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GOBankingRates

Heather Taylor

How the Cost of Living Compares in 25 Major Cities and Their Top Suburbs

Sean Pavone Texas California GOBankingRates Massachusetts New Jersey United States Florida

Conventional wisdom suggests that city living is pricier than the suburban life — but the reality might suggest otherwise. Popular — and notably expensive — U.S. cities such as Boston and San Francisco actually have a lower cost of living than some of their surrounding suburbs. A new original research study from GOBankingRates has identified 15 cities, out of 25 major metropolitan areas, that have lower annual cost of living than nearby suburbs with high livability scores.

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GOBankingRates studied the U.S. Census 2023 5-Year American Community Survey (ACS) to find the 25 largest metropolitan statistical areas and the difference in cost of living from the most popular major city to the best three suburbs in the area. Qualifying suburbs have at least 5,000 households and are within a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) but are not named in the MSA as a principal city. The “best” suburbs were also identified as those with the highest livability index scores, as sourced from AreaVibes.

Key Findings

15 out of 25 major metropolitan areas have lower cost of living than their three surrounding suburbs with high livability scores. These cities are Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Boston, San Francisco, Detroit, Minneapolis, Denver, Baltimore, St. Louis, Orlando, Charlotte and San Antonio.
Only four major cities were identified as having six-figure median household incomes: Washington, D.C. ($106,287), San Francisco ($141,446), Seattle ($121,984) and San Diego ($104,321).
There are five suburbs where median household incomes amount to more than $200,000. Ranked from most to least annual income, they are Bellaire, Texas ($236,311); Lexington, Massachusetts ($219,402); Winchester, Massachusetts ($218,176); Ridgewood, New Jersey ($217,250); and Mill Valley, California ($208,466).
Ridgewood, New Jersey, and Bellaire, Texas, emerged with six figures’ worth of leftover savings from their respective median incomes. While both suburbs boast median household incomes of more than $200,000, the leftover savings amounts to $110,334 in Ridgewood and $135,663 in Bellaire.
Three suburbs cost at least $40,000 more than the median salary. The median earner is in the red by $51,450 in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida; by $48,711 in Larkspur, California; and by $40,449 in Solana Beach, California.

Keep reading for the cost difference between major cities and suburbs in these 25 popular locales. And don’t forget to review the nation’s 50 wealthiest suburbs in 2025.

View More: 25 Most Livable Cities for Middle-Class Families

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1. New York City

Median household income: $79,713
Total cost of living annually: $91,414
Livability: 75
Shortfall from median income: $11,701

Fort Lee, New Jersey

Median household income: $105,535
Total cost of living annually: $92,279
Livability: 88
Leftover savings from median income: $13,256

Ridgewood, New Jersey

Median household income: $217,250
Total cost of living annually: $106,916
Livability: 88
Leftover savings from median income: $110,334

Highland Park, New Jersey

Median household income: $101,991
Total cost of living annually: $67,129
Livability: 88
Leftover savings from median income: $34,862

Find Out: What Is the Estimated Median Income for the Upper-Middle Class in 2025?

2. Los Angeles

Median household income: $80,366
Total cost of living annually: $95,457
Livability: 67
Shortfall from median income: $15,091

South Pasadena, California

Median household income: $128,105
Total cost of living annually: $146,893
Livability: 82
Shortfall from median income: $18,788

Redondo Beach, California

Median household income: $144,588
Total cost of living annually: $132,804
Livability: 79
Leftover savings from median income: $11,784

Aliso Viejo, California

Median household income: $137,970
Total cost of living annually: $111,003
Livability: 79
Leftover savings from median income: $26,967

3. Chicago

Median household income: $75,134
Total cost of living annually: $46,752
Livability: 78
Leftover savings from median income: $28,382

Brookfield, Illinois

Median household income: $108,429
Total cost of living annually: $48,128
Livability: 89
Leftover savings from median income: $60,301

Libertyville, Illinois

Median household income: $162,270
Total cost of living annually: $66,030
Livability: 88
Leftover savings from median income: $96,240

La Grange, Illinois

Median household income: $154,556
Total cost of living annually: $72,714
Livability: 88
Leftover savings from median income: $81,842

4. Dallas

Median household income: $67,760
Total cost of living annually: $46,731
Livability: 81
Leftover savings from median income: $21,029

