The Cost of Living vs Median Income in America

The Cost of Living in America DExperian Data Quality It's not just you - lots of people are struggling to make ends meet in America. And it's not just because of debt. The cost of living in America is remarkably high in many of its major cities, especially when compared to the median income of its citizens. This infographic takes the cost of groceries, housing, utilities, and more in cities across the 50 states and compares them to the national average. It also compares median income in many cities to the national average of $53,046. How to read the data The "Cost of Living Index" is designed to measure differences in the prices of consumer goods and services (excluding taxes) across regions. Nationwide, the average is 100. Each index is read as a percentage of the national average. A Breakdown of the Average Cost of Living and Median Income in the US 195.1 190.1 185.1 | 180.1 | 175.1 | 170.1 | 165.1 160.1 155.1 | 150.1| 145.1 For example, the cost of living index in Sacramento, CA, is 116.2%, which means it costs about 16.2% more to live in Sacramento > 200.1 200.0 195.0 190.0 185.0 140.1 135.1 130.1 125.1 120.1 115.1 | 110.1 105.1 97.5 | 95.0 92.5 90.0 87.5 85.0 than in the rest of the US. 180.0 175.0 170.0 165.0 160.0 155.0 150.0 145.0 140.0 135.0 130.0 125.0 120.0 115.0 82.5 80.0 77.5 75.0 72.5 70.0 The housing percentage for the US is 29%, which means that the average American spends about a third of their income on housing. In Juneau, AK, housing is 35.1% more expensive than it is elsewhere in the US. 110.0 105.0 97.4 94.9 92.4 89.9 87.4 Cost of Living index (%) 84.9 82.4 79.9 77.4 74.9 72.4 <70.0 100.0 Grocery Items (%) The index assumes a "mid-management standard of living." This data does not take inflation into account. It is for a single point in time. 13.0 Housing (%) 29.0 Utilities (%) 10.0 Transportation (%) 12.0 Health Care (%) 4.0 Median Income (% of $53,046) Goods & Services (%) 32.0 Median Income $53,046 C Groceries MOST EXPENSIVE Honolulu, HI 60.1% above average 93.8% $49,771 LEAST EXPENSIVE Louisville, KY 18.4% below average 84.6% $44,896 WYOMING Median Income [$] WISCONSIN STATE WEST VIRGINIA Housing MOST EXPENSIVE New York, NY (Brooklyn) above average WASHINGTON 217.8% 59.4% $31,505 68.5% $36,314 ALABAMA 142.5% $75,604 93.8% $49,753 $42,846 80.8% $53,946 CITY LEAST EXPENSIVE VIRGINIA Tulsa, OK $45,010 84.9% 33.5% below average 101.7% 93.3% $49,497 ALASKA VERMONT SY Utilities DO Cost of Living Index (%) ARIZONA MOST EXPENSIVE 94.8% $50,313 UTAH Fairbanks, AK 93.1% above average Grocery Items (%) 101.2% $53,687 Flagstaff Little Rock (North Little