Special Report

The Most Expensive City in Every State

Charles Stockdale

Published: July 7, 2017 5:29 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 10:23 am

Aside from a small handful of countries, Americans make the most money in the world. Still, Americans across the country face a high cost of living. While the current median household income nationwide is $55,775 a year, the annual median expenditures is $36,800, according to Pew.

Of course the costs of living are not uniform across the nation. Prices in some cities – as calculated by regional price parity, which measures localized price levels for items such as rent, food, and transportation – are over 20% higher than the U.S. average. Prices in entire states such as Hawaii, New York, and California are 10% higher.

Goods and services often cost more in areas where people make more money. For instance, median incomes in eight of the 20 most expensive cities are among the highest nationwide. Geography can be another major factor for cost of living. In remote states such as Hawaii and Alaska that have to import many goods as well as pay for the cost of their transportation, the cost of goods and services are much higher.

Click here to see the most expensive city in each state.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

Source: Joseph Brooke / Flickr

1. Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, Alabama
> Value of a dollar in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley: $1.10
> Value of a dollar in Alabama: $1.15 (2nd highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.8%
> Median household income: $52,003

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Source: Thinkstock

2. Anchorage, Alaska
> Value of a dollar in Anchorage: $0.91
> Value of a dollar in Alaska: $0.95 (8th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 8.7%
> Median household income: $78,238

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3. Flagstaff, Arizona
> Value of a dollar in Flagstaff: $1.01
> Value of a dollar in Arizona: $1.04 (tied for 25th highest)
> Poverty rate: 20.0%
> Median household income: $53,152

Source: Thinkstock

4. Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, Arkansas
> Value of a dollar in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway: $1.10
> Value of a dollar in Arkansas: $1.14 (3rd highest)
> Poverty rate: 17.0%
> Median household income: $49,066

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Source: Thinkstock

5. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California
> Value of a dollar in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara: $0.81
> Value of a dollar in California: $0.88 (tied for 4th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 8.1%
> Median household income: $101,980

Source: Thinkstock

6. Boulder, Colorado
> Value of a dollar in Boulder: $0.91
> Value of a dollar in Colorado: $0.97 (11th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 12.9%
> Median household income: $72,009

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Source: Wikimedia Commons

7. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut
> Value of a dollar in Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk: $0.83
> Value of a dollar in Connecticut: $0.92 (6th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 8.9%
> Median household income: $86,414

Source: Thinkstock

8. Dover, Delaware
> Value of a dollar in Dover: $1.06
> Value of a dollar in Delaware: $1.00 (14th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.6%
> Median household income: $56,778

Source: Thinkstock

9. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Florida
> Value of a dollar in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach: $0.94
> Value of a dollar in Florida: $1.01 (16th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 16.5%
> Median household income: $50,441

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Source: Thinkstock

10. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia
> Value of a dollar in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell: $1.04
> Value of a dollar in Georgia: $1.08 (19th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.9%
> Median household income: $60,219

Source: Thinkstock

11. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
> Value of a dollar in Urban Honolulu: $0.80
> Value of a dollar in Hawaii: $0.84 (the lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.2%
> Median household income: $77,273

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Source: Thinkstock

12. Boise City, Idaho
> Value of a dollar in Boise City: $1.05
> Value of a dollar in Idaho: $1.07 (21st highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.4%
> Median household income: $51,925

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13. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois
> Value of a dollar in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin: $0.96
> Value of a dollar in Illinois: $1.00 (15th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.3%
> Median household income: $63,153

Source: Thinkstock

14. Bloomington, Indiana
> Value of a dollar in Bloomington: $1.06
> Value of a dollar in Indiana: $1.10 (16th highest)
> Poverty rate: 24.2%
> Median household income: $44,376

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Source: Vkulikov / Wikimedia Commons

15. Iowa City, Iowa
> Value of a dollar in Iowa City: $1.04
> Value of a dollar in Iowa: $1.11 (tied for 11th highest)
> Poverty rate: 19.4%
> Median household income: $55,332

Source: Willjay / Wikimedia Commons

16. Lawrence, Kansas
> Value of a dollar in Lawrence: $1.07
> Value of a dollar in Kansas: $1.11 (13th highest)
> Poverty rate: 21.3%
> Median household income: $52,964