Denton, Texas

Median household income: $73,719
Total cost of living annually: $47,209
Livability: 85
Leftover savings from median income: $26,510

Richardson, Texas

Median household income: $96,257
Total cost of living annually: $54,753
Livability: 84
Leftover savings from median income: $41,504

Plano, Texas

Median household income: $108,649
Total cost of living annually: $57,531
Livability: 83
Leftover savings from median income: $51,118

5. Houston

Median household income: $62,894
Total cost of living annually: $43,127
Livability: 74
Leftover savings from median income: $19,767

Pearland, Texas

Median household income: $112,470
Total cost of living annually: $50,657
Livability: 81
Leftover savings from median income: $61,813

Bellaire, Texas

Median household income: $236,311
Total cost of living annually: $100,648
Livability: 81
Leftover savings from median income: $135,663

Lake Jackson, Texas

Median household income: $89,623
Total cost of living annually: $40,169
Livability: 79
Leftover savings from median income: $49,454

6. Washington, D.C.

Median household income: $106,287
Total cost of living annually: $77,133
Livability: 75
Leftover savings from median income: $29,154

Springfield, Virginia

Median household income: $123,691
Total cost of living annually: $74,465
Livability: 89
Leftover savings from median income: $49,226

Reston, Virginia

Median household income: $139,515
Total cost of living annually: $79,275
Livability: 88
Leftover savings from median income: $60,240

Falls Church, Virginia

Median household income: $154,734
Total cost of living annually: $87,921
Livability: 88
Leftover savings from median income: $66,813

7. Philadelphia

Median household income: $60,698
Total cost of living annually: $42,844
Livability: 76
Leftover savings from median income: $17,854

Ardmore, Pennsylvania

Median household income: $115,273
Total cost of living annually: $60,130
Livability: 93
Leftover savings from median income: $55,143

Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

Median household income: $94,411
Total cost of living annually: $61,342
Livability: 88
Leftover savings from median income: $33,069

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

Median household income: $111,600
Total cost of living annually: $58,509
Livability: 87
Leftover savings from median income: $53,091

8. Atlanta

Median household income: $81,938
Total cost of living annually: $55,265
Livability: 78
Leftover savings from median income: $26,673

Decatur, Georgia

Median household income: $140,480
Total cost of living annually: $45,161
Livability: 87
Leftover savings from median income: $95,319

Lawrenceville, Georgia

Median household income: $58,606
Total cost of living annually: $49,718
Livability: 85
Leftover savings from median income: $8,888

Marietta, Georgia

Median household income: $70,086
Total cost of living annually: $58,396
Livability: 82
Leftover savings from median income: $11,690

9. Miami

Median household income: $59,390
Total cost of living annually: $71,243
Livability: 81
Shortfall from median income: $11,853

Wilton Manors, Florida

Median household income: $79,390
Total cost of living annually: $73,163
Livability: 91
Leftover savings from median income: $6,227

West Palm Beach, Florida

Median household income: $69,261
Total cost of living annually: $57,120
Livability: 85
Leftover savings from median income: $12,141

Sunny Isles Beach, Florida

Median household income: $59,124
Total cost of living annually: $110,574
Livability: 85
Shortfall from median income: $51,450

10. Phoenix

Median household income: $77,041
Total cost of living annually: $52,951
Livability: 76
Leftover savings from median income: $24,090

Gilbert, Arizona

Median household income: $121,351
Total cost of living annually: $63,242
Livability: 89
Leftover savings from median income: $58,109

Scottsdale, Arizona

Median household income: $107,372
Total cost of living annually: $87,476
Livability: 82
Leftover savings from median income: $19,896

Tempe, Arizona

Median household income: $77,643
Total cost of living annually: $56,604
Livability: 78
Leftover savings from median income: $21,039

11. Boston

Median household income: $94,755
Total cost of living annually: $82,289
Livability: 77
Leftover savings from median income: $12,466

Lexington, Massachusetts

Median household income: $219,402
Total cost of living annually: $134,527
Livability: 92
Leftover savings from median income: $84,875

Winchester, Massachusetts

Median household income: $218,176
Total cost of living annually: $136,169
Livability: 91
Leftover savings from median income: $82,007

Melrose, Massachusetts

Median household income: $126,854
Total cost of living annually: $87,507
Livability: 90
Leftover savings from median income: $39,347

