Saving & Spending Budgeting & Expenses

What It Costs To Live in These 10 Ultra-Trendy U.S. Cities

Get the lowdown on the living expenses in these 10 U.S. hotspots.

By Jenny Cohen

Edited by Chris Kissell

Updated Oct. 1, 2024

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

City living can be a great option if you enjoy having restaurants nearby or being close to movie theaters and museums. But some cities can be expensive places to live.

SmartAsset has calculated how much income you need to live comfortably in some key U.S. cities.

The publication used data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator to calculate the cost of living based on expenses such as food, housing, medical care, and transportation, among other factors.

Check out these popular cities and learn how much you need to earn after taxes to live there and maintain your financial fitness.

If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive travel discounts and trip-planning resources

Over 50 and love traveling? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member, you could be missing out on huge travel perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on hotels and resorts, airfare, cruises, car rentals, and more.

How to become a member today:

Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

An AARP membership not only unlocks discounts that could save you hundreds on your next trip, but you’ll also have access to deals on vacation packages, guided tours, and exclusive content to help plan your next getaway.

Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (do not skip this step!). Doing so will allow you to take up to 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.

Become an AARP member now

St. Louis

Salary required after taxes to live here comfortably: $57,446

St. Louis is the first of several cities on this list that are much more affordable. You need less than $60,000 in take-home pay to live comfortably in Gateway City.

You can use some of that cash for a down payment and mortgage on a home, which costs a median of $200,000 in St. Louis during December.

Who really has the cheapest auto insurance in your area? Check your zip code here.

Detroit

Salary required after taxes to live here comfortably: $58,358

The median sale price for a home in Detroit was just $85,000 in December, Redfin says. That means you can easily own a home in the Motor City, especially compared to other places.

However, things are slowly getting more expensive in Detroit. The median sale price was up 21.4% in December compared to a year earlier.

San Antonio

Salary required after taxes to live here comfortably: $59,270

Cities like Houston, Plano, and Dallas have higher living costs than San Antonio. That makes the latter city a more inviting option if you want to move to Texas.

According to Redfin, the median sale price for a home in San Antonio was $268,500 in December.

Earn a $250 travel bonus with this incredible card

There's a credit card that's making waves with its amazing bonus and benefits. The Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card has no annual fee and you can earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

You can earn additional points just by using this card for your everyday purchases — unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases. The 25,000 bonus points can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel or dining purchases.

If you want to travel and dine out more, the Travel Rewards card can help you get where you want to go.

The best part? There's no annual fee.

Click here to apply now.

Philadelphia

Salary required after taxes to live here comfortably: $61,678

Philadelphia is surprisingly affordable for a major East Coast metro.

The median sale price for a home in Philadelphia was $235,000 in December, representing a 2.9% decline compared to a year earlier, Redfin says.

That makes the City of Brotherly Love relatively cheap. For example, the median sale price for a home nationally in December was $403,164.

Charlotte, North Carolina

Salary required after taxes to live here comfortably: $62,110

Charlotte is still affordable despite the fact that this city is growing fast. In fact, U-Haul says Charlotte ranked seventh among U.S. cities in terms of attracting new residents in 2023.

Seattle

Salary required after taxes to live here comfortably: $77,634

The Seattle area is home to Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, Costco, and other major corporations. The skilled workers who work for those companies command high salaries, which might be a factor in bumping up the cost of living in the city.

The competitive housing market saw a median sale price of $774,125 in Seattle in December, Redfin says.

Earn Points and Miles: Find the best travel credit card for nearly free travel

New York City

historic buildings along franklin street tribeca

Salary required after taxes to live here comfortably: $78,524

The New York metropolitan area can be expensive no matter where you live, but some areas are pricier than others.

For example, the cost of living in the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn is especially high.

Boston

Salary required after taxes to live here comfortably: $78,752

Homes are also expensive in Boston, which drives up the cost of living in the city.

The median sale price for a home in Boston was $830,000 in December, Redfin says. That was a 16.8% increase from a year earlier.

San Diego

Salary required after taxes to live here comfortably: $79,324

As in many California cities, you will need to earn a large salary just to afford a home in San Diego.

The median sale price for a home in San Diego in December was $875,000, according to real estate website Redfin.

Unlock exclusive entertainment deals and VIP perks (without a credit card)

Ready to take your entertainment and travels to the next level? Experience the finer things in life with the SELECT card.

No, it's not a credit card, it’s an exclusive membership — and your passport to a world of elite benefits and unforgettable moments.

Imagine sipping complimentary cocktails in downtown Manhattan at KYU NYC or saving 20% on the best sushi in Hollywood Hills at Yamashiro.

Like to shop? Members receive VIP discounts like 15% off at Brooks Brothers, and up to 60% off at Tumi.

Enjoy special offers at luxury hotels like the Four Seasons and Omni Select. For example, you get 15% off at Hyatt Hotels worldwide.

But it’s not just about the hundreds (or thousands) you could save. There are so many features that make you feel like a VIP every day. Like SELECT’s white-glove concierge that assists with bookings, recommendations, or anything you need. And priority access to reservations to some of the year’s hottest events (many not open to the public).

Apply for the SELECT card today

San Francisco

Salary required after taxes to live here comfortably: $84,026

San Francisco's cost of living is among the highest for any city in the U.S.

But it could be worse: The cost of living in nearby San Jose is even steeper, according to research from the Council for Community and Economic Research.

Bottom line

The cost of living is an important factor to consider before you decide to move somewhere.

Knowing how much you will need to earn to live comfortably in a potential new home can lower your financial stress by helping you avoid moving to a city that will bust your budget.

More from FinanceBuzz:

Benefits

Card Details

$0 annual fee
Simple, flat-rate rewards
Flexible redemption options
Up to 75% preferred Rewards bonus potential
Apply Now

Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.74% - 28.74% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Bank of <span class='whitespace-nowrap'>America<sup>®</sup></span> Travel Rewards credit card

4.1

Apply Now

on Bank of America’s secure website

Read Card Review

Intro Offer

Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases

Annual Fee

Why we like it