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. 

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.

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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.