CostIndexUSA
Real Cost of Living Data for Every U.S. City
What We Do
CostIndexUSA generates data-driven cost of living comparisons for every major U.S. city. Unlike crowd-sourced alternatives, every number on this site traces back to official government data — the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), U.S. Census Bureau, and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Our salary equivalency calculator uses the same formula economists use: if you earn $X in City A (index A), you need X × (B ÷ A) in City B to maintain identical purchasing power.
Our Data Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities
- The primary source for our overall cost-of-living index and category breakdowns. Published annually by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, RPPs measure the differences in price levels across states and metropolitan areas.
- U.S. Census Bureau (ACS)
- The American Community Survey provides median household income, per capita income, housing cost burden, and population data for each city.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) provides metro-level unemployment rates. BLS also informs our industry classification for each metro.
- Zillow Research
- Median home prices and median rental rates by metro area. Zillow Research publishes this data publicly on a monthly basis.
Methodology
Cost index values use 100 as the U.S. national average. A city with an index of 115 is 15% more expensive than average; an index of 85 is 15% cheaper.
Category indices (housing, groceries, transportation, healthcare, utilities) are derived from BEA category-level data and calibrated against known category variability. Housing is far more variable between cities than groceries, so the coefficients reflect this empirical reality.
Data is updated annually when new BEA RPP releases are published (typically Q4). Last updated: 2024.
Disclaimer
The data and comparisons on CostIndexUSA are for informational purposes only. Cost of living varies significantly within cities by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstance. This data should not be the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions. Always consult additional local sources before making major life changes.