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Source: Thinkstock

17. Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky
> Value of a dollar in Lexington-Fayette: $1.09
> Value of a dollar in Kentucky: $1.13 (5th highest)
> Poverty rate: 18.7%
> Median household income: $53,117

Source: Thinkstock

18. New Orleans-Metairie, Louisiana
> Value of a dollar in New Orleans-Metairie: $1.05
> Value of a dollar in Louisiana: $1.10 (tied for 14th highest)
> Poverty rate: 18.0%
> Median household income: $48,343

Source: Thinkstock

19. Portland-South Portland, Maine
> Value of a dollar in Portland-South Portland: $0.99
> Value of a dollar in Maine: $1.02 (tied for 20th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.6%
> Median household income: $62,074

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Source: Thinkstock

20. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Maryland
> Value of a dollar in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson: $0.93
> Value of a dollar in Maryland: $0.91 (5th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.6%
> Median household income: $72,520

Source: Thinkstock

21. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Massachusetts
> Value of a dollar in Boston-Cambridge-Newton: $0.91
> Value of a dollar in Massachusetts: $0.94 (7th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.2%
> Median household income: $78,800

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Source: Thinkstock

22. Ann Arbor, Michigan
> Value of a dollar in Ann Arbor: $0.98
> Value of a dollar in Michigan: $1.07 (22nd highest)
> Poverty rate: 14.6%
> Median household income: $61,977

Source: Thinkstock

23. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota
> Value of a dollar in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington: $0.98
> Value of a dollar in Minnesota: $1.03 (22nd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.3%
> Median household income: $71,008

Source: Thinkstock

24. Jackson, Mississippi
> Value of a dollar in Jackson: $1.11
> Value of a dollar in Mississippi: $1.16 (the highest)
> Poverty rate: 19.4%
> Median household income: $46,757

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Source: Thinkstock

25. Kansas City, Missouri
> Value of a dollar in Kansas City: $1.07
> Value of a dollar in Missouri: $1.12 (8th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.8%
> Median household income: $60,502

Source: Thinkstock

26. Billings, Montana
> Value of a dollar in Billings: $1.01
> Value of a dollar in Montana: $1.05 (24th highest)
> Poverty rate: 9.6%
> Median household income: $57,249

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Source: Thinkstock

27. Omaha-Council Bluffs, Nebraska
> Value of a dollar in Omaha-Council Bluffs: $1.07
> Value of a dollar in Nebraska: $1.10 (tied for 14th highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.3%
> Median household income: $61,024

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28. Reno, Nevada
> Value of a dollar in Reno: $1.01
> Value of a dollar in Nevada: $1.02 (tied for 20th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.6%
> Median household income: $56,611

Source: Wikimedia Commons

29. Manchester-Nashua, New Hampshire
> Value of a dollar in Manchester-Nashua: $0.93
> Value of a dollar in New Hampshire: $0.95 (9th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 8.0%
> Median household income: $74,323

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Source: Thinkstock

30. Trenton, New Jersey
> Value of a dollar in Trenton: $0.89
> Value of a dollar in New Jersey: $0.88 (tied for 4th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.2%
> Median household income: $72,417

Source: Thinkstock

31. Santa Fe, New Mexico
> Value of a dollar in Santa Fe: $1.00
> Value of a dollar in New Mexico: $1.06 (23rd highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.0%
> Median household income: $55,676

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Source: Thinkstock

32. New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York
> Value of a dollar in New York-Newark-Jersey City: $0.82
> Value of a dollar in New York: $0.87 (2nd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.1%
> Median household income: $68,743

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Source: Thinkstock

33. Raleigh, North Carolina
> Value of a dollar in Raleigh: $1.04
> Value of a dollar in North Carolina: $1.10 (17th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.6%
> Median household income: $65,778

Source: Bobak Ha'Eri / Wikimedia Commons

34. Bismarck, North Dakota
> Value of a dollar in Bismarck: $1.06
> Value of a dollar in North Dakota: $1.08 (18th highest)
> Poverty rate: 10.5%
> Median household income: $65,173

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Source: Thinkstock

35. Columbus, Ohio
> Value of a dollar in Columbus: $1.07
> Value of a dollar in Ohio: $1.12 (7th highest)
> Poverty rate: 14.2%
> Median household income: $58,192

