For an example as to just how hyper-concentrated wealth has become in America, consider the following: You could count on one hand the number of states where the 30 most expensive cities in the country are jammed together — even if you were missing a finger. Just four states play host to all 30 of America’s priciest ZIP codes, which is striking, considering how many states have metro areas where the cost of living is high.
Read: Richest ZIP Codes in Every State
Living in America: Salary You Need in 50 Cities
Using data from Sperling’s Best Places, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Zillow, GOBankingRates identified and ranked the 30 most expensive cities in America in ascending order from least expensive to most. The rankings are based on the big recurring expenses like housing, groceries, utilities, healthcare and transportation.
In these cities, the average home value is well into the millions even at the bottom of the list. The tab for a year’s worth of expenditures is more than a quarter-million dollars in every single metro. Here are the ZIP codes where all but the wealthiest will never call home.
30. Clyde Hill, Washington
- Overall cost-of-living index: 418.3
- Annual expenditures: $263,680
- Monthly expenditures: $21,973
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,395
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $450
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $4,424
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $369
- Annual utilities expenditure: $2,871
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $239
- Annual transportation expenditure: $7,038
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $586
- January 2021 home value: $3,073,159
- 20% down payment on a house: $614,632
29. Sands Point, New York
- Overall cost-of-living index: 426.5
- Annual expenditures: $268,849
- Monthly expenditures: $22,404
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,288
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $441
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,801
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $483
- Annual utilities expenditure: $5,069
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $422
- Annual transportation expenditure: $10,290
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $857
- January 2021 home value: $2,452,385
- 20% down payment on a house: $490,477
Find Out: How Long $1 Million in Savings Will Last in Every State
28. Ross, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 431.3
- Annual expenditures: $271,874
- Monthly expenditures: $22,656
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,595
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $466
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,297
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $441
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,982
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $332
- Annual transportation expenditure: $7,194
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $599
- January 2021 home value: $3,451,124
- 20% down payment on a house: $690,225
27. Bridgehampton, New York
- Overall cost-of-living index: 432.9
- Annual expenditures: $272,883
- Monthly expenditures: $22,740
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,808
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $5,808
- Annual healthcare expenditure: 110.9
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $5,759
- Annual utilities expenditure: $5,016
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $418
- Annual transportation expenditure: $6,002
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $500
- January 2021 home value: $3,154,220
- 20% down payment on a house: $630,844
26. Saratoga, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 437.9
- Annual expenditures: $276,035
- Monthly expenditures: $23,003
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,776
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $481
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,219
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $435
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,812
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $318
- Annual transportation expenditure: $8,246
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $687
- January 2021 home value: $3,077,931
- 20% down payment on a house: $615,586
25. Yarrow Point, Washington
- Overall cost-of-living index: 443.1
- Annual expenditures: $279,313
- Monthly expenditures: $23,276
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,395
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $450
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $4,424
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $369
- Annual utilities expenditure: $2,871
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $239
- Annual transportation expenditure: $7,784
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $649
- January 2021 home value: $3,197,601
- 20% down payment on a house: $639,520
24. Medina, Washington
- Overall cost-of-living index: 446
- Annual expenditures: $281,141
- Monthly expenditures: $23,428
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,669
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $472
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $4,424
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $369
- Annual utilities expenditure: $2,830
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $236
- Annual transportation expenditure: $7,066
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $589
- January 2021 home value: $3,241,327
- 20% down payment on a house: $648,265
Find Out: The 50 Best Places To Buy a Home for Under $250,000
23. Belleair Shores, Florida
- Overall cost-of-living index: 457
- Annual expenditures: $288,075
- Monthly expenditures: $24,006
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,288
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $441
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,266
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $439
- Annual utilities expenditure: $4,242
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $353
- Annual transportation expenditure: $5,512
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $459
- January 2021 home value: $4,373,522
- 20% down payment on a house: $874,704
22. Stanford, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 463.1
- Annual expenditures: $291,920
- Monthly expenditures: $24,327
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,841
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $487
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,219
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $435
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,645
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $304
- Annual transportation expenditure: $6,927
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $577
- January 2021 home value: $3,538,964
- 20% down payment on a house: $707,793
Read: This Is the Salary You Need To Afford the Average Home in Your State
21. Fisher Island, Florida
- Overall cost-of-living index: 469.9
- Annual expenditures: $296,206
- Monthly expenditures: $24,684
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,901
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $492
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,131
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $428
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,901
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $325
- Annual transportation expenditure: $8,163
