Cost of Living Comparison: Big Cities Ranked by Affordability

As many as 23 million Americans are planning to move in the coming years, thanks in part to the growing shift toward remote work—and 53% of that 23 million plan to move somewhere more affordable.¹

Here's a look at how much more—or less—you'd need to maintain the same standard of living in the most populous metropolitan area of each state, plus Washington, D.C.² For example, if you earn $250,000 and live in Houston—where the cost of living is near the national average—you would need to make about 15.5% more ($288,700) to maintain the same standard of living in New York City, or 11% less ($221,925) in Charleston, West Virginia.