Rock) (Nashville) $46,686 88.0% $51,672 97.4% $36,912 69.6% LEAST EXPENSIVE Housing (%) Bismarck- Mandan, ND below average 29.9% Hot Springs $38,064 71.8% Utilities (%) Fayetteville Salt Lake City 96.5 Transportation Sacramento 100.6 92.2 65.3% $34,633 Houston 93.8 Transportation (%) MOST EXPENSIVE Los Angeles Dallas 91.9 92.1 Honolulu, HI 92.9 26.2% above average (Long Beach) San Francisco 149.3 108.0 100.1 85.1 96.2 116.2 CE Health Care (%) 97.3 Austin 55.5% $29,430 92.2 86.7 $39.429 74.3% 91.9 95.3 144.7% $76,779 92.5 Memphis LEAST EXPENSIVE 136.4 Goods & Services (%) 85.3 104.1 95.5 70.6% $37,428 Muskogee, OK 114.7 Denver Glenwood Springs 19.2% below average 164.0 77.3 105.5 100.0 99.5 Chattanooga 82.0 95.7 99.8 106.0 207.1 101.7 88.2 $36,293 68.4% 135.7 72.5 70.7 89.3 103.2 102.9 98.8 102.1 99.9 97.7 Nashville-Franklin 111.9 281.0 85.6 109.6 91.1 85.1 92.7 93.5 100.4 $41,344 77.9% - Health Care 95.2 124.0 100.4 100.3 100.2 110.7 93.3 96.4 Pueblo Sioux Falls 84.8 102.9 88.9 101.0 107.5 76.2 97.4 92.7 114.4 110.8 102.8 113.6 109.1 107.0 87.2% $46,267 Number of Cities in the Data: 129 85.6 94.5 MOST EXPENSIVE Hartford 84.0 103.3 94.6 99.2 86.9 94.1 91.7 Sumter $37,632 70.9% Fairbanks, AK 100.6 113.0 117.0 124.3 101.9 44.9% above average 169.0 82.5 71.3 121.8 91.5 New Haven 100.5 91.5 96.3 Myrtile Beach 89.0 95.4 100.4 103.8 100.9 105.5 71.5 82.6 98.6 86.6 120.7 73.0% $38,727 122.1 110.9 103.4 105.9 102.7 95.2 $39,195 73.9% LEAST EXPENSIVE Stamford 80.1 92.5 101.6 Columbia 137.8 90.2 95.2 104.5 87.3 100.6 102.2 91.3 112.0 108.7 Dothan, AL 93.8 105.7 117.9 18.3% below average 120.7 86.9 146.9 95.7 108.4 100.4 134.9 78.4 94.1 90.1 HIGHER COST OF LIVING 109.0 Providence 79.5% $42,147 Dover 97.8 121.8 212.6 105.2 123.5 $37,192 70.1% 104.5 113.0 106.3 112.7 117.9 99.7 82.3 LOWER Median Income 123.3 121.3 113.5 Pittsburgh Wilmington 109.0 and a HIGHER Cost of Living: 95.3 110.4 HIGHER Median Income and a HIGHER Cost of Living: 7 Miscellaneous Goods & Services 110.0 113.3 122.1 129.0 113.4 105.2 90.9 91.5 102.4 100.4 94.7 129.0 108.8 $34,216 64.5% 128.1 113.2 102.5 90.1 104.1 81.5% $43,242 33 108.1 Philadelphia 97.5 110.6 106.2 102.0 74.4 Orlando 102.0 115.4 103.0 100.7 15 97.8 97.0 126.5 105.9 MOST EXPENSIVE 98.6 97.8 141.3 124.9 108.7 105.2 25.6% OF CITIES Harrisburg 85.4 95.8 135.9 $42,167 79.5% Boston, MA Tampa 108.5 99.7 101.8 28.6% above average 92.4 11.6% OF CITIES 108.2 105.8 97.8 92.6% $49,119 95.5 104.5 119.6 91.5 96.3 84.7 93.8 100.2 110.5 93.8 Eugene 103.3 Fort Lauderdale 98.4 105.1 109.8 115.7 93.4 132.3 93.8 85.3 $52,657 99.3% 112.5 144.0 92.5 106.3 102.4 102.9 118.2 110.0 LEAST EXPENSIVE 103.7 LOWER