Source: Thinkstock

36. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
> Value of a dollar in Oklahoma City: $1.09
> Value of a dollar in Oklahoma: $1.11 (tied for 9th highest)
> Poverty rate: 14.5%
> Median household income: $52,221

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Source: Thinkstock

37. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Oregon
> Value of a dollar in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro: $0.98
> Value of a dollar in Oregon: $1.01 (17th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 12.2%
> Median household income: $63,850

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38. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pennsylvania
> Value of a dollar in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington: $0.94
> Value of a dollar in Pennsylvania: $1.02 (21st lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.1%
> Median household income: $65,123

Source: Thinkstock

39. Providence-Warwick, Rhode Island
> Value of a dollar in Providence-Warwick: $1.01
> Value of a dollar in Rhode Island: $1.01 (18th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.4%
> Median household income: $58,965

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Source: Thinkstock

40. Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina
> Value of a dollar in Charleston-North Charleston: $1.04
> Value of a dollar in South Carolina: $1.11 (tied for 11th highest)
> Poverty rate: 14.2%
> Median household income: $56,430

Source: Thinkstock

41. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
> Value of a dollar in Sioux Falls: $1.08
> Value of a dollar in South Dakota: $1.13 (4th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.5%
> Median household income: $59,844

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Source: Thinkstock

42. Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, Tennessee
> Value of a dollar in Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin: $1.06
> Value of a dollar in Tennessee: $1.11 (tied for 9th highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.7%
> Median household income: $57,985

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Source: Thinkstock

43. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas
> Value of a dollar in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land: $0.99
> Value of a dollar in Texas: $1.03 (24th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.6%
> Median household income: $61,465

Source: Thinkstock

44. Salt Lake City, Utah
> Value of a dollar in Salt Lake City: $1.00
> Value of a dollar in Utah: $1.03 (23rd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.2%
> Median household income: $65,792

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Source: Thinkstock

45. Burlington-South Burlington, Vermont
> Value of a dollar in Burlington-South Burlington: $0.97
> Value of a dollar in Vermont: $0.98 (13th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.4%
> Median household income: $66,807

Source: Thinkstock

46. Charlottesville, Virginia
> Value of a dollar in Charlottesville: $1.02
> Value of a dollar in Virginia: $0.98 (12th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.1%
> Median household income: $63,918

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Source: Thinkstock

47. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington
> Value of a dollar in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue: $0.91
> Value of a dollar in Washington: $0.95 (10th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.2%
> Median household income: $75,331

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Source: Thinkstock

48. Morgantown, West Virginia
> Value of a dollar in Morgantown: $1.10
> Value of a dollar in West Virginia: $1.12 (6th highest)
> Poverty rate: 20.3%
> Median household income: $45,941

Source: jongela19 / Flickr

49. La Crosse-Onalaska, Wisconsin
> Value of a dollar in La Crosse-Onalaska: $1.08
> Value of a dollar in Wisconsin: $1.07 (20th highest)
> Poverty rate: 14.1%
> Median household income: $50,705

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Source: Phillip Stewart / Flickr

50. Casper, Wyoming
> Value of a dollar in Casper: $1.02
> Value of a dollar in Wyoming: $1.04 (tied for 25th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.6%
> Median household income: $52,886

Prices in 21 cities among the most expensive in each state are above the national average. These cities are mostly located in the country’s wealthiest regions, including in the greater New York and D.C. metropolitan areas, as well as the West Coast. These cities are all located in states where a dollar buys less than the national average.

By comparison, the cities in which prices are below or equal to the national average are generally located in poorer regions of the country such as the South East and the Northern Plains. With a few exceptions – namely Charlottesville, Virginia and Dover, Delaware – these cities are located in states where a dollar is stronger than the national average.

To determine the most expensive city in each state 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2015 regional price parities – or cost of living – in each of the nation’s 382 metropolitan statistical areas as calculated by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. RPPs, according to the BEA, “are price indexes that measure geographic price level differences for one period in time within the United States. An RPP is a weighted average of the price level of goods and services for the average consumer in one geographic region compared to all other regions in the U.S.” The cost of living for each state also comes from the BEA. Poverty rates and median household income for each MSA come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates.