Cost of Living Varies Widely Across the U.S.
April 15, 2025
Residents of Manhattan, NY, live in the nation’s most expensive urban neighborhoods, paying more than twice the national average to maintain a “professional/managerial” standard of living. By contrast, individuals who live in Decatur, IL, can stretch their dollars the farthest, paying less than 80% of the national average. Here are the five most and least expensive urban areas of the country, according to The Council for Community and Economic Research Cost of Living Index (COLI).
COLI national average = 100
Most expensive
1. Manhattan, NY: 230.6
2. Honolulu, HI: 186.9
3. San Jose, CA: 180.7
4. San Francisco, CA: 166.8
5. Brooklyn, NY: 161.1
Least expensive
1. Decatur, IL: 79.1
2. Ponca City, OK: 80.0
3. Richmond, IN: 81.1
4. Pittsburg, KS: 82.1
5. Harlingen, TX: 82.1
Source: The Council for Community and Economic Research Cost of Living Index, 2025 (2024 data)
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