Cost of living · US · 2026
Can you afford to live there?
Can I afford to live in a US city on my salary?
Whether a salary is "enough" depends entirely on the city — and the state, since state income tax changes your take-home before you spend a dollar. The same pay that's comfortable in Houston can leave you stretched in San Francisco. Enter your salary and a city to see what's actually left after rent, bills, transport, food and health.
Verified 12 August 2026
What it costs to live in each city
Typical monthly cost for a single person renting a one-bed — rent, utilities, transport, food and health:
| City | One-bed rent | Total monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $3,900 | $4,922 |
| San Francisco, CA | $3,200 | $4,150 |
| Boston, MA | $2,900 | $3,830 |
| Miami, FL | $2,600 | $3,515 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,400 | $3,330 |
| Washington, DC | $2,400 | $3,325 |
| Seattle, WA | $2,200 | $3,120 |
| Chicago, IL | $1,900 | $2,770 |
| Denver, CO | $1,750 | $2,630 |
| Atlanta, GA | $1,650 | $2,515 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $1,650 | $2,510 |
| Austin, TX | $1,550 | $2,440 |
| Nashville, TN | $1,550 | $2,410 |
| Dallas, TX | $1,500 | $2,380 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $1,500 | $2,355 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $1,450 | $2,320 |
| Houston, TX | $1,350 | $2,225 |
| Columbus, OH | $1,250 | $2,070 |
| San Antonio, TX | $1,200 | $2,050 |
| Detroit, MI | $1,150 | $1,980 |
Rent from HUD Fair Market Rent and metro market data, Q1 2026. Other costs are typical single-person figures. How we calculate.
Related
See what salary you need in each city →, or jump to a city: New York · San Francisco · Los Angeles · Boston · Seattle · Washington · Chicago · Austin · Denver · Miami · Atlanta · Dallas · Houston · Phoenix · Philadelphia · Nashville · San Antonio · Columbus · Detroit · Minneapolis
Or check a specific salary in a specific place, like is $100k good in New York?