Read the screenplay: FANNIEGATE — $7 trillion. 17 years. The biggest fraud in American capital markets.→

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare the real cost of living across 30 major US cities. See how far your salary actually goes — housing, groceries, healthcare, and more.

Select Two Cities to Compare

Miami, FL

123

Overall Index

Difference

+20.3%

New York is more expensive

New York, NY

148

Overall Index

Category-by-Category Comparison

National average = 100. Green = below average, red = above average.

📊 Overall+20.3%
Miami
123
New York
148
🏠 Housing+29.0%
Miami
145
New York
187
🛒 Groceries+8.4%
Miami
107
New York
116
🚗 Transport+20.4%
Miami
108
New York
130
🏥 Healthcare+6.8%
Miami
103
New York
110
💡 Utilities+10.9%
Miami
101
New York
112

Dashed line = national average (100)

Salary Equivalent Calculator

How much would you need to earn in New York to match your purchasing power in Miami?

$

Equivalent in New York

$120,325

How it works: $100,000 in Miami (index 123) has the same purchasing power as $120,325 in New York (index 148). Formula: Salary x (City B Index / City A Index).

Specific Cost Breakdown

Real dollar amounts side by side.

CategoryMiamiNew YorkDiff
Median Household Income$51,347$76,607+49.2%
Median 1BR Rent (monthly)$2,200$3,200+45.5%
Median Home Price$580,000$750,000+29.3%
Gallon of Gas$3.35$3.65+9.0%
Gallon of Milk$4.49$4.89+8.9%
Movie Ticket$14.50$17.50+20.7%

Purchasing Power of $100K

What a $100,000 salary is really worth after adjusting for each city's cost of living.

$100K in Miami

$81,301

real purchasing power

$100K in New York

$67,568

real purchasing power

Formula: $100,000 / (City Index / 100). A city with index 120 means $100K is only worth about $83,333 in real terms.

$10 Most Affordable Cities

Lowest overall cost of living index

1.Detroit, MI88
2.Indianapolis, IN90
3.Kansas City, MO92
4.Pittsburgh, PA94
5.Columbus, OH94
6.Houston, TX96
7.Charlotte, NC98
8.Dallas, TX99
9.Raleigh, NC101
10.Orlando, FL102

$$$10 Most Expensive Cities

Highest overall cost of living index

1.San Francisco, CA155
2.New York, NY148
3.Boston, MA140
4.San Diego, CA139
5.Los Angeles, CA136
6.Seattle, WA135
7.Washington DC, DC131
8.Portland, OR124
9.Miami, FL123
10.Denver, CO118

All 30 Cities — Full Index Table

Sorted by overall cost of living index. National average = 100.

#CityOverallHousingGroceryTransportHealthUtilities
1Detroit, MI88729510298101
2Indianapolis, IN908095979694
3Kansas City, MO928295989799
4Pittsburgh, PA9485100102100105
5Columbus, OH948897989796
6Houston, TX9691959996104
7Charlotte, NC989898989997
8Dallas, TX99989610099105
9Raleigh, NC101104989710196
10Orlando, FL10210210210397100
11Tampa, FL10310510110298101
12Nashville, TN104112961009797
13Phoenix, AZ10410899102100108
14Atlanta, GA104105100105101100
15Las Vegas, NV10410510310810098
16Minneapolis, MN10610810210410998
17Salt Lake City, UT1061151001029988
18Austin, TX1071189710298103
19Chicago, IL109112104108105102
20Philadelphia, PA112115106110107112
21Denver, CO11813510510610794
22Miami, FLA123145107108103101
23Portland, OR12413810911211090
24Washington DC, DC131155109112106108
25Seattle, WA13516211511811295
26Los Angeles, CA13616811212210899
27San Diego, CA139172113118111104
28Boston, MA140170111115118118
29New York, NYB148187116130110112
30San Francisco, CA155202118125115105
G

Glen's Take on Cost of Living

I moved from the DC area to Miami Beach. Everyone assumes Miami is expensive — and it is — but compared to SF or NYC, my dollar goes further. Plus, no state income tax. That alone is worth 5-10% of your gross salary if you're coming from California or New York.

The biggest shock moving to Miami was insurance — both car and home insurance are brutal in Florida. Rent is high but not Manhattan-high. Groceries are roughly national average. If you like eating out, Miami is actually competitive with most major cities.

My advice: don't just look at the overall index. Dig into the categories that matter most to your lifestyle. If you work remote and own your home, housing index matters less than if you're renting. If you drive a lot, gas prices and insurance matter more. The right city is the one where your biggest spending categories are cheapest.

One thing people miss: states with no income tax often make up for it with higher property taxes or sales taxes. Texas has no income tax but property taxes are nearly double the national average. Florida does it through tourism taxes and insurance costs. There's no free lunch — but there are better lunches depending on your situation.

Read more about Glen's life in Miami Beach →

Recommended Resources

Tools & books I actually use and recommend

The Psychology of Money

Morgan Housel on why managing money is about behavior, not intelligence. Short, brilliant chapters you'll re-read.

View on Amazon

The Little Book of Common Sense Investing

John Bogle's manifesto on why low-cost index funds beat everything else. Straight from the founder of Vanguard.

View on Amazon

TradingView

Best charting platform out there. Real-time data, screeners, and a community of millions of traders.

Try TradingView

Some links above are affiliate links. I only recommend products I personally use. See my full disclosures.

