Here’s the Cost of Living in the 5 Biggest Cities in Every State

The cost of living in America continues to trend upward, especially in the country’s biggest metropolitan areas. GOBankingRates recently launched a study to determine the cost of living in the five biggest cities in every state.

GOBankingRates located the five largest cities (by population) in all 50 states, per the US Census Bureau. Once those 250 cities were selected, GOBankingRates sourced cost of living indexes for each via Sperling’s BestPlaces, as well as the average home values for each city from Zillow’s Home Value Index.

Considering buying a home in one of the largest urban centers in your state? Thinking about transplanting to a big city across the country? GOBankingRates has provided a handy guide just for you.

Huntsville

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,588
• Average home value: $284,401

Birmingham

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,754
• Average home value: $127,342

Montgomery

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,819
• Average home value: $146,741

Mobile

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,095
• Average home value: $195,223

Tuscaloosa

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,217
• Average home value: $223,662

Anchorage

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,827
• Average home value: $441,344

Fairbanks

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,030
• Average home value: $296,551

Juneau

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,904
• Average home value: $493,530

Wasilla

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,829
• Average home value: $379,918

Meadow Lakes

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,707
• Average home value: $379,918

Phoenix

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,408
• Average home value: $416,044

Tucson

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,760
• Average home value: $331,247

Mesa

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,518
• Average home value: $441,108

Chandler

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,008
• Average home value: $529,000

Gilbert

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,264
• Average home value: $569,658

Little Rock

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,035
• Average home value: $211,861

Fayetteville

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,970
• Average home value: $374,207

Fort Smith

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,849
• Average home value: $188,401

Springdale

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,713
• Average home value: $329,154

Jonesboro

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,058
• Average home value: $219,930

Los Angeles

• Monthly cost of necessities: $7,943
• Average home value: $1,004,805

San Diego

• Monthly cost of necessities: $8,394
• Average home value: $1,116,601

San Jose

• Monthly cost of necessities: $10,772
• Average home value: $1,498,721

San Francisco

• Monthly cost of necessities: $10,304
• Average home value: $1,396,086

Fresno

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,256
• Average home value: $394,030

Denver

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,272
• Average home value: $573,331

Colorado Springs

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,441
• Average home value: $454,408

Aurora

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,792
• Average home value: $482,211

Fort Collins

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,143
• Average home value: $578,964

Lakewood

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,374
• Average home value: $591,493

Bridgeport

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,703
• Average home value: $390,222

Stamford

• Monthly cost of necessities: $7,159
• Average home value: $851,542

New Haven

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,237
• Average home value: $337,469

Hartford

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,785
• Average home value: $266,219

Waterbury

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,932
• Average home value: $291,562

Wilmington

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,976
• Average home value: $333,117

Dover

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,919
• Average home value: $336,541

Newark

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,185
• Average home value: $364,759

Middletown

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,202
• Average home value: $527,248

Bear

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,481
• Average home value: $411,613

Jacksonville

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,688
• Average home value: $293,132

Miami

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,929
• Average home value: $650,331

Tampa

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,263
• Average home value: $385,312

Orlando

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,347
• Average home value: $399,023

St. Petersburg

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,142
• Average home value: $368,188

Atlanta

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,600
• Average home value: $438,063

Columbus

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,852
• Average home value: $168,293

Augusta

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,897
• Average home value: $173,490

Macon

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,884
• Average home value: $166,753

Savannah

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,789
• Average home value: $329,377

Honolulu

• Monthly cost of necessities: $9,573
• Average home value: $1,241,149

Hilo

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,640
• Average home value: $549,501

Pearl

• Monthly cost of necessities: $8,107
• Average home value: $963,375

Waipahu

• Monthly cost of necessities: $7,883
• Average home value: $915,097

Kailua

• Monthly cost of necessities: $11,226
• Average home value: $1,550,534

Boise

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,616
• Average home value: $492,678

Meridian

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,842
• Average home value: $527,354

Nampa

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,143
• Average home value: $406,207

Idaho Falls

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,993
• Average home value: $386,396

Caldwell

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,048
• Average home value: $389,194

Chicago

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,892
• Average home value: $307,130

Aurora

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,745
• Average home value: $320,950

Joliet

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,432
• Average home value: $259,460

Naperville

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,673
• Average home value: $627,686

Rockford

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,874
• Average home value: $168,776

Indianapolis

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,208
• Average home value: $230,717

Fort Wayne

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,150
• Average home value: $235,850

Evansville

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,933
• Average home value: $192,732

South Bend

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,787
• Average home value: $179,910

Fishers

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,496
• Average home value: $449,724

Des Moines

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,016
• Average home value: $206,555

Cedar Rapids

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,063
• Average home value: $213,140

Davenport

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,942
• Average home value: $186,846 

Sioux City

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,883
• Average home value: $194,112

Iowa City

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,682
• Average home value: $324,044

Witchita

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,057
• Average home value: $197,911

Overland Park

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,603
• Average home value: $468,436

Kansas City

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,036
• Average home value: $192,389

