The Most Expensive Cities in North America

Considering that its inhabitants earn an average net salary of $2,212.85 a month, Hartford is quite expensive. According to Numbeo, a single person’s monthly costs will amount to about $995 before rent. A one-bedroom apartment costs between $800 and $1,500 a month, so you’ll have to invest in items that save you money over time if you want to live well here.

With its vibrant culture, New York could have been one of the best cities for millennials, if only millennials could afford it. The city is notorious for being not only one of the most expensive cities in North America but also in the world. According to Numbeo, the average monthly cost for a single person in New York is just over $1,250, excluding rent. A one-bedroom apartment can set you back anything from $1,500 to $4,000 a month.

If you’re plagued by any of the most common health concerns in Canada, think twice about moving to Portland. According to Expatistan, a short visit to a private doctor here is the second most expensive in the world. A one-bedroom apartment in Portland costs between $900 and $2,000 a month.

Housing is one of the main factors that make Boston one of the most expensive cities in North America. According to Best Places, a one-bedroom apartment in the city will set you back $1,395 a month on average. The city is also expensive when it comes to things like gym membership and haircuts.

Honolulu is home to one of the best Zika-free destinations that go beyond the beach. With much of the city catering for the tourist market, it’s unfortunately one of the most expensive cities in North America (even though it's far from the continent).

According to Best Places, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city is $1,248 a month. Utilities and groceries are also much more expensive than the average for the United States.

The City of Brotherly Love may be cheaper to live in than New York or San Francisco but it’s still one of the most expensive cities in North America. SmartAsset says that a one-bedroom apartment in Philadelphia costs an average of $1,152. Food is slightly pricier than the average for the United States and a Philly cheese steak hoagie will set you back around $9.

Living in Miami means you get to enjoy great weather but it doesn’t come cheap. According to Best Places, a one-bedroom apartment here will set you back $904 a month on average. What makes Miami one of the most expensive cities in North America, though, is the cost of groceries.

When you put together your Florida packing list, remember that Miami has some of the most expensive shampoo, deodorant, cold medicine and toilet paper in the world.

Chicago boasts the kind of architecture that rivals that of New York but it’s much easier to afford housing here. It’s not cheap, though: according to SmartAsset, a one-bedroom apartment in the Windy City goes for an average of $1,341 a month.

What makes Chicago one of the most expensive cities in North America to live in, though, is the taxes: sales tax on food, restaurant taxes and state taxes are very high.

Charleston is one of the best places to travel in April, especially if you’re a yachtie. With one-bedroom apartments going for between $900 and $1,800 a month, according to Numbeo, you won’t need to stay on your yacht to live here. However, as a single person you’ll need just under $1,070 to cover the rest of your monthly costs.

While in most respects Boulder is slightly cheaper the average for the United States, the cost of housing here makes it one of the most expensive cities in North America. Best Places says that a one-bedroom apartment in the city costs an average of $1,202 a month.

While Jersey City is quite a bit cheaper than New York on the other side of the Hudson River, it’s still one of the most expensive cities in North America. Numbeo says you’ll need just over $1,050 a month as a single person to live here, and that’s excluding rent. A one-bedroom apartment in Jersey City will set you back between $1,100 and $3,000 a month.

The city that has given us the most expensive modern-day movies ever made is not a cheap one to live in. Housing is 127% more expensive than the average for the United States and the total cost of living is 43% more, according to PayScale. You can expect to pay between $1,250 and $2,700 a month for a one-bedroom apartment here.

The home of grunge, Seattle is one of the most amazing destinations for music lovers. Living here, however, comes at quite a steep price. SmartAsset says that the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Seattle is $1,547 a month while a restaurant meal typically costs around $30.

PayScale says that the cost of living in Oakland is 49% higher than the average for the United States. Housing here is 117% more expensive than the national average, with a one-bedroom apartment going for between $1,500 and $3,000 a month.

Washington, D.C. is one of the most expensive cities in North America to live in because things like housing and public transport are pricey. According to SmartAsset, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city is $1,966, while a 28-day transit pass will cost you $237 a month.

Luckily the U.S. capital is one of the cheapest places to travel from Canada because many of the attractions here are free to visit.

At between $800 and $1,600 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, rents in Anchorage aren’t as insanely high as in San Francisco, for example. However, the Alaskan city is still one of the most expensive cities in North America. This is mainly because groceries, especially fresh produce, are expensive. According to Numbeo, a single person will need an average of just over $1,160 per month, excluding rent, to get by in Anchorage.

The Bay Area is home to several of the most expensive cities in North America. PayScale says that the cost of living in Walnut Creek, in the East Bay Area, is 73% higher than the national average in the United States, with housing costs a whopping 188% higher than the national average.

You can expect to pay between $1,500 and $2,300 a month for a one-bedroom apartment here.

San Francisco is still one of the best places for tech start-ups. This reputation comes at a cost, though: with a cost of living 62.6% higher than the average in the United States, according to Smart Asset, San Francisco is also one of the most expensive cities in North America. A two-bedroom apartment in the city will set you back an average of $4,650 a month.

Expatistan says that Mountain View, home to Google’s headquarters, is the second most expensive city in North America. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment here ranges from $2,000 to $3,500 a month, while the average net salary in this tech centre is just over $6,000 a month.

According to Numbeo, the Bermudan capital of Hamilton not only tops the list of the most expensive cities in North America; it’s also at number one among the world’s most expensive cities to live in.

Your monthly costs for living in this island paradise as a single person would come to an average of just over $1,670 – and that’s without rent, which could be from $1,300 to $4,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.