20 US Cities With Livability Scores Above 85: How Much Does It Cost To Live in Each?

The high cost of living in the U.S. is a serious problem, and depending on where you’re located, you may bear the brunt more intensely than people in other cities. It’s troubling and makes you wonder whether you’re getting the quality of life you deserve for the money you pay.

Here’s where “livability” comes into play. Livability is, according to Partners for Livable Communities, “the sum of the factors that add up to a community’s quality of life — including the built and natural environments, economic prosperity, social stability and equity, educational opportunity, and cultural, entertainment and recreation possibilities.”

With all that in mind, we must ask, “Which are the most livable cities, and how much does it cost to live in each?” 

In a new study, GOBankingRates analyzed 20 cities with a livability of 85 or higher to find the cost of living in each place. First GOBankingRates found cities with a livability of 85 or higher as sourced from AreaVibes, and then sourced other data to find household median income, average monthly mortgage cost, average monthly expenditure cost and total cost of living monthly. To qualify for this study each city had to have all data available and have a population of at least 100,000. 

Here’s what we found.

• Household median income: $114,910  
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $7,086  
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,449  
• Total cost of living monthly: $9,535 

Livability score: 85

• Household median income: $64,044 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,754 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,188  
• Total cost of living monthly: $4,942 

Livability score: 85

• Household median income: $57,943 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,938 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,018 
• Total cost of living monthly: $4,956   

Livability score: 85

• Household median income: $52,899 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,777 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,065 
• Total cost of living monthly: $3,841  

Livability score: 85

• Household median income: $71,156 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,182 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,104 
• Total cost of living monthly: $4,286   

Livability score: 85

• Household median income: $72,070 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,737 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,065 
• Total cost of living monthly: $3,802 

Livability score: 85

• Household median income: $71,921 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,168 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,940 
• Total cost of living monthly: $4,108 

Livability score: 85

• Household median income: $106,014 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,733 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,061 
• Total cost of living monthly: $5,795 

Livability score: 85

• Household median income: $66,483  
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,411 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,822 
• Total cost of living monthly: $4,233 

Livability score: 85

• Household median income: $71,785 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,927 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,853 
• Total cost of living monthly: $3,780 

Livability score: 85

• Household median income: $121,539 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $10,498 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,576 
• Total cost of living monthly: $13,074 

Livability score: 86

• Household median income: $70,333 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,360 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,058 
• Total cost of living monthly: $4,419 

Livability score: 86

• Household median income: $137,387 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $5,973 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,244 
• Total cost of living monthly: $8,217 

Livability score: 86

• Household median income: $149,551 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $9,905 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,104 
• Total cost of living monthly: $12,009 

Livability score: 87

• Household median income: $66,087 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,815 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,883 
• Total cost of living monthly: $3,699 

Livability score: 87

• Household median income: $98,891 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,250 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,062 
• Total cost of living monthly: $5,312 

Livability score: 88

• Household median income: $78,546 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,273 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,948 
• Total cost of living monthly: $5,221 

Livability score: 89

• Household median income: $115,179 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,437 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,076 
• Total cost of living monthly: $5,513 

Livability score: 89

• Household median income: $125,317 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,765 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,915 
• Total cost of living monthly: $5,681 

Livability score: 90

In Maine, the minimum cash wage payment is $13.80 per hour. For tipped employees who earn

• Household median income: $83,973 
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,957 
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,829 
• Total cost of living monthly: $3,786 

Livability score: 92

Methodology. For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities with a livability of 75 or higher to find the cost of living in each place. First GOBankingRates found cities with a livability of 75 or higher as sourced from AreaVibes. To qualify for this study each city had to have all data available and have a population of at least 100,000. For each city a number of factors were found including; total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, household median income all sourced from the US Census American Community Survey, the cost of living indexes as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces, and the average single family home value from June 2024 as sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. Using the cost of living indexes and using the national average expenditure cost for all residents, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each city can be calculated. Using the average single family home value, assuming a 10% downpayment, 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. Using the average mortgage and average expenditure costs, the total cost of living can be calculated. The livability index was scored, the household median income was scored, the average expenditure cost was scored, and the average mortgage cost was scored. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the best cities with lower cost of living and with a livability of at least 75. All data was collected on and is up to date as of July 23rd, 2024.