Olathe

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,307
• Average home value: $415,949

Topeka

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,005
• Average home value: $191,467

Louisville

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,417
• Average home value: $258,778

Lexington

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,719
• Average home value: $323,849

Bowling Green

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,511
• Average home value: $282,300

Owensboro

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,086
• Average home value: $204,024

Covington

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,166
• Average home value: $209,472

New Orleans

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,474
• Average home value: $233,990

Baton Rouge

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,415
• Average home value: $233,695

Shreveport

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,627
• Average home value: $132,552

Metairie

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,889
• Average home value: $323,401

Lafayette

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,278
• Average home value: $220,288

Portland

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,091
• Average home value: $567,247

Lewiston

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,551
• Average home value: $292,255

Bangor

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,495
• Average home value: $283,975

South Portland

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,813
• Average home value: $518,537

Auburn

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,713
• Average home value: $320,484

Baltimore

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,145
• Average home value: $184,102

Columbia

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,117
• Average home value: $539,272

Germantown

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,831
• Average home value: $463,149

Waldorf

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,587
• Average home value: $436,807

Silver Spring

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,606
• Average home value: $588,706

Boston

• Monthly cost of necessities: $6,848
• Average home value: $813,175

Worcester

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,542
• Average home value: $442,710

Springfield

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,684
• Average home value: $293,788

Cambridge

• Monthly cost of necessities: $11,586
• Average home value: $1,697,416

Lowell

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,083
• Average home value: $530,782

Detroit

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,709
• Average home value: $74,194

Grand Rapids

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,504
• Average home value: $289,806

Warren

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,246
• Average home value: $204,666

Sterling Heights

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,833
• Average home value: $310,289

Ann Arbor

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,037
• Average home value: $550,459

Minneapolis

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,924 
• Average home value: $344,310

Saint Paul

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,635
• Average home value: $293,716

Rochester

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,761
• Average home value: $339,605

Bloomington

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,047
• Average home value: $372,395

Duluth

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,376
• Average home value: $283,106

Jackson

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,323
• Average home value: $76,785

Gulfport

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,009
• Average home value: $196,016

Southaven

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,446
• Average home value: $272,204

Biloxi

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,179
• Average home value: $229,299

Hattiesburg

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,081
• Average home value: $215,590

Kansas City

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,333
• Average home value: $244,774

St. Louis

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,956
• Average home value: $180,248

Springfield

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,216
• Average home value: $236,627

Columbia

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,789
• Average home value: $320,918

Independence

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,125
• Average home value: $202,505

Billings

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,067
• Average home value: $395,195

Missoula

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,028
• Average home value: $563,436

Great Falls

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,704
• Average home value: $328,373

Bozeman

• Monthly cost of necessities: $6,299
• Average home value: $793,534

Butte

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,378
• Average home value: $276,169

Omaha

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,622
• Average home value: $287,618

Lincoln

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,659
• Average home value: $284,353

Bellevue

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,653
• Average home value: $289,454

Grand Island

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,436
• Average home value: $252,199

Kearney

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,760
• Average home value: $306,618

Las Vegas

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,685
• Average home value: $449,477

Henderson

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,960
• Average home value: $504,868

North Las Vegas

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,472
• Average home value: $410,151

Reno

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,162
• Average home value: $573,122

Sparks

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,909
• Average home value: $523,764

Manchester

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,514
• Average home value: $450,509

Nashua

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,960
• Average home value: $527,027

Concord

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,509
• Average home value: $468,158

Dover

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,078
• Average home value: $560,321

Rochester

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,227
• Average home value: $404,773

Newark

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,157
• Average home value: $492,545

Jersey City

• Monthly cost of necessities: $6,031
• Average home value: $649,533

Paterson

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,263
• Average home value: $530,242

Elizabeth

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,363
• Average home value: $546,837

Toms River

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,608
• Average home value: $458,519

Albuquerque

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,739
• Average home value: $339,798

Las Cruces

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,410
• Average home value: $290,892

Rio Rancho

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,891
• Average home value: $355,321

Santa Fe

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,178
• Average home value: $599,595

Roswell

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,670
• Average home value: $169,323

New York

• Monthly cost of necessities: $7,608
• Average home value: $842,447

Buffalo

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,453
• Average home value: $237,886

Rochester

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,346
• Average home value: $228,398

Yonkers

• Monthly cost of necessities: $6,679
• Average home value: $737,503

Syracuse

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,261
• Average home value: $208,015

Charlotte

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,242
• Average home value: $403,512

Raleigh

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,412
• Average home value: $441,660

Greensboro

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,324
• Average home value: $266,499

Durham

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,175
• Average home value: $401,111

Winston-Salem

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,321
• Average home value: $262,782

Fargo

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,648
• Average home value: $320,554

Bismarck

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,965
• Average home value: $382,839

Grand Forks

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,498
• Average home value: $290,266

Minot

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,427
• Average home value: $277,166

West Fargo

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,838
• Average home value: $351,951

Columbus

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,410
• Average home value: $264,043