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12. San Francisco

Median household income: $141,446
Total cost of living annually: $123,842
Livability: 75
Leftover savings from median income: $17,604

San Ramon, California

Median household income: $197,358
Total cost of living annually: $138,164
Livability: 87
Leftover savings from median income: $59,194

Mill Valley, California

Median household income: $208,466
Total cost of living annually: $165,206
Livability: 87
Leftover savings from median income: $43,260

Larkspur, California

Median household income: $134,744
Total cost of living annually: $183,455
Livability: 86
Shortfall from median income: $48,711

13. Riverside, California

Median household income: $88,575
Total cost of living annually: $70,206
Livability: 67
Leftover savings from median income: $18,369

Redlands, California

Median household income: $99,158
Total cost of living annually: $66,893
Livability: 75
Leftover savings from median income: $32,265

Upland, California

Median household income: $101,407
Total cost of living annually: $81,511
Livability: 73
Leftover savings from median income: $19,896

Temecula, California

Median household income: $117,840
Total cost of living annually: $78,682
Livability: 71
Leftover savings from median income: $39,158

14. Detroit

Median household income: $39,575
Total cost of living annually: $32,522
Livability: 73
Leftover savings from median income: $7,053

Clawson, Michigan

Median household income: $86,630
Total cost of living annually: $43,020
Livability: 92
Leftover savings from median income: $43,610

Berkley, Michigan

Median household income: $113,103
Total cost of living annually: $44,807
Livability: 91
Leftover savings from median income: $68,296

Farmington, Michigan

Median household income: $94,115
Total cost of living annually: $47,038
Livability: 91
Leftover savings from median income: $47,077

15. Seattle

Median household income: $121,984
Total cost of living annually: $86,890
Livability: 75
Leftover savings from median income: $35,094

Redmond, Washington

Median household income: $162,099
Total cost of living annually: $124,988
Livability: 88
Leftover savings from median income: $37,111

Issaquah, Washington

Median household income: $153,786
Total cost of living annually: $114,611
Livability: 88
Leftover savings from median income: $39,175

Enumclaw, Washington

Median household income: $116,563
Total cost of living annually: $70,886
Livability: 88
Leftover savings from median income: $45,677

Gian Lorenzo Ferretti Photograph / Getty Images

16. Minneapolis

Median household income: $80,269
Total cost of living annually: $47,132
Livability: 78
Leftover savings from median income: $33,137

Shakopee, Minnesota

Median household income: $110,989
Total cost of living annually: $50,181
Livability: 89
Leftover savings from median income: $60,808

Rosemount, Minnesota

Median household income: $127,247
Total cost of living annually: $52,968
Livability: 89
Leftover savings from median income: $74,279

Champlin, Minnesota

Median household income: $115,719
Total cost of living annually: $48,797
Livability: 89
Leftover savings from median income: $66,922

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DutcherAerials / Getty Images/iStockphoto

17. San Diego

Median household income: $104,321
Total cost of living annually: $100,888
Livability: 75
Leftover savings from median income: $3,433

Encinitas, California

Median household income: $150,471
Total cost of living annually: $157,665
Livability: 79
Shortfall from median income: $7,194

San Marcos, California

Median household income: $105,286
Total cost of living annually: $92,605
Livability: 77
Leftover savings from median income: $12,681

Solana Beach, California

Median household income: $150,820
Total cost of living annually: $191,269
Livability: 76
Shortfall from median income: $40,449

18. Tampa, Florida

Median household income: $71,302
Total cost of living annually: $51,212
Livability: 80
Leftover savings from median income: $20,090

Seminole, Florida

Median household income: $77,335
Total cost of living annually: $53,095
Livability: 89
Leftover savings from median income: $24,240

Safety Harbor, Florida

Median household income: $105,813
Total cost of living annually: $60,397
Livability: 87
Leftover savings from median income: $45,416

Brandon, Florida

Median household income: $77,068
Total cost of living annually: $49,496
Livability: 85
Leftover savings from median income: $27,572

19. Denver

Median household income: $91,681
Total cost of living annually: $63,344
Livability: 72
Leftover savings from median income: $28,337

Arvada, Colorado

Median household income: $113,396
Total cost of living annually: $66,141
Livability: 85
Leftover savings from median income: $47,255

