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Cost of living by city โบ Americas โบ United States
United States Cost of Living 2026
๐บ๐ธ 34 cities in United States, sorted by daily travel budget. Not the exchange rate โ how cheap it feels on your own income, and where a price becomes a rip-off. Updated October 2026
Average per day
$333
mid-range room included
Cheapest city
Saipan
$236 a day
Average per month
$6,473
rental + living
Cities in United States compared
| City | Per day | Per month | Local meal | Coffee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐บ๐ธ SaipanResort | $236 | $3,730 | $15 | $5.5 |
| ๐บ๐ธ San AntonioTourist big city | $269 | $5,262 | $17 | $5 |
| ๐บ๐ธ HoustonBig city ยท South | $272 | $4,578 | $14 | $5.2 |
| ๐บ๐ธ PhoenixBig city ยท West | $275 | $5,471 | $20 | $5.5 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Kansas CityBig city | $278 | $4,863 | $16 | $6 |
| ๐บ๐ธ DallasBig city ยท South | $286 | $5,436 | $20 | $6 |
| ๐บ๐ธ RaleighMid-size city | $286 | $5,451 | $18 | $6 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Salt Lake CityMid-size city | $288 | $5,371 | $18 | $5.8 |
| ๐บ๐ธ OrlandoTourist big city | $293 | $6,528 | $20 | $5.5 |
| ๐บ๐ธ SacramentoBig city | $301 | $6,247 | $20 | $6 |
| ๐บ๐ธ MinneapolisBig city | $301 | $5,585 | $21 | $6.1 |
| ๐บ๐ธ PittsburghBig city | $303 | $4,867 | $19 | $5.3 |
| ๐บ๐ธ PortlandBig city ยท West | $303 | $5,928 | $21 | $5.5 |
| ๐บ๐ธ CharlotteBig city | $306 | $5,495 | $20 | $5.8 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Las VegasResort ยท big city | $308 | $5,762 | $18 | $6.5 |
| ๐บ๐ธ AustinBig city ยท South | $310 | $5,431 | $20 | $6 |
| ๐บ๐ธ AtlantaBig city ยท South | $315 | $6,014 | $19 | $5.5 |
| ๐บ๐ธ TampaBig city ยท coast | $326 | $5,919 | $20 | $5.4 |
| ๐บ๐ธ NashvilleBig city ยท South | $327 | $5,558 | $18 | $6 |
| ๐บ๐ธ ChicagoBig city ยท Midwest | $334 | $6,737 | $17 | $5.5 |
| ๐บ๐ธ PhiladelphiaBig city ยท East | $336 | $6,015 | $22 | $5.1 |
| ๐บ๐ธ New OrleansTourist big city | $340 | $6,444 | $20 | $5 |
| ๐บ๐ธ DenverBig city ยท mountains | $341 | $6,344 | $20 | $6 |
| ๐บ๐ธ San DiegoBig city ยท coast | $344 | $8,007 | $22 | $6 |
| ๐บ๐ธ SeattleBig city ยท West | $355 | $7,424 | $22 | $6 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Los AngelesBig city ยท West | $368 | $7,222 | $18 | $5.5 |
| ๐บ๐ธ MiamiResort ยท South | $370 | $8,455 | $20 | $5.5 |
| ๐บ๐ธ AnchorageTourist ยท mid-size | $377 | $5,881 | $20 | $5.7 |
| ๐บ๐ธ San FranciscoBig city ยท West | $391 | $10,400 | $25 | $6.5 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Washington, D.C.Big city ยท East | $402 | $7,631 | $22 | $6 |
| ๐บ๐ธ HonoluluResort | $411 | $8,040 | $20 | $6.5 |
| ๐บ๐ธ MauiResort | $420 | $8,357 | $18 | $5.5 |
| ๐บ๐ธ New YorkBig city ยท East | $467 | $10,297 | $20 | $6 |
| ๐บ๐ธ BostonBig city ยท East | $484 | $9,338 | $23 | $5.8 |
Per day = one mid-range night + three meals, a coffee and two taxi rides. Open a city for item-by-item prices, rip-off thresholds and live traveler reports.