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $680
- January 2021 home value: $3,234,935
- 20% down payment on a house: $646,987
See: Houses Are Selling the Fastest in These 10 Real Estate Markets
20. Palo Alto, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 471
- Annual expenditures: $296,900
- Monthly expenditures: $24,742
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,776
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $481
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,219
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $435
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,645
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $304
- Annual transportation expenditure: $7,829
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $652
- January 2021 home value: $3,268,097
- 20% down payment on a house: $653,619
Find Out: 50 Most Expensive Small Towns in America
19. Woodside, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 480
- Annual expenditures: $302,573
- Monthly expenditures: $25,214
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,646
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $470
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,531
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $461
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,722
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $310
- Annual transportation expenditure: $7,923
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $660
- January 2021 home value: $3,633,117
- 20% down payment on a house: $726,623
18. Malibu, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 483.9
- Annual expenditures: $305,031
- Monthly expenditures: $25,419
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,488
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $457
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $4,643
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $387
- Annual utilities expenditure: $4,152
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $346
- Annual transportation expenditure: $9,321
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $777
- January 2021 home value: $3,855,113
- 20% down payment on a house: $771,023
Read: What Homes Will Be Worth in Your State by the End of 2021
17. Montecito, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 486.1
- Annual expenditures: $306,418
- Monthly expenditures: $25,535
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,599
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $467
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $4,990
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $416
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,637
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $303
- Annual transportation expenditure: $5,613
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $468
- January 2021 home value: $3,794,905
- 20% down payment on a house: $758,981
Find Out: Houses in These 29 Cities Are Suddenly Major Bargains
16. Monte Sereno, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 502.2
- Annual expenditures: $316,567
- Monthly expenditures: $26,381
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,753
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $479
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,219
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $435
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,816
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $318
- Annual transportation expenditure: $8,274
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $690
- January 2021 home value: $3,392,578
- 20% down payment on a house: $678,516
15. Los Altos, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 502.9
- Annual expenditures: $317,008
- Monthly expenditures: $26,417
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,892
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $491
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,219
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $435
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,731
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $311
- Annual transportation expenditure: $7,778
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $648
- January 2021 home value: $3,473,751
- 20% down payment on a house: $694,750
Read: The Cheapest Neighborhoods in the 50 Biggest US Cities
14. Hunts Point, Washington
- Overall cost-of-living index: 503.7
- Annual expenditures: $317,512
- Monthly expenditures: $26,459
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,395
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $450
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $4,424
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $369
- Annual utilities expenditure: $2,871
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $239
- Annual transportation expenditure: $7,784
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $649
- January 2021 home value: $6,257,427
- 20% down payment on a house: $1,251,485
13. Hidden Hills, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 513.7
- Annual expenditures: $323,816
- Monthly expenditures: $26,985
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,103
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $425
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $4,643
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $387
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,901
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $325
- Annual transportation expenditure: $9,120
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $760
- January 2021 home value: $3,824,541
- 20% down payment on a house: $764,908
12. Amagansett, New York
- Overall cost-of-living index: 515.3
- Annual expenditures: $324,825
- Monthly expenditures: $27,069
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,873
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $489
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,759
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $480
- Annual utilities expenditure: $5,085
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $424
- Annual transportation expenditure: $6,186
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $516
- January 2021 home value: $3,092,966
- 20% down payment on a house: $618,593
More: In Less Than a Decade, You Won’t Be Able To Afford a Home in These Cities
11. Rolling Hills, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 521.9
- Annual expenditures: $328,985
- Monthly expenditures: $27,415
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,242
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $437
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $4,643
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $387
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,901
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $325
- Annual transportation expenditure: $9,694
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $808
- January 2021 home value: $3,403,291
- 20% down payment on a house: $680,658
Read: How the Coronavirus Pandemic Is Affecting Renters vs. Homeowners
10. Water Mill, New York
- Overall cost-of-living index: 529.4
- Annual expenditures: $333,713
- Monthly expenditures: $27,809
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,897
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $491
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,759
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $480
- Annual utilities expenditure: $5,085
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $424
- Annual transportation expenditure: $5,484
