Real Estate 2024: See the Cost of Living in America’s 50 Largest Metro Areas
For the past few years, the cost of living in the U.S. has been on the rise, with some areas bearing more of the brunt than others. Though some average expenses, such as those related to emergencies, simply cannot be clearly captured, there is plenty of data available to determine exactly how much it costs to live in America’s biggest cities.
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GOBankingRates analyzed the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas by population, as sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. For each, the cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces and using the national average expenditure costs for all residents, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 Consumer Expenditure Survey. The cities were sorted by population and ranked, then were sorted by expenditure’s annual total cost of living, as of June 4, 2024. Here’s a look at the cost of living around the U.S.
Cleveland-Elyria, Ohio
Population total: 2,079,759
Annual cost of groceries: $5,589
Annual cost of healthcare: $4,891
Annual cost of housing: $9,226
Annual cost of utilities: $4,294
Annual cost of transportation: $6,175
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $61,584
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Memphis, Tennessee-Mississippi-Arkansas
Population total: 1,335,804
Annual cost of groceries: $5,429
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,657
Annual cost of housing: $9,241
Annual cost of utilities: $4,390
Annual cost of transportation: $6,725
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $62,825
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Oklahoma City
Population total: 1,428,923
Annual cost of groceries: $5,429
Annual cost of healthcare: $6,300
Annual cost of housing: $8,762
Annual cost of utilities: $4,481
Annual cost of transportation: $6,815
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $63,554
St. Louis
Population total: 2,813,523
Annual cost of groceries: $5,481
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,645
Annual cost of housing: $10,082
Annual cost of utilities: $4,376
Annual cost of transportation: $6,725
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $64,795
Birmingham-Hoover, Alabama
Population total: 1,114,368
Annual cost of groceries: $5,412
Annual cost of healthcare: $7,137
Annual cost of housing: $9,502
Annual cost of utilities: $4,649
Annual cost of transportation: $6,565
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $65,305
Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky-Indiana
Population total: 1,282,588
Annual cost of groceries: $5,526
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,470
Annual cost of housing: $10,431
Annual cost of utilities: $4,290
Annual cost of transportation: $7,044
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $65,597
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Pittsburgh
Population total: 2,365,501
Annual cost of groceries: $5,612
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,277
Annual cost of housing: $9,778
Annual cost of utilities: $4,231
Annual cost of transportation: $7,566
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $65,743
Cincinnati, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana
Population total: 2,253,528
Annual cost of groceries: $5,589
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,441
Annual cost of housing: $11,069
Annual cost of utilities: $4,458
Annual cost of transportation: $6,725
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $66,108
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, New York
Population total: 1,163,462
Annual cost of groceries: $5,737
Annual cost of healthcare: $6,148
Annual cost of housing: $10,677
Annual cost of utilities: $4,704
Annual cost of transportation: $6,780
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $67,057
Columbus, Ohio
Population total: 2,137,223
Annual cost of groceries: $5,617
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,294
Annual cost of housing: $12,534
Annual cost of utilities: $4,631
Annual cost of transportation: $6,419
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $67,859
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Grand Rapids-Kentwood, Michigan
Population total: 1,087,068
Annual cost of groceries: $5,435
Annual cost of healthcare: $4,791
Annual cost of housing: $12,679
Annual cost of utilities: $4,522
Annual cost of transportation: $6,912
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $68,005
Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas
Population total: 2,190,750
Annual cost of groceries: $5,555
Annual cost of healthcare: $6,008
Annual cost of housing: $12,316
Annual cost of utilities: $4,594
Annual cost of transportation: $6,273
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $68,224
San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas
Population total: 2,570,862
Annual cost of groceries: $5,2867
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,680
Annual cost of housing: $11,910
Annual cost of utilities: $4,394
Annual cost of transportation: $7,149
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $68,370
Milwaukee-Waukesha, Wisconsin
Population total: 1,568,940
Annual cost of groceries: $5,560
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,622
Annual cost of housing:$12,128
Annual cost of utilities: $4,617
Annual cost of transportation: $6,905
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $69,683
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Richmond, Virginia
Population total: 1,316,145
Annual cost of groceries: $5,617
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,797
Annual cost of housing: $14,086
Annual cost of utilities: $4,604
Annual cost of transportation: $6,043
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $70,559
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Michigan
Population total: 4,375,604
Annual cost of groceries: $5,463
Annual cost of healthcare: $4,750
Annual cost of housing: $10,721
Annual cost of utilities: $4,444
Annual cost of transportation: $9,736
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $71,654