MEDIAN INCOME 111.3 Portland Buffalo, NY 105.8 87.1 130.8 105.8 87.9% $46,631 22.4% below average Atlanta 95.6 90.7 99.3 105.1 113.6 96.2 86.3 103.3 100.3 HIGHER MEDIAN INCOME 99.1 93.5 96.7 80.8 97.5 68.3 98.0 86.0 Muskogee 99.0 $33,664 63.5% 93.5 84.0 94.0 98.4 Savannah 94.7 100.5 91.3 96.6 94.6 99.1 95.2 89.3 66.5 67.6% $35,838 97.9 96.2 91.9 88.4 LOWER Median Income and a LOWER Cost of Living: 104.1 68.5 99.4 Tulsa 88.6 92.6 88.1 98.7 Douglas 160.1 249.0 146.6 99.6 126.2 120.0 117.9 108.0 106.6 103.3 93.2 86.0 HIGHER Median Income and a LOWER Cost of Living: $41,241 77.7% 95.8 92.9 91.7 98.0 104.3 101.4 102.1 Okl ahoma City 103.8 77 165.7 96.3 81.9 61.5% $32,602 4 90.6 107.7 96.4 Honolulu 84.0 94.6 93.8 98.5 102.1 109.0 113.6 Cincinnati 97.2 93.3 104.5 106.5 91.7 96.8 84.9 93.3 99.1 $45,824 86.4% 78.0 59.7% OF CITIES 108.1 91.0 96.6 102.4 Boise 99.2 100.2 101.0 99.5 3.1% OF CITIES 98.2 99.4 100.5 102.6 97.0 96.8 86.2 Cleveland 105.8 103.3 95.8 90.6 91.6 81.4 73.5 $34,116 64.3% 101.4 100.3 95.8 95.5 95.9 92.0 79.8 LOWER COST OF LIVING Idaho Falls 93.1 100.3 78.7 99.3 70.1 Columbus 91.5 111.2 87.4 $26,217 49.4% 91.7 99.9 89.7 100.1 101.9 101.0 101.4 93.6 106.2 116.3 102.7 90.8 97.5 94.4 95.7 70.1 99.8 184.5% $97,883 Twin Falls 74.7 85.8 92.0 87.6 119.5 111.5 97.2 Minot 100.5 95.1 91.5 91.5% $48,523 92.6 91.2 97.6 90.9 92.7 95.0 105.9 86.7 98.4 108.6 111.7 102.8 104.7 102.6 110.7 96.7 79.5 Springfield 92.4 108.5 95.4 99.0 98.1 93.4 Fargo-Moorhead 90.9 89.6 90.2 95.9| 80.1 73.4 95.3 104.8 97.1 105.6 89.7 $44,072 83.1% 98.9 86.3% $45,803 96.3 Rockford 91.4 103.0 Bismarck-Mandan 108.0 93.2 116.5 99.9 101.2 115.6 88.8 83.3 84.6 106 96.0 Peoria 87.2 82.4 93.2 165.0 104.2 Charlotte 97.4 98.8 102.8 80.0% $42,452 101.0 91.8 317.8 130.6 $53,524 100.9% (Fargo) $45,458 85.7% 97.4 | 91.2 95.3 90.8 98.2 97.5 Wilmington Indianapolis 112.6 105.0 98.2 99.3 95.8 97.3 128.1 97.1 Richmond Railegh 104.3 0 24.8 79.1 101.6 97.1 89.7 90.9 181.7 93.0% $49,317 128.9 86.6 94.9 (Bismarck) $54,969 Buffalo Lafayette 82.9 92.0 108.1 71.8% $38,067 92.9 102.6 New York (Brooklyn) 109.7 Cedar Rapids lowa City Topeka 96.2 105.6 Des Moines Albany 91.8 95.4 Los Alamos $52,375 $41,573 78.4% 103.6% 95.9 85.3% $45,270 Carlsbad 98.7% 79.1% $41,962 Roswell 56.7% $30,096 $30,942 58.3% Bergen-Passaic KANSAS $54,448 102.6% $32,135 60.6% 74.2% $39,945 KENTUCKY $40,287 75.9% 86.4% $45,836 LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS HAMPSHIRE NEVADA NEW NEW JERSEY $37,237 70.2% 98.4% $52,216 $46,339 87.4% 78.1% $41,410 MONTANA NEBRASKA 77.0% $40,826 MISSOURI MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI (Bergenfield) $79.813 $107,552 202.8% Cities with the Highest Cost of Living Cities with the Lowest Cost of Living O New York, (Brooklyn), NY 81.7% higher than average O Pueblo, CO Highest and Lowest Median Incomes 2 Honolulu, HI 65.7% higher than average 14.4% lower than average O San Francisco, CA O Stamford, CT O Fairbanks, AK @ Springfield, IL O Muskogee, OK O Indianapolis, IN 6 Louisville, KY 64% higher than average 14.2% lower than average HIGHEST Bethesda, MD 14.0% lower than average $143,245 per year 170% above average 46.9% higher than average LOWEST $26,217 per year 37.4% higher than average 12.8% lower than average Cleveland, OH 50.6% below average 12.3% lower than average HIGHEST COMPARED TO COST OF LIVING INDEX Bethesda, MD 270% median salary vs 130.5% Cost of Living Index LOWEST COMPARED TO COST OF LIVING INDEX New York (Brooklyn), NY 60.6% median salary vs 181.7% Cost of Living Index U.S. average The Ratio between Cost of Living and Median Income I COST OF LIVING INDEX (%) I MEDIAN INCOME (%) 250 WHITE NUMBER on top = 200 Higher Cost of Living 150 The longer the bar is, the greater the difference is between the median income and the cost of 100 living, as compared to national averages. 50 BLACK NUMBER on top = Higher Median Income Montgomery (AL) Birmingham (AL) New Haven (CT) Stamford (CT) Indianapolis (IN) Richmond (IN) Dohan (ALI Des Moines (IA) Cedar Rapids (IA) Fairbanks (AK) Jackson (MS) Hattiesburg (MS) Jefferson City (MO) Hot Springs (AR) Atlanta (GA) Wilmington (DE) Rockford (IL) Idaho Falls (ID) Wichita (KS) Columbus (OH) Cleveland (OH) Cincinnati (OH) Portland (OR) Eugene (OR) Glenwood Springs (CO) Boston (MA) Fort Lauderdale (FL) Alexandria (LA) Chattanooga (TN) Memphis (TN) Kalamazoo (MI) St. Cloud (MN) Minot (ND) Clarksburg (V Morgantown (WV) Manchester (NH) Las Vegas (NV) Sumter (SC) Dallas (TX) Harrisburg (PA) Columbia (SC) Sources: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0728.pdf I http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/ I http://docs.library.unr.edu/rs/accra/2010-annual.xls Oktahoma City (OK) Middlesex - Monmouth (NJ New York (Brooklyn) (NY) Salt Lake City (UT) Charlottesville (VA) 153.6% $81,702 146.0% $77,454 103.3% $54.781 88.9% $47,139 82.4% $43,702 79.4% 69.8% $37,032 57.3% $31,445 $42,135 $52,848 99.6% %0'08 877 Z $37,657 71.0% $29,328 55.3% $35,201 66.4% $48,527 91.5% $50,503 95.2% $42,427 80.0% ARKANSAS Anchorage Fairbanks Phoenix Tucson Dothan Juneau (Milwaukee) $35,467 66.9% CALIFORNIA $65,277 123.1% 136.5 128.4 137.4 100.7 89.8 90.8 99.2 96.5 114.9 COLORADO Milwaukee- Waukesha 100.3 80.1 79.7 134.5 142.9 133.1 165.7 135.1 121.2 144.4 116.1 Laramie $51,902 97.8% 102.9 