How Much Housing & Other Living Costs Have Soared in Major Cities Over the Past Decade

If it feels like you’re spending significantly more on all of your living costs than you were 10 years ago, that’s because you are. On average across the U.S., the average annual spending on housing has increased by 48% from 2013 to 2023, while the average annual spending on transportation has increased by 41% and spending on food has increased by 47%, according to a recent Zoocasa study.

Although we often think that housing costs are the category that has skyrocketed the most — particularly in major cities — this isn’t necessarily the case. The study found that in 12 out of 17 major metropolitan areas, food expenditures increased more than housing and transportation. Housing expenditures experienced the largest increase of the three categories in just four of the major metropolitan areas analyzed.

Here’s a closer look at how much the average annual spending on housing, transportation and food has increased in 17 major cities across the U.S. from 2013 to 2023.

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 60.8%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 55.1%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 62.5%

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 40.2%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 49.8%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 65.2%

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 43.7%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 17%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 40.3%

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 33.2%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 19%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 48%

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 33.4%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 8.9%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 21.7%

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 43.2%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 34.2%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 24.2%

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 18.9%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 36.1%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 89.3%

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 46.4%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 70.5%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 60.9%

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 64.5%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 119.4%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 44.1%

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 35.3%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 12.4%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 41.7%

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 39%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 55.9%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 56.2%

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 45.6%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 40.1%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 58.1%

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 67.7%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 66%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 40.4%

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 45.3%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 38.7%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 66.6%

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 64.1%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 69.4%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 73.4%

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 54.3%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 34%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 59.8%

• 10-year % change in average annual spending on housing: 19.4%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on transportation: 1.5%
• 10-year % change in average annual spending on food: 49.9%