt and Nigeria followed, with monthly prices for a Netflix subscription amounting to 3.88 and 4.65 U.S. dollars respectively. Netflix’s plans and costs In addition to the standard package, Netflix provides four different plans in its home country, the United States. The premium version is the most expensive plan, but customers can watch content on four different devices, while the standard supports two devices and the basic plan just one device. In order to offset income and subscriber losses, the streaming giant launched a fourth tier in November 2022: basic with ads. This plan, which is partly financed through advertising, can be acquired for a monthly fee of less than five U.S. dollars. Netflix’s measures in times of crisis Facing constant and growing competition, as well as an economic downturn, Netflix is making changes in an effort to maintain its dominant position within the video streaming industry. While the service has recently started to crack down on account sharing in major countries, it announced in February 2023 to cut prices in over 100 territories, including especially Central and South American, African, and Asian countries. The latter affects around 10 million Netflix customers, and should boost subscriber additions and combat churn in these markets.