United States (US)
The United States is a federation of 50 states and the District of Columbia spanning six time zones from the Atlantic to the Pacific, plus Alaska and Hawaii.
Capital: Washington, D.C.
Region: Americas
Language: English
Currency: USD ($)
Cost of living: Expensive (index 75)
Emergency: 911
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Cost of Living
Real prices in United States — 2026 data in USD.
75
Cost of living index
(100 = NYC reference)
Moderately priced. Similar to or slightly less than Western European averages.
Rent
Studio apartment, Manhattan (NYC) $2,800–$4,200
1-bedroom apartment, Manhattan / San Francisco $3,500–$5,000
1-bedroom apartment, Brooklyn / Los Angeles / Boston $2,500–$3,800
1-bedroom apartment, Austin / Seattle / Denver / DC $1,800–$2,800
1-bedroom apartment, Chicago / Philadelphia / Atlanta $1,400–$2,200
1-bedroom apartment, Des Moines / Pittsburgh / Columbus (mid-size US) $900–$1,400
2-bedroom apartment, typical suburban metro $1,600–$3,200
Single-family home rent, 3-bed suburbs of major metro $2,500–$5,500
Food & Groceries
Weekly groceries, single person (home cooking) $100–$175
Weekly groceries, family of 4 $250–$400
Milk, 1 gallon (3.78L) $4.00–$5.50
Eggs, dozen large (grade A) $3.50–$5.50 (prices volatile)
Bread, loaf sandwich $3.00–$5.00
Chicken breast, 1 lb $4.50–$7.00
Ground beef (80/20), 1 lb $5.50–$8.50
Bananas, per pound $0.65–$0.85
Avocado, each $1.25–$2.25
Apples, per pound $1.80–$3.00
Pasta, 1 lb box $1.50–$2.75
Rice, 5 lb bag $6–$12
Dining Out
Fast food combo meal (McDonald's, Chipotle) $10–$14
Casual lunch at sit-down restaurant $14–$22 (plus 18–20% tip)
Dinner mid-range restaurant, entrée only $22–$40
Dinner for 2, mid-range with drinks $70–$130 (plus tip)
Coffee at café (12 oz latte) $5.00–$7.50
Starbucks drip coffee (grande) $3.25–$3.85
Pint of domestic beer at bar $6–$9
Craft beer at brewery or cocktail bar $8–$14
Cocktail at mid-tier bar $12–$18
Fine dining tasting menu, per person $150–$400 (before wine/tip)
Brunch with mimosa $25–$45/person
Transport
Gasoline, regular unleaded, per US gallon $3.20–$4.20 (varies by state — CA highest, Gulf Coast lowest)
NYC subway monthly unlimited OMNY cap $132 (auto-caps after ~44 trips)
Monthly transit pass, typical US city $75–$130
Uber/Lyft, 3-mile typical city ride $12–$20 (surge doubles this)
Taxi, New York, 5-mile trip $18–$28 including tip
BART single-ride (SF Bay Area, short trip) $2.25–$4.50
Amtrak NYC–DC (Northeast Regional) $70–$130
Amtrak Acela NYC–DC $150–$300
Domestic flight NYC–LA (economy, advance booking) $150–$400
Car insurance (annual, full coverage, clean record) $1,500–$3,000 (higher in FL, NY, LA)
Utilities
Electricity (average US home, 900 kWh) $100–$180 (higher in summer with A/C)
Natural gas (winter heating month) $50–$120
Water and sewer combined $40–$80
Trash/waste collection Usually included in rent or municipal tax
Home internet (cable/fiber 300–500 Mbps) $55–$85
Mobile phone plan (Verizon/T-Mobile/AT&T, 1 line unlimited) $50–$90
Mobile phone MVNO (Mint, Visible, US Mobile) $15–$35
Streaming bundle (Netflix + Disney+ + Hulu + Max) $50–$75
Health & Insurance
Employer health insurance employee share (single) $150–$250/month
Employer health insurance (family coverage) $500–$1,500/month employee share
ACA Marketplace silver plan (40yo, no subsidy) $450–$650/month
Doctor visit copay (in-network with insurance) $25–$50
Specialist copay with insurance $50–$100
ER visit (uninsured) $1,500–$3,500 average (can be $10,000+)
Urgent care visit (uninsured) $150–$250
Generic prescription (30-day) $5–$25 with insurance; $10–$40 GoodRx cash
Dental cleaning (no insurance) $100–$200
Eye exam + glasses (no insurance) $250–$450
Childcare
Daycare full-time infant (major metro) $2,000–$3,500/month
Daycare full-time infant (mid-cost metro) $1,200–$2,000/month
Preschool (3–5 yo) $1,200–$2,500/month
Nanny (live-out, full-time, major metro) $3,500–$6,000/month
Public K–12 school Free (funded by local property taxes)
Private K–8 school $15,000–$40,000/year
Private high school $25,000–$60,000/year
Leisure
Gym membership (Planet Fitness budget) $15–$25/month
Gym membership (Equinox/SoulCycle premium) $200–$300/month
Gym membership (typical mid-range) $40–$80/month
Netflix standard with ads $7.99/month
Netflix standard no ads $17.99/month
Spotify Premium Individual $11.99/month
Movie ticket (AMC/Regal, evening) $14–$18 (IMAX $22)
Concert ticket, major tour (arena) $80–$300+
NFL/NBA game (upper deck) $50–$150
MLB game (typical seat) $30–$80
Broadway show (NYC, orchestra) $100–$300
National park annual pass (America the Beautiful) $80/year
Haircut men (mid-range barber) $25–$50 (plus 15–20% tip)
Haircut women (salon cut and style) $60–$150
Cost of Living
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