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $457
- January 2021 home value: $3,286,521
- 20% down payment on a house: $657,304
9. Beverly Hills, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 546.2
- Annual expenditures: $344,303
- Monthly expenditures: $28,692
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,553
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $463
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $4,643
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $387
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,455
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $288
- Annual transportation expenditure: $8,725
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $727
- January 2021 home value: $5,322,330
- 20% down payment on a house: $1,064,466
8. Belvedere, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 548.7
- Annual expenditures: $345,879
- Monthly expenditures: $28,823
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,725
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $477
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,297
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $441
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,893
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $324
- Annual transportation expenditure: $7,472
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $623
- January 2021 home value: $4,256,423
- 20% down payment on a house: $851,285
7. Stinson Beach, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 565.2
- Annual expenditures: $356,279
- Monthly expenditures: $29,690
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,734
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $478
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,297
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $441
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,982
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $332
- Annual transportation expenditure: $6,932
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $578
- January 2021 home value: $3,926,149
- 20% down payment on a house: $785,230
Read: Best Places To Own a Home For Less Than $1,000 a Month
6. Wainscott, New York
- Overall cost-of-living index: 609.8
- Annual expenditures: $384,394
- Monthly expenditures: $32,033
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,822
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $485
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,759
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $480
- Annual utilities expenditure: $5,016
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $418
- Annual transportation expenditure: $6,002
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $500
- January 2021 home value: $2,574,167
- 20% down payment on a house: $514,833
5. Portola Valley, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 624.2
- Annual expenditures: $393,471
- Monthly expenditures: $32,789
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,920
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $493
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,531
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $461
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,966
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $330
- Annual transportation expenditure: $8,140
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $678
- January 2021 home value: $4,099,387
- 20% down payment on a house: $819,877
4. Hillsborough, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 650.6
- Annual expenditures: $410,112
- Monthly expenditures: $34,176
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,739
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $478
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,531
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $461
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,722
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $310
- Annual transportation expenditure: $8,146
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $679
- January 2021 home value: $4,591,538
- 20% down payment on a house: $918,308
More: Places Where Your Retirement Will Cost Less Than $50,000 a Year
3. Los Altos Hills, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 667.9
- Annual expenditures: $421,017
- Monthly expenditures: $35,085
- Annual grocery expenditure: $5,924
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $494
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,219
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $435
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,816
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $318
- Annual transportation expenditure: $8,057
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $671
- January 2021 home value: $4,659,089
- 20% down payment on a house: $931,818
Read: What the Average Home Price Today Could Buy the Year You Were Born
2. Jupiter Island, Florida
- Overall cost-of-living index: 757.9
- Annual expenditures: $477,750
- Monthly expenditures: $39,812
- Annual grocery expenditure: $4,987
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $416
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,209
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $434
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,885
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $324
- Annual transportation expenditure: $5,150
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $429
- January 2021 home value: $5,240,492
- 20% down payment on a house: $1,048,098
1. Atherton, California
- Overall cost-of-living index: 913.5
- Annual expenditures: $575,834
- Monthly expenditures: $47,986
- Annual grocery expenditure: $6,203
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $517
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,531
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $461
- Annual utilities expenditure: $3,982
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $332
- Annual transportation expenditure: $7,645
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $637
- January 2021 home value: $6,579,356
- 20% down payment on a house: $1,315,871
Find Out: 17 Dumb Home-Buying Mistakes That Hurt Your Wallet
United States
- Annual expenditures: $63,036
- Monthly expenditures: $5,253
- Annual grocery expenditure: $4,643
- Monthly grocery expenditure: $387
- Annual healthcare expenditure: $5,193
- Monthly healthcare expenditure: $433
- Annual utilities expenditure: $4,055
- Monthly utilities expenditure: $338
- Annual transportation expenditure: $5,568
- Monthly transportation expenditure: $464
- January 2021 home value: N/A
- 20% down payment on a house: N/A
More From GOBankingRates
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates looked at the 30 most expensive cities in terms of (1) total cost of living index as sourced from Sperling’s Best Places. GOBankingRates then used their cost-of-living index scores and the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2019 Consumer Expenditure Survey data on national spending habits to determine each city’s (2) annual total expenditures as well as their (3) monthly total expenditures. Using the same method, GOBankingRates found each city’s: (4) annual and monthly grocery expenditure; (5) annual and monthly healthcare expenditure; (6) annual and monthly utilities expenditures; and (6) annual and monthly transportation expenditures. GOBankingRates also found each city’s (7) January 2021 home value and (8) cost of a 20% down payment from Zillow as supplemental data. All data were collected on and up to date as of March 15, 2021.