The Pricey Ten: America’s Most Expensive Cities
America might be the land of the free, but everything here comes with a huge price. With people’s salaries not escalating as much as they’d want, the majority of us always wonder what happened to our paycheck once we deduct the cost of rent, mortgage, bills, transportation and other expenses. Well, it might just be that you’re placed in one of America’s most expensive cities – and if you’re not, well, here’s hoping you feel a bit better that your expenses aren’t as high as they could be if you lived in what we call The Pricey Ten!
10. Easton-Raynham, Massachusetts:
Massachusetts isn’t just home to some of the finest institutions such as M.I.T., it also is home to Easton-Raynham, the tenth most expensive area to reside in the United States. The median cost of a home here is $164,700, and the cost of living is 12.50% higher than the U.S. average.
9. Orange County, California:
Loved watching The O.C.? Well popularity comes with a price tag! Not only is housing expensive and taxes are high, the median cost of a house is $543,000 and the cost of living here is 75.80% higher than the U.S. average.
8. New York, New York:
A hub of art, culture and fashion, New York has always been a cherished spot in America. It is also the eighth most expensive city to live in with a median home cost of $466,900 and a cost of living 68% higher than the U.S. average. New York City features plenty of homes worth more than 5 million dollars, and even public transportation rates are going up regularly. No wonder New Yorkers felt the recession pinch badly – this is one expensive place, no doubt. But, we can’t ignore the New York charm, after all.
7. Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Massachusetts-New Hampshire:
With a median home cost averaging $345,000 and a cost of living 48.30% higher than the U.S. average, the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy metro area is a rather prestigious place to reside in with taxes rated as the second worst in the entire United States – here $1 million will get you less than 2,100 square feet, while the same expenditure would easily fetch you more than 10,000 square feet in New Orleans and Texas!
6. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-Virginia-Maryland:
The DC metropolitan area is not only the nation’s capital, but also hometown of IRS, which makes it a bit ironic that the taxes here are still rather high. The median cost of a house here is $344,400 and the cost of living is 36.60% higher than the U.S. average.
5. Westchester County, New York:
Head north of New York City, and you’ll find yourself in the fifth most expensive place in the States, Westchester County. While the school districts here are considered top-notch, the property rates are high and transportation between Westchester and New York City is rather costly. The median cost of a house is $503,900 and the cost of living is 73.60% higher than the U.S.
4. Honolulu, Hawaii:
We always considered Honolulu an ideal vacation spot, and perhaps that’s what it is best for. Living here is bound to leave a hole in your wallet with high food and commodity pricing. The average cup of coffee costs nearly $7.32, and the median cost of a house is $575,400. No wonder Honolulu’s cost of living is 99.20% higher than the U.S. average. However, to compensate for that, the median income here is $59,605, which is the second highest median income in the U.S.
3. Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut:
The most expensive area in Connecticut, Stamford-Norwalk is home to some rather wealthy people – in fact, 25% households make over $150,000 annually. The median cost of a house here is $439,900 and the cost of living is 67% higher than the U.S. average.
2. Nantucket-Dukes Counties, Massachusetts:
South of Cape Cod and home to the most expensive vacation destination in the entire United States – Martha’s Vineyard – Nantucket-Dukes Counties are expensive in every way, from real estate costs to food and transportation. The median home cost here is $902,000 and the cost of living is shocking a percentage 174.40 higher than the U.S. average. Feeling happy suddenly, that you don’t live here?
1. Nassau-Suffolk Counties, New York:
High in terms of housing, taxes and healthcare combined, Nassau-Suffolk counties in New York are the most expensive place to reside in America – The Hamptons are notorious for a reason, after all! A popular summer vacation spot for the super loaded and famous, the average cost of living here is 99.50% higher than the U.S. average, and the median cost of housing is $638,9000.