Cost of living calculator

Updated on April 11, 2023

The insure.com cost of living calculator shows how much housing, utilities and other basic living expenses cost in different U.S. cities in 2023.

Where you live has a big impact on your wallet. Each city’s cost of living affects how much everyday expenses cost, such as bills and meals. It also affects the cost of larger purchases, like the cost of your home or home insurance policy. affects your insurance rates and how much everyday things cost. The cost of living varies significantly from city to city across the U.S.

For example, the cost of living in Columbus, Ohio is almost half of the cost of living in New York. Meanwhile, living in Miami will cost almost 30% less than living in the big apple.

Use the calculator below to figure out the cost of living in any U.S. city.

$22,290

Cost of living in Boise City, ID, after-tax

Cost of Living

55.42% lower

in Boise City, ID, than New York, NY

Auto Insurance

68% lower

in Boise City, ID, than New York, NY

Home Insurance

30% lower

in Boise City, ID, than New York, NY

Compare cost of living: Boise City, ID, vs New York, NY

Cost in
Boise City, ID

------- vs -------

Cost in
New York, NY

Housing

-74%

Groceries

-29%

Utilities

-22%

Transportation

-1%

Healthcare

-8%

Misc. Goods & Services

-23%

Auto Insurance

-68%

Home Insurance

-30%

Auto Insurance

New York, NY: $5,199
Boise City, ID: $1,663
% Change: 68% lower

Home Insurance

New York, NY: $2,241
Boise City, ID:
$1,563
% Change: 30% lower

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L O A D I N G

How to use cost of living comparison calculator

To use the tool, enter the Zip code to get the most accurate result. Cities can have multiple Zip codes, so by entering the city name, you'll get the average for all Zip codes in that city. We may not have cost-of-living data for some non-metropolitan areas. In those cases, we provide the cost-of-living information for the nearest Zip code with available information.

The cost of living index lets you compare one area’s costs with another.
Enter where you live and the information about another community. Provide your income and calculate the cost of living.
Our tool shows what you’ll need to earn to maintain the same standard of living. The tool also highlights the cost differences for each category: housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, health care, auto insurance, and home insurance.
The cost of living tool additionally includes how much you’d save on home and auto insurance.
Enter your information below and compare the cost of living between two places.

Highest and lowest cost of living areas in the U.S.

Highest cost areas

Lowest cost areas

New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ - New York (Manhattan), NY
Urban Honolulu, HI
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ - New York (Brooklyn), NY
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV - Washington, DC
Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA
Boston, MA
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ - New York (Queens), NY

Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
Decatur, IL
Muskogee, OK
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
Tupelo, MS
Winston-Salem, NC - Thomasville-Lexington, NC
Richmond, IN
Albany, GA
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL

Cost of living by state

Compares cities across the U.S. to find which ones are most expensive and least expensive.

Graph

Table

States	Least Expensive City	Most Expensive City
Alaska	Eielson AFB, AK	Juneau, AK
Alabama	Oxford, AL	Birmingham, AL
Arkansas	Wooster, AR	Little Rock, AR
Arizona	Kingman, AZ	Lake Havasu City, AZ
California	China Lake Acres, CA	San Francisco, CA
Colorado	Colorado City, CO	Agate, CO
Connecticut	Granby, CT	Bridgeport, CT
District of Columbia	NA	NA
Delaware	Camden, DE	Yorklyn, DE
Florida	Weirsdale, FL	Lauderdale Lakes, FL
Georgia	Leesburg, GA	Belvedere Park, GA
Hawaii	Honolulu, HI	Waimanalo, HI
Iowa	Ankeny, IA	Maxwell, IA
Idaho	Jerome, ID	Garden Valley, ID
Illinois	Harristown, IL	Chicago, IL
Indiana	Cambridge City, IN	Gary, IN
Kansas	Overbrook, KS	Kansas City, KS
Kentucky	Reed, KY	Louisville, KY
Louisiana	Dequincy, LA	New Orleans, LA
Massachusetts	North Attleboro, MA	Roxbury, MA
Maryland	Mardela Springs, MD	Capitol Heights, MD
Maine	South Portland, ME	Raymond, ME
Michigan	Portage, MI	Detroit, MI
Minnesota	St. Peter, MN	Minneapolis, MN
Missouri	Airport Drive, MO	Kansas City, MO
Mississippi	Verona, MS	Beaumont, MS
Montana	Ulm, MT	Three Forks, MT
North Carolina	Lexington, NC	Durham, NC
North Dakota	Grand Forks, ND	Cannon Ball, ND
Nebraska	Dakota City, NE	Omaha, NE
New Hampshire	Wilton, NH	Manchester, NH
New Jersey	Brookside, NJ	Newark, NJ
New Mexico	Salem, NM	Corrales, NM
Nevada	Mesquite, NV	Reno, NV
New York	Stella Niagara, NY	New York, NY
Ohio	Beaverdam, OH	Cincinnati, OH
Oklahoma	Webbers Falls, OK	Edmond, OK
Oregon	Eugene, OR	Portland, OR
Pennsylvania	Erie, PA	Philadelphia, PA
Rhode Island	Melville, RI	Providence, RI
South Carolina	Aiken, SC	Folly Beach, SC
South Dakota	Beresford, SD	Hayes, SD
Tennessee	Alcoa, TN	Centerville, TN
Texas	Harlingen, TX	McKinney, TX
Utah	Cedar City, UT	Salt Lake City, UT
Virginia	Collinsville, VA	Arlington, VA
Vermont	Winooski, VT	Colchester, VT
Washington	Selah, WA	Tacoma, WA
Wisconsin	Ashwaubenon, WI	Woodworth, WI
West Virginia	Charleston, WV	Millville, WV
Wyoming	Edgerton, WY	Carpenter, WY

Below national average

Equals national average

Above national average

What is cost of living and how does it influence your life?

What is cost of living?

Cost of living is what it costs to live in an area and maintain your standard of living. Cost of living includes all of your everyday expenses, such as groceries or transportation.

Why is cost of living an important factor?

Cost of living is important to keep in mind before moving to a new city because it determines if you can maintain your standard of living. You may live comfortably in a small town, but that same salary may not go as far in high-cost areas like Manhattan, San Francisco, or Honolulu.

How does insurance play a role in the cost of living?

Insurance companies base premiums on risk. An area’s claims history, economics, and social factors play a role in insurance costs. For instance, a neighborhood with many car break-ins has higher rates. Additionally, a person who owns a home along the coast regularly hit by devastating storms will pay higher premiums.