Cleveland

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,477
• Average home value: $110,247

Cincinnati

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,321
• Average home value: $248,234

Toledo

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,550
• Average home value: $125,179

Akron

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,555
• Average home value: $133,053

Oklahoma City

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,146
• Average home value: $204,451

Tulsa

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,167
• Average home value: $216,955

Norman

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,497
• Average home value: $264,242

Broken Arrow

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,567
• Average home value: $283,065

Edmond

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,989
• Average home value: $350,864

Portland

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,163
• Average home value: $545,707

Eugene

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,532
• Average home value: $472,026

Salem

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,315
• Average home value: $433,706

Gresham

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,617
• Average home value: $471,995

Hillsboro

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,025
• Average home value: $528,865

Philadelphia

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,568
• Average home value: $222,249

Pittsburgh

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,346
• Average home value: $232,841

Allentown

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,803
• Average home value: $306,940

Reading

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,549
• Average home value: $258,363

Erie

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,932
• Average home value: $192,809

Providence

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,483
• Average home value: $423,314

Warwick

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,366
• Average home value: $409,066

Cranston

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,499
• Average home value: $430,655

Pawtucket

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,312
• Average home value: $393,436

East Providence

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,504
• Average home value: $432,845

Charleston

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,333
• Average home value: $597,623

Columbia

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,267
• Average home value: $228,290

North Carleston

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,685
• Average home value: $310,463

Mount Pleasant

• Monthly cost of necessities: $7,102
• Average home value: $914,866

Rock Hill

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,786
• Average home value: $325,902

Sioux Falls

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,732
• Average home value: $330,456

Rapid City

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,079
• Average home value: $355,234

Aberdeen

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,091
• Average home value: $233,489

Brookings

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,560
• Average home value: $308,084

Watertown

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,530
• Average home value: $300,252

Nashville

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,527
• Average home value: $446,600

Memphis

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,738
• Average home value: $141,974

Knoxville

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,931
• Average home value: $366,172

Chattanooga

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,655
• Average home value: $314,885

Clarksville

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,699
• Average home value: $317,561

Houston

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,591
• Average home value: $267,905

San Antonio

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,340
• Average home value: $248,888

Dallas

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,891
• Average home value: $317,451

Austin

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,995
• Average home value: $523,951

Fort Worth

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,747
• Average home value: $294,318

Salt Lake City

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,280
• Average home value: $595,505

West Valley City

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,609
• Average home value: $470,310

West Jordan

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,124
• Average home value: $559,621

Provo

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,770
• Average home value: $512,763

Saint George

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,879
• Average home value: $535,912

Burlington

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,228
• Average home value: $541,374

South Burlington

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,360
• Average home value: $569,761

Rutland

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,587
• Average home value: $270,492

Essex

• Monthly cost of necessities: $5,097
• Average home value: $509,480

Bennington

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,418
• Average home value: $244,283

Virginia Beach

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,438
• Average home value: $423,527

Chesapeake

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,433
• Average home value: $422,502

Arlington

• Monthly cost of necessities: $8,323
• Average home value: $1,090,187

Norfolk

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,656
• Average home value: $305,713

Richmond

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,975
• Average home value: $361,474

Seattle

• Monthly cost of necessities: $7,230
• Average home value: $915,171

Spokane

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,028
• Average home value: $392,455

Tacoma

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,699
• Average home value: $487,089

Vancouver

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,881
• Average home value: $507,119

Bellevue

• Monthly cost of necessities: $11,456
• Average home value: $1,682,661

Charleston

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,005
• Average home value: $162,120

Huntington

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,816
• Average home value: $137,143

Morgantown

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,536
• Average home value: $275,076

Parkersburg

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,739
• Average home value: $145,184

Wheeling

• Monthly cost of necessities: $2,742
• Average home value: $144,527

Milwaukee

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,215
• Average home value: $217,306

Madison

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,483
• Average home value: $451,512

Green Bay

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,352
• Average home value: $270,833

Kenosha

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,444
• Average home value: $265,884

Racine

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,086
• Average home value: $202,841

Cheyenne

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,196
• Average home value: $379,876

Casper

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,858
• Average home value: $306,198

Gillette

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,960
• Average home value: $333,698

Laramie

• Monthly cost of necessities: $4,169
• Average home value: $374,074

Rock Springs

• Monthly cost of necessities: $3,681
• Average home value: $289,646

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the five largest cities by population in each state. Using the US Census 2023 5-year American Community Survey, the total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, and median household income were all sourced and identified. For each city the cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and using the national average expenditure costs for all households, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for all consumer units, the average expenditure cost can be calculated for each city. The average single family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage cost can be calculated for each city. Using the average mortgage and expenditure cost, the total cost of living for necessities can be calculated. Using the 50/30/20 finance rule that states that needs should not exceed 50% of household income, the total cost of living for necessities was doubled to find the comfortable cost of living for each place. The states were sorted alphabetically and the cities in each state were sorted to show the largest population first. The data is up to date as of Nov. 17, 2025.