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, North Carolina-South Carolina
Population total: 2,668,688
Annual cost of groceries: $5,543
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,856
Annual cost of housing: $14,420
Annual cost of utilities: $4,508
Annual cost of transportation: $6,836
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $72,091
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia-North Carolina
Population total: 1,798,025
Annual cost of groceries: $5,635
Annual cost of healthcare: $6,125
Annual cost of housing: $13,854
Annual cost of utilities: $4,449
Annual cost of transportation: $6,878
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $72,310
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New Orleans-Metairie, Louisiana
Population total: 1,264,357
Annual cost of groceries: $5,515
Annual cost of healthcare: $6,137
Annual cost of housing: $11,852
Annual cost of utilities: $3,908
Annual cost of transportation: $8,845
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $72,310
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas
Population total: 7,142,603
Annual cost of groceries: $5,595
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,610
Annual cost of housing: $12,520
Annual cost of utilities: $4,403
Annual cost of transportation: $8,505
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $72,821
Jacksonville, Florida
Population total: 1,613,587
Annual cost of groceries: $5,720
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,885
Annual cost of housing: $13,898
Annual cost of utilities: $4,672
Annual cost of transportation: $7,218
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $72,967
Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina
Population total: 1,613,587
Annual cost of groceries: $5,720
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,885
Annual cost of housing: $13,898
Annual cost of utilities: $4,672
Annual cost of transportation: $7,218
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $72,967
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Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida
Population total: 3,194,310
Annual cost of groceries: $5,988
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,944
Annual cost of housing: $13,999
Annual cost of utilities: $4,617
Annual cost of transportation: $7,858
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $74,572
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin
Population total: 9,566,955
Annual cost of groceries: $5,543
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,353
Annual cost of housing: $13,637
Annual cost of utilities: $4,403
Annual cost of transportation: $8,832
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $75,083
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida
Population total: 2,679,298
Annual cost of groceries: $5,783
Annual cost of healthcare: $6,037
Annual cost of housing: $14,623
Annual cost of utilities: $4,676
Annual cost of transportation: $7,886
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $75,448
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
Population total: 7,673,379
Annual cost of groceries: $5,646
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,844
Annual cost of housing: $14,623
Annual cost of utilities: $4,585
Annual cost of transportation: $8,088
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $75,740
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Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota-Wisconsin
Population total: 3,678,328
Annual cost of groceries: $5,760
Annual cost of healthcare: $4,487
Annual cost of housing: $16,944
Annual cost of utilities: $4,476
Annual cost of transportation: $7,587
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $76,980
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, Connecticut
Population total: 1,215,703
Annual cost of groceries: $6,068
Annual cost of healthcare: $6,710
Annual cost of housing: $13,709
Annual cost of utilities: $5,372
Annual cost of transportation: $7,406
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $76,980
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Georgia
Population total: 6,094,752
Annual cost of groceries: $5,543
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,832
Annual cost of housing: $14,696
Annual cost of utilities: $4,640
Annual cost of transportation: $8,811
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $77,272
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee
Population total: 1,990,873
Annual cost of groceries: $5,674
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,914
Annual cost of housing: $17,524
Annual cost of utilities: $4,390
Annual cost of transportation: $7,183
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $77,710
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Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware-Maryland
Population total: 6,232,894
Annual cost of groceries: $6,017
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,914
Annual cost of housing: $14,812
Annual cost of utilities: $4,949
Annual cost of transportation: $8,588
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $79,169
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Maryland
Population total: 2,840,005
Annual cost of groceries: $5,903
Annual cost of healthcare: $4,949
Annual cost of housing: $16,219
Annual cost of utilities: $4,904
Annual cost of transportation: $8,199
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $79,242
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nevada
Population total: 2,265,926
Annual cost of groceries: $5,857
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,441
Annual cost of housing: $17,539
Annual cost of utilities: $4,613
Annual cost of transportation: $8,727
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $81,504
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Arizona
Population total: 4,864,209
Annual cost of groceries: $5,583
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,446
Annual cost of housing: $19,178
Annual cost of utilities: $4,676
Annual cost of transportation: $8,108
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $82,234
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Providence-Warwick, Rhode Island-Massachusetts