Get Glen's Musings

Occasional thoughts on AI, Claude, investing, and building things. Free. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. I respect your inbox more than Congress respects property rights.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cost of living index?
A cost of living index measures the relative price levels in different geographic areas. The national average is set to 100. A city with an index of 120 is 20% more expensive than the national average, while a city at 85 is 15% cheaper. The index factors in housing, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and utilities.
What is the most expensive city to live in the US?
San Francisco and New York consistently rank as the most expensive US cities. San Francisco leads with a cost of living index around 155 (55% above the national average), driven primarily by extreme housing costs. Manhattan alone can exceed 200 on the index.
What is the cheapest major city to live in the US?
Among major metro areas, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Kansas City are among the most affordable, with overall cost of living indexes between 88-92. These cities offer housing costs 20-30% below the national average while still providing urban amenities and job markets.
How is cost of living calculated?
Cost of living indexes are calculated by comparing the prices of a standardized basket of goods and services across cities. This includes housing (both rent and home prices), groceries, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. Housing typically has the heaviest weighting (around 30-40%) because it represents the largest household expense.
Does cost of living include taxes?
Standard cost of living indexes typically do not include state and local income taxes, though some comprehensive comparisons factor them in. States like Florida, Texas, and Nevada have no state income tax, which can significantly impact your take-home pay. Property taxes and sales taxes also vary widely by location.
How much salary do I need to maintain my lifestyle if I move?
To maintain the same lifestyle, adjust your salary by the ratio of cost of living indexes. For example, if you earn $80,000 in Dallas (index 99) and move to San Francisco (index 155), you would need approximately $80,000 x (155/99) = $125,253 to maintain the same purchasing power.
Is Miami expensive compared to other major cities?
Miami has an overall cost of living index around 123, making it moderately expensive. Housing is the biggest driver at 145% of the national average. However, Florida has no state income tax, which can offset 5-10% of the higher costs compared to states like California or New York. Compared to SF or NYC, Miami offers significantly better value.
What factors should I consider beyond cost of living when relocating?
Beyond raw cost of living numbers, consider: state and local tax rates (income, property, sales), job market strength and salary levels in your field, commute time and transportation options, quality of schools if you have children, climate and lifestyle preferences, proximity to family, healthcare quality, and career growth opportunities. A lower cost of living means nothing if job opportunities are scarce.
How much does housing really vary across US cities?
Housing shows the widest variation of any cost category. Median 1-bedroom rent ranges from about $950/month in Detroit to over $3,200/month in New York City — a 3.4x difference. Median home prices range from $180,000 in Detroit to over $1.25 million in San Francisco — a 7x spread. Housing alone can make or break affordability in a city.
Are cost of living indexes accurate?
Cost of living indexes provide a useful approximation but have limitations. They use averages that may not reflect your specific spending patterns. Someone who spends heavily on housing will be more affected by a move to an expensive housing market than someone with lower housing costs. Lifestyle choices, neighborhood selection, and personal habits all influence your actual cost of living.

Methodology

Cost of living indexes are composites derived from BLS Consumer Price Index data, Census Bureau American Community Survey income statistics, Zillow home value estimates, and crowd-sourced pricing databases. Each category is indexed to 100 (the national average).

Housing (30-40% weight): Includes both rental prices and home purchase costs. Groceries (15%): Standard basket of food items. Transportation (15%): Gas, insurance, public transit, and maintenance. Healthcare (10%): Insurance premiums, co-pays, and common procedures. Utilities (10%): Electricity, gas, water, internet, and phone.

Data is updated periodically and represents metro-area averages. Individual experiences will vary based on neighborhood, lifestyle, and spending patterns. This tool provides directional guidance — not precise financial planning.

Keep Exploring

Calculator

Salary to Hourly Calculator

Convert between annual salary and hourly wage. Factor in taxes, benefits, and overtime.

Read moreCalculator

Budget Calculator

Build a personalized budget using the 50/30/20 rule with category-level tracking.

Read moreCalculator

Rent vs Buy Calculator

Should you rent or buy? Compare the true cost of homeownership vs renting over time.

Read moreCalculator

FIRE Calculator

Calculate your path to financial independence with Coast FIRE, Barista FIRE, and more.

Read moreCalculator

Net Worth Calculator

Track your total net worth with assets, liabilities, and percentile comparisons.

Read morePersonal

Glen in Miami Beach

Read about Glen's life on Miami Beach — cost of living, lifestyle, and why he moved.

Read more

© 2026 Glen Bradford. Rock on.

Talk - Action = Zero.

Built by Glen Bradford • Founder, Cloud Nimbus LLC • Delivery Hub — Salesforce development & project management

Disclaimer: This website is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing on this site constitutes financial advice, investment advice, legal advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. Glen Bradford is not a registered investment advisor, broker, or attorney. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investments carry risk, including total loss of principal. Significant portions of this site were generated or assisted by AI (Claude by Anthropic). While we strive for accuracy, AI-generated content may contain errors, outdated information, or misattributions. Quotes, book recommendations, and achievements attributed to public figures are sourced from publicly available interviews, articles, and books — but may be paraphrased, taken out of context, or inaccurate. These attributions do not imply endorsement of this site by those individuals. Screenplays and creative content are dramatizations for entertainment purposes. Glen Bradford holds positions in securities discussed on this site and has a financial interest in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac preferred shares. Some links are affiliate links — if you purchase through them, Glen earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. Always do your own research. Consult qualified professionals before making financial, legal, or investment decisions.

Built by Glen Bradford at Cloud Nimbus LLC • Delivery Hub — free Salesforce work tracking & project management