There’s much to say for a city’s bustle. There is an explanation for why several Americans keep moving to cities, whether it’s because of the employment prospects or the close proximity to stores, eateries, and other attractions.
Have you ever considered the cost of residing in such cities? In that case, you’re in luck since we did some research and have compiled a list of the ten most expensive cities in the U.S. This will assist you in deciding if city life is actually for you. Let’s begin!
Top 10 Most Expensive Cities in the US
Here’s the list of the most expensive cities to live in America.Â
1. Manhattan, New York
Immigrants came to Manhattan in the 19th century, spurred on by the false notion that the city’s streets were made of gold. Even today, the city continues to draw large numbers of people who want to succeed big but discovered that their relatively low earnings cannot cover the excessive costs of living in the Big Apple.Â
As the best and the most expensive American city, Manhattan, a borough of New York City, tops this list. Even if this city’s costs are high across the board, the property market is what actually drives up prices for individuals. Homes in Manhattan cost 6.5 times as much to buy as the typical American home.
2. Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, one of the most costly cities in America, is endowed with a lovely oceanfront and pleasant weather all year round. This city may have a carefree way of life and amazing beaches, but its costs are more of a nightmare.
Here, the cost of living is 82% more than elsewhere in the U.S.. Locals spend 94% more on electricity than the typical American citizen. Honolulu housing is expensive because of the high cost of home purchases rather than high rents.
3. San Francisco, California
Despite having unusually high salaries, San Franciscans have to also pay excessive living expenses. Due to the strength of the city’s businesses, particularly tourism, technology, and financial services, San Francisco’s poverty, as well as rates of unemployment, are less than the national average.
Every day, people decide to move away from San Francisco. It comes as no surprise given the city’s exorbitant cost of living as well as out-of-reach house prices, which have been proven to cause financial hardship.
4. Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles is a pretty expensive city to reside in due to the strong demand. This is one of the few American cities where there are more tenants than homeowners.
Los Angeles, which is the second-largest city in the United States, has many diverse attractions while being known across the world as the city of Hollywood and Beverly Hills. With distinct personalities such as swanky or bohemian, it comprises of diverse communities.
5. Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. has transformed into a bustling metropolis with many full-time residents, despite the fact that many people who work there used to withdraw to the suburbs after work. This city draws a younger crowd of talented people due to the plethora of opportunities in the government and commercial sectors.
In comparison to the rest of the nation, Washington, D.C.’s cost of living is around 60% more. Homes are in scarce supply, and due to congressionally imposed height restrictions, apartments are expensive.
6. San Diego, California
San Diego, which was founded in 1769, is renowned for its mild temperature and beaches surrounded with palm trees. Even if relaxing in the sun isn’t your thing, there are much plenty of shopping malls, museums, and other places to go out and have fun.
A few of the most expensive neighborhoods of San Diego are North City, La Jolla, Carmel Canyon, Ashley Falls, Torrey Pines, and Rancho Sante Fe. In San Diego, homeowners stay in their properties for an average of 12 years before handing them on to their grown-up children.
7. Seattle, Washington
Seattle, located in the Pacific Northwest, is famed for its iconic structures including the Pike Place Market, the Space Needle and Starbucks. The Coffee Capital of the World and the Rain City are other names for this Emerald City.
Large firms like Amazon and Microsoft have called this city home. The city strikes an ideal mix of all the things that people look for in a metropolis. The median monthly rent in Seattle is around 2.7 times more than the average nationwide.
8. Boston, Massachusetts
 Boston is a vibrant city with colorful personalities and is noted for its historical origins, top-tier universities, and often ridiculed accent. Sports are way of life for Bostonians.
The cost of housing is highest in Boston, Massachusetts, compared to other East Coast cities. Despite this, the city’s typical monthly rent in quite expensive – 3.6 times what the average American pays. Boston residents who rent houses thereby spend 69% of their household earnings only to provide a roof over their heads.
9. Oakland, California
San Francisco is only a short drive away from Oakland, which is also pretty close to San Jose. Many big corps call this city home such as Sutter Health, Southwest Airlines, Kaiser Permanente and Pandora. Oakland is an environmentally and socially aware city. The city motivates people to support small businesses, sustainability initiatives and urban farming.
A large percentage of newly constructed flats in Oakland feature gym areas, panoramic views, fire pits and luxury finishes. Among Oakland’s costly neighborhoods are Crocker Highland, Upper Rockridge and Piedmont featuring large mansions.
10. Arlington, Virginia
Arlington is another city that commuters to the nation’s capital for work prefer. It is based across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Even though D.C. is just a few miles away, homeowners may reach in 45 minutes if traveling via public transport.
The public schools in Arlington rank high nationally. Arlington’s residents are very educated and wealthy. Arlington ranks among the safest places in the U.S., with low rate of unemployment and a highly skilled workforce.
The Bottom Line
It is easy to see the allure of these topmost expensive cities given the rising population, jobs, and economies. From Manhattan to Arlington, we have covered it all. In case you are thinking about settling down in these cities, make sure to take practical and monetary aspects into account. This will help you make the correct decision.
