Most Expensive US Cities to Live In

The most expensive of the large US cities we track, ranked by one-bedroom rent.

1. 1Cambridge, MA$2,496/mo
2. 2San Francisco, CA$2,425/mo
3. 3Santa Ana, CA$2,232/mo
4. 4Boston, MA$1,978/mo
5. 5Washington, DC$1,885/mo
6. 6San Diego, CA$1,883/mo
7. 7Seattle, WA$1,858/mo
8. 8Jersey City, NJ$1,853/mo
9. 9Anaheim, CA$1,764/mo
10. 10New York City, NY$1,705/mo
11. 11Los Angeles, CA$1,688/mo
12. 12Long Beach, CA$1,634/mo
13. 13Annapolis, MD$1,598/mo
14. 14Naperville, IL$1,594/mo
15. 15Denver, CO$1,583/mo

Ranked by median one-bedroom apartment rent (US Census ACS), highest first.

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).