Population total: 1,670,949
Annual cost of groceries: $6,085
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,130
Annual cost of housing: $19,468
Annual cost of utilities: $5,231
Annual cost of transportation: $7,343
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $83,182
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Florida
Population total: 6,123,949
Annual cost of groceries: $6,114
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,955
Annual cost of housing: $17,060
Annual cost of utilities: $4,394
Annual cost of transportation: $9,624
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $83,766
Salt Lake City
Population total: 1,254,675
Annual cost of groceries: $5,406
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,920
Annual cost of housing: $24,807
Annual cost of utilities: $4,308
Annual cost of transportation: $6,808
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $87,706
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas
Population total: 2,296,377
Annual cost of groceries: $5,435
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,985
Annual cost of housing: $24,111
Annual cost of utilities: $4,549
Annual cost of transportation: $7,900
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $89,676
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Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Oregon-Washington
Population total: 2,505,312
Annual cost of groceries: $5,851
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,306
Annual cost of housing: $24,894
Annual cost of utilities: $3,566
Annual cost of transportation: $8,964
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $92,084
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California
Population total: 4,610,050
Annual cost of groceries: $5,629
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,171
Annual cost of housing: $23,632
Annual cost of utilities: $4,990
Annual cost of transportation: $10,313
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $94,419
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado
Population total: 4,610,050
Annual cost of groceries: $5,629
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,171
Annual cost of housing: $23,632
Annual cost of utilities: $4,990
Annual cost of transportation: $10,313
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $94,419
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, California
Population total: 2,394,673
Annual cost of groceries: $6,068
Annual cost of healthcare: $6,265
Annual cost of housing: $26,403
Annual cost of utilities: $4,695
Annual cost of transportation: $8,477
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $96,827
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Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-Virginia-Maryland-West Virginia
Population total: 6,346,083
Annual cost of groceries: $6,342
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,593
Annual cost of housing: $27,30
Annual cost of utilities: $4,645
Annual cost of transportation: $9,332
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $100,330
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Massachusetts-New Hampshire
Population total: 4,912,449
Annual cost of groceries: $6,296
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,195
Annual cost of housing: $30,015
Annual cost of utilities: $5,195
Annual cost of transportation: $8,804
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $103,759
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington
Population total: 4,001,701
Annual cost of groceries: $5,960
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,142
Annual cost of housing: $33,337
Annual cost of utilities: $3,198
Annual cost of transportation: $9,777
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $107,480
New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania
Population total: 19,908,595
Annual cost of groceries: $6,245
Annual cost of healthcare: $6,850
Annual cost of housing: $28,376
Annual cost of utilities: $5,700
Annual cost of transportation: $11,405
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $109,742
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San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California
Population total: 3,289,701
Annual cost of groceries: $6,250
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,207
Annual cost of housing: $38,661
Annual cost of utilities: $4,776
Annual cost of transportation: $8,553
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $114,631
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California
Population total: 13,111,917
Annual cost of groceries: $5,954
Annual cost of healthcare: $5,259
Annual cost of housing: $39,952
Annual cost of utilities: $4,403
Annual cost of transportation: $11,064
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $121,563
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California
Population total: 4,692,242
Annual cost of groceries: $6,507
Annual cost of healthcare: $6,856
Annual cost of housing: $59,551
Annual cost of utilities: $4,340
Annual cost of transportation: $10,702
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $155,712
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California
Population total: 1,981,584
Annual cost of groceries: $6,615
Annual cost of healthcare: $6,359
Annual cost of housing: $69,227
Annual cost of utilities: $4,322
Annual cost of transportation: $10,320
Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $167,970
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas by population as sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. For each metro area, the cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces and using the national average expenditure costs for all residents, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 Consumer Expenditure Survey. The metro areas were sorted by population and ranked, then they were sorted by expenditure’s annual total cost of living to show the cost to live in America’s 50 largest metro areas. All data was collected on and is up to date as of June 4, 2024.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Real Estate 2024: See the Cost of Living in America’s 50 Largest Metro Areas