Everyday prices in United States
| City | Beer | 5 km taxi | Hotel night | Massage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐บ๐ธ Saipan | $6.5 | $15 | $110 | $45 |
| ๐บ๐ธ San Antonio | $6 | $13 | $140 | $80 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Houston | $6.2 | $11 | $150 | $80 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Phoenix | $6 | $12 | $130 | $80 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Kansas City | $6.5 | $13 | $140 | $75 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Dallas | $7 | $11 | $140 | $85 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Raleigh | $6 | $14 | $140 | $80 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Salt Lake City | $8 | $12 | $150 | $80 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Orlando | $6.5 | $14 | $140 | $90 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Sacramento | $8 | $14 | $150 | $70 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Minneapolis | $7 | $12 | $150 | $80 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Pittsburgh | $6.2 | $11 | $170 | $75 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Portland | $7 | $13 | $150 | $90 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Charlotte | $7 | $12 | $160 | $80 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Las Vegas | $9 | $16 | $150 | $85 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Austin | $7 | $15 | $150 | $90 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Atlanta | $7.5 | $14 | $160 | $90 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Tampa | $6.3 | $11 | $180 | $80 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Nashville | $7.5 | $14 | $180 | $85 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Chicago | $7.5 | $17 | $180 | $85 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Philadelphia | $6.5 | $15 | $175 | $90 |
| ๐บ๐ธ New Orleans | $5.5 | $15 | $180 | $100 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Denver | $7.5 | $15 | $180 | $100 |
| ๐บ๐ธ San Diego | $8.5 | $14 | $180 | $90 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Seattle | $8 | $16 | $180 | $100 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Los Angeles | $9 | $18 | $200 | $75 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Miami | $9 | $16 | $200 | $90 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Anchorage | $7.3 | $13 | $220 | $90 |
| ๐บ๐ธ San Francisco | $9 | $16 | $200 | $110 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Washington, D.C. | $8.5 | $14 | $230 | $110 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Honolulu | $9 | $17 | $230 | $85 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Maui | $8 | $20 | $250 | $130 |
| ๐บ๐ธ New York | $9 | $23 | $270 | $100 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Boston | $8 | $17 | $300 | $110 |
United States vs nearby countries
| Country | Per day | Per month | vs United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico | $157 | $2,830 | -53% |
| ๐จ๐ท Costa Rica | $174 | $3,168 | -48% |
| ๐ฆ๐ท Argentina | $175 | $2,526 | -48% |
| ๐จ๐ฑ Chile | $176 | $2,653 | -47% |
| ๐บ๐พ Uruguay | $192 | $3,217 | -42% |
| ๐จ๐ฆ Canada | $280 | $5,203 | -16% |
| ๐ต๐ท Puerto Rico | $298 | $5,132 | -11% |
| ๐บ๐ธ United States | $333 | $6,473 | this country |
Countries in the same region with a similar daily travel budget. Tap a country for its city-by-city prices.
San Francisco vs London: item by item
| Item | San Francisco | London | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local meal | $25 | $23 | +9% |
| Coffee | $6.5 | $5 | +30% |
| Beer | $9 | $9.19 | -2% |
| 5 km taxi | $16 | $21.6 | -26% |
| Hotel night | $200 | $243 | -18% |
| 1-bed rent | $3,300 | $2,568 | +29% |
Same purchase in both cities, converted to US dollars. Daily travel budget: San Francisco $391 vs London $438 โ about 11% cheaper.
Compare United States with other cities
Anchorage vs BanffAnchorage vs ChicagoAnchorage vs Los AngelesAnchorage vs New YorkAnchorage vs San FranciscoAnchorage vs TorontoAnchorage vs VancouverAtlanta vs CalgaryAtlanta vs CancรบnAtlanta vs ChicagoAtlanta vs KelownaAtlanta vs Los AngelesAtlanta vs Mexico CityAtlanta vs MontrealAtlanta vs New YorkAtlanta vs Niagara FallsAll comparisons โบ
Money tips for United States
Paying
Cards work everywhere.
Tipping
18โ20% of the pre-tax bill is effectively standard at restaurants; $1โ2 a drink at bars, ~15% for taxis and Uber.
Menu prices
Listed prices exclude sales tax; tax (varies by state and city) and tip are added at checkout.
Getting around
Outside big cities you need a car; Uber and Lyft fill the gap.
Haggling
No haggling.
Water
Tap water is safe to drink.