96.0 108.4 99.6 88.0 99.1 93.5 73.2 105.7 93.5 87.9 100.3 127.9 148.5 193.1 118.7 144.9 118.8 108.1 97.2 106.6 Cheyenne 90.4 Marshfield 101.9 94.2 95.1 $44,601 84.1% 100.5 Greenbay 94.1 96.6 108.9 108.8 104.6 92.7 97.5 91.6 90.5 102.3 105.1 96.5 98.3 95.0 96.3 107.9 101.7 Morgantown DELAWARE CONNECTICUT 100.6 95.0 Clarksburg 94.8 108.1 99.2 98.6 112.7 98.1 91.7 103.6 96.8 99.9 92.2 95.3 97.7 105.9 100.2 118.6 83.5 88.8 $38,145 71.9% 91.8 122.0 135.7 124.8 104.6 Charleston (Burlington) $42,677 80.5% $36,131 68.1% 94.0 81.7 $40,496 76.3% Tacoma FLORIDA 99.2 100.5 92.7 95.5 89.5 103.8 92.2 93.1 95.5 92.9 93.9 102.9 96.7 89.3 88.8 9'06 Seattle 97.9 109.5 Olympia GEORGIA HAWAII 110.2 115.1 109.0 83.1 116.6 111.3 119.1 119.9 118.8 85.7 140.3 115.1 91.1 121.4 Charlottesville 104. 106.0 120.5 114.9 82.1 102.2 107.4 68.4 Roanoke 107.0 $40,362 76.1% Burlington- Chittenden County Logan Richmond 101.2 $45,862 86.5% 122.6 L'68 97.1 96.1 100.7 89.9 111.9 93.9 104.5 103.2 112.6 100.8 113.9 103.2 103.6 85.3 100.8 92.2 120.5 114.2 104.6 102.5 122.2 138.7 112.9 97.8 83.7 IDAHO 104.1 95.6 Cedar City 94.5 L'701 97.9 876 102.5 73.9 TEXAS 97.2 113.6 ILLINOIS 113.7 85.5 95.5 TENNESSEE INDIANA SOUTH DAKOTA SOUTH CAROLINA ISLAND PENNSYLVANIA IOWA L'96 98.5 97.1 84.0 85.8 10 100.6 97.1 9'L6 87.2 91.9 83.6 93.7 90.5 90.3 91.8 6'96 90.6 90.0 77.6 85.5 95.6 1 93.9 RHODE 95.8 Wichita 88.7 89.3 99.1 99.9 L 706 698 Portland 116.5 101.8 143.0 102.9 111.8 109.7 105.5 115.0 96.2 161.9 98.9 105.0 110.0 100.2 92.8 0'98 102.2 78.2 Dodge City 81.6 76.8 132.5 116.7 152.7 138.6 104.5 123.5 128.6 92.7 95.2 129.5 101.3 94.2 96.6 Lexington L'L8 7'00L 87.8 Louisville 102.7 77.6 100.6 103.7 94.4 90.0 95.6 81.3 101.8 99.4 92.5 92.4 96.0 92.7 89.9 97.2 92.9 98.2 96.1 112.2 106.7 103.4 106.8 112.9 107.0 110.4 105.4 103.7 104.7 116.8 111.6 105.8 102.0 99.9 117.2 80.7 101.7 86.7% $46,011 OREGON Covington 95.8 83.0 89.1 97.5 96.0 99.3 95.1 96.1 95.7 92.0 118.1 94.0 93.0 92.7 86.6 93.8 110.1 72.3 91.1 96.2 95.4 96.9 110.3 74.6 100.5 113.8 106.3 102.4 113.9 103.1 103.9 129.2 112.2 108.9 103.9 128.6 103.4 95.0 93.3 97.6 78.5 93.9 96.5 100.8 99.0 92.9 74.6 98.4 106.2 108.8 104.9 97.9 Baton Rouge 97.8 104.8 103.6 82.0 95.5 116.3 92.0 89.5 91.8 108.1 75.9 92.2 100.1 107. 89.7 96.8 100.0 92.7 125.0 116.1 100.1 124.5 117.0 102.3 104.0 102.4 101.6 89.1 101.8 107.3 92.6% $48,107 110.8 155.4 112.5 105.3 97.9 100.0 Alexandria 108.5 184.2 120.6 110.1 104.0 104.4 Monroe 119.4 91.2% $48,398 130.5 102.2 98.3 OKLAHOMA Pittsfield 110.6 90.7 83.2% $44,159 Baltimore 72.8% $38,593 66.8% $35,459 53.7% $28,470 66.6% $35,352 Bethesda- 89.9 134.5 109.4 177.2 131.9 105.0 116.1 118.8 766 Boston OIHO 174.0 112.1 Framingham Detroit 168.5 111.6 154.1 Gaithersburg-Frederick 92.2 9 79.3 3.8 106.8 "(Natick) Grand Rapids Kalamazoo 108.9 92.0 110.2 96.9 101.8 124.8 131.3 129.7 91.9 88.1 88.3 92.9 116.8 90.4 88.8 102.0 98.8 99.4 St. Paul Minneapolis St. Cloud Jackson Tupelo Hattiesburg Jefferson City St. Louis Newark-Elizabeth Middlesex- Monmouth Joplin Manchester...... Bozeman 83.8% $44,458 Kalispell Missoula Las Vegas Omaha 78.0% $41,385 NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA NEW MEXIC0 79.4% $42,114 49.6% $26,325 101.0% $53,601 (Newark) $33,960 64.0% $32,708 61.7% $27,609 52.0% 60.1% $31,893 $47,010 88.6% 103.0 E 137.4 73.9% $39,227 $49,885 $42,788 80.7% $34,582 65.2% $37,912 71.5% $41,702 78.6% 57.3 E1 90.8 79.4 I 89.8 128.0% $67,915 (Framingham) $41,009 77.3% $40,682 76.7% 82.4 E 99.2 $46,819 88.3% 136.5 1 153.6 94.0% 136.5 153.6 $44,615 84.1% $48,052 90.6% $54,496 $51,143 96.4% Juneau (AK) Anchorage (AK) Phoenix (AZ) Tucson (AZ) Flagstaff (AZ) (Middlesex) $80,833 102.7% Fayetville (AR) Sacramento (CA) 270.0% $143,245 (Bethesda) Little Rock, North Little Rock (AR) San Francisco (CA) Denver (CO) Los Angeles - Long Beach (CA) Pueblo (CO) Hartford (CT) 165.7 184.5 Dover IDE) 150.5% Orlando (FLI 152.4% Savannah (GA) Honolulu (HI) Boise (ID) Douglas (GA) Twin Falls (ID) Springfield (IL) Peoria (IL) 270 95.1 92.7 Lafayette (IN) 101.0 E 132.5 128.0 I 134.5 lowa City (IA) Topeka (KS) 119.4 Dodge City (KS) Louisville (KY) Covington (KY) Baton Rouge (LA) 130.5 Lexington (KY) 766 53.7 Monroe (LA) Portland (MEJ Baltimore (MD) 80.7 E 98.3 L'19 6'96 73.9 90.7 78.6 I 88.1 52.0 191.9 88.3 I 92.9 88.6 1 110.0 Framingham - Natick (MA) Grand Rapids (MI) 60.1 E191.2 94.0 111.0 Pittsfield (MA) Bethesda - Gaithersburg - Frederick (MD) 84.1 102.0 77.3 E 98.8 88.3 1 90.6 Detroit (MI) St. Paul (MN) Minneapolis (MN) 102.7E1 116.8 0'79 131.3 150.0 766 L'9L 202.8 202.8 65.2 90.4 71.5 E 88.8 129.7 Tupelo (MS) St Louis (MO) Joplin (MO) 124.8 152.4 Bozeman (MT) Kalispell (MT) Missoula (MT) 87.4 I 95.4 109.7 Omaha (NE) 70.2 E 95.4 Bergen - Passaic (NJI Roswell (NM) Carlsbad (NM) Newark - Elizabeth (NJ) Los Alamos INM) Albany (NY) Buffalo (NY) Raleigh (NC) Wilmington (NC! Bismarck - Mandan (ND) Fargo - Moorhead (ND) Charlotte (NC) Tulsa (OK) Muskogee (OK) Philadelphia (PA) Pittsburgh (PA) Providence (RI) Myrtle Beach (SCI Sioux Falls ISDI Nashville - Franklin (TN) Austin (TX) Houston (TX) Cedar City (UT) Logan (UT) Richmond (VA) Roanoke (VA) Olympia (WA) Seattle (WA) Tacoma (WA) Burlington - Chittenden County (VT) Charleston (WV) Green Bay (Wi) Marshfield (Wi) Milwaukee - Waukesha (WI) Cheyenne (WY) Laramie (WY)