Common rip-offs
Hotel "resort fees", and tipping twice when a gratuity is already on the bill.
United States travel difficulty
| City | Overall | Rip-offs | Language | Transport | Payments | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | Very easy 1.4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Chicago | Very easy 1.4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Minneapolis | Very easy 1.4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Philadelphia | Very easy 1.4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Salt Lake City | Very easy 1.4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| San Diego | Very easy 1.4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Washington, D.C. | Very easy 1.4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Anchorage | Easy 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Atlanta | Easy 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Charlotte | Easy 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Dallas | Easy 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Denver | Easy 1.6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Honolulu | Easy 1.6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Houston | Easy 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Kansas City | Easy 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Las Vegas | Easy 1.6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| New York | Easy 1.6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Phoenix | Easy 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Pittsburgh | Easy 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Portland | Easy 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Raleigh | Easy 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Sacramento | Easy 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| San Francisco | Easy 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Seattle | Easy 1.6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Tampa | Easy 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Austin | Easy 1.8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Maui | Easy 1.8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Miami | Easy 1.8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Nashville | Easy 1.8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| New Orleans | Easy 1.8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Orlando | Easy 1.8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| San Antonio | Easy 1.8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Los Angeles | Easy 2.0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Saipan | Moderate 2.2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Rip-offs, language, getting around, payments and safety, 1โ5 (closer to 1 is easier). Tap a city for reasons and tips. Full difficulty ranking โบ
City guides
๐บ๐ธ Saipan pricesSaipan trip costSaipan rip-off check๐บ๐ธ San Antonio pricesSan Antonio trip costSan Antonio rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Houston pricesHouston trip costHouston rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Phoenix pricesPhoenix trip costPhoenix rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Kansas City pricesKansas City trip costKansas City rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Dallas pricesDallas trip costDallas rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Raleigh pricesRaleigh trip costRaleigh rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Salt Lake City pricesSalt Lake City trip costSalt Lake City rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Orlando pricesOrlando trip costOrlando rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Sacramento pricesSacramento trip costSacramento rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Minneapolis pricesMinneapolis trip costMinneapolis rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Pittsburgh pricesPittsburgh trip costPittsburgh rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Portland pricesPortland trip costPortland rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Charlotte pricesCharlotte trip costCharlotte rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Las Vegas pricesLas Vegas trip costLas Vegas rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Austin pricesAustin trip costAustin rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Atlanta pricesAtlanta trip costAtlanta rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Tampa pricesTampa trip costTampa rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Nashville pricesNashville trip costNashville rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Chicago pricesChicago trip costChicago rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Philadelphia pricesPhiladelphia trip costPhiladelphia rip-off check๐บ๐ธ New Orleans pricesNew Orleans trip costNew Orleans rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Denver pricesDenver trip costDenver rip-off check๐บ๐ธ San Diego pricesSan Diego trip costSan Diego rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Seattle pricesSeattle trip costSeattle rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Los Angeles pricesLos Angeles trip costLos Angeles rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Miami pricesMiami trip costMiami rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Anchorage pricesAnchorage trip costAnchorage rip-off check๐บ๐ธ San Francisco pricesSan Francisco trip costSan Francisco rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Washington, D.C. pricesWashington, D.C. trip costWashington, D.C. rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Honolulu pricesHonolulu trip costHonolulu rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Maui pricesMaui trip costMaui rip-off check๐บ๐ธ New York pricesNew York trip costNew York rip-off check๐บ๐ธ Boston pricesBoston trip costBoston rip-off check
FAQ
How much is a daily travel budget in United States?
With a mid-range room, between $236 and $484 a day depending on the city โ about $333 on average. Hostels and local eateries cut that by 30% or more.
How much does a month in United States cost?
Short-term rental plus living costs runs $3,730โ$10,400 by city, about $6,473 on average.
Which city in United States is cheapest?
By daily budget, Saipan ($236/day) is the cheapest and Boston ($484/day) the most expensive.
Which nearby country is cheaper than United States?
Among countries in the same region with similar budgets, Mexico runs about $157 a day โ 53% less than United States (about $333).
Is United States cheaper than London?
In San Francisco, a traveler's day runs about $391 versus $438 in London โ roughly 11% cheaper. The gap differs by item, so meals, coffee, taxis and hotels are listed separately above.