Broomfield, Colorado

Median household income: $121,025
Total cost of living annually: $67,959
Livability: 85
Leftover savings from median income: $53,066

Parker, Colorado

Median household income: $129,342
Total cost of living annually: $71,012
Livability: 83
Leftover savings from median income: $58,330

20. Baltimore

Median household income: $59,623
Total cost of living annually: $37,770
Livability: 77
Leftover savings from median income: $21,853

Perry Hall, Maryland

Median household income: $104,709
Total cost of living annually: $57,290
Livability: 86
Leftover savings from median income: $47,419

Dundalk, Maryland

Median household income: $62,349
Total cost of living annually: $39,897
Livability: 85
Leftover savings from median income: $22,452

Rosedale, Maryland

Median household income: $83,957
Total cost of living annually: $46,365
Livability: 81
Leftover savings from median income: $37,592

21. St. Louis

Median household income: $55,279
Total cost of living annually: $35,492
Livability: 74
Leftover savings from median income: $19,787

Edwardsville, Illinois

Median household income: $92,671
Total cost of living annually: $45,034
Livability: 90
Leftover savings from median income: $47,637

Ballwin, Missouri

Median household income: $121,170
Total cost of living annually: $51,679
Livability: 86
Leftover savings from median income: $69,491

Clayton, Missouri

Median household income: $128,898
Total cost of living annually: $97,357
Livability: 84
Leftover savings from median income: $31,541

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22. Orlando, Florida

Median household income: $69,268
Total cost of living annually: $52,220
Livability: 81
Leftover savings from median income: $17,048

Doctor Phillips, Florida

Median household income: $101,540
Total cost of living annually: $63,310
Livability: 89
Leftover savings from median income: $38,230

Winter Park, Florida

Median household income: $98,076
Total cost of living annually: $58,611
Livability: 84
Leftover savings from median income: $39,465

Winter Garden, Florida

Median household income: $106,371
Total cost of living annually: $64,588
Livability: 83
Leftover savings from median income: $41,783

23. Charlotte, North Carolina

Median household income: $78,438
Total cost of living annually: $50,957
Livability: 80
Leftover savings from median income: $27,481

Matthews, North Carolina

Median household income: $105,579
Total cost of living annually: $57,805
Livability: 83
Leftover savings from median income: $47,774

Harrisburg, North Carolina

Median household income: $143,393
Total cost of living annually: $56,521
Livability: 78
Leftover savings from median income: $86,872

Fort Mill, South Carolina

Median household income: $127,537
Total cost of living annually: $59,578
Livability: 76
Leftover savings from median income: $67,959

24. San Antonio

Median household income: $62,917
Total cost of living annually: $40,111
Livability: 80
Leftover savings from median income: $22,806

Boerne, Texas

Median household income: $86,838
Total cost of living annually: $62,431
Livability: 78
Leftover savings from median income: $24,407

Schertz, Texas

Median household income: $96,633
Total cost of living annually: $45,299
Livability: 73
Leftover savings from median income: $51,334

Universal City, Texas

Median household income: $75,439
Total cost of living annually: $41,019
Livability: 73
Leftover savings from median income: $34,420

Long_Strange_Trip_01 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

25. Portland, Oregon

Median household income: $88,792
Total cost of living annually: $62,032
Livability: 78
Leftover savings from median income: $26,760

Sherwood, Oregon

Median household income: $110,616
Total cost of living annually: $68,338
Livability: 92
Leftover savings from median income: $42,278

Milwaukie, Oregon

Median household income: $82,422
Total cost of living annually: $59,740
Livability: 91
Leftover savings from median income: $22,682

Battle Ground, Washington

Median household income: $100,185
Total cost of living annually: $65,588
Livability: 90
Leftover savings from median income: $34,597

Find more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the 25 largest metropolitan statistical areas, as defined by the U.S. Census 2023 5-Year ACS, to find the difference in cost of living from the most popular major city to the best three suburbs in each area. Using the ACS, the 25 most populated MSAs were identified, along with median household income for all the places located within those metro areas. To qualify as a suburb, the place had to have at least 5,000 households, be within an MSA, but not be named in the MSA (not a principal city). The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes and the highest three suburbs in each metro were identified. Using the Zillow Home Value Index, the single-family home value was sourced for each location. Assuming a 10% down payment, using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated for each place. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces. Using the national average expenditure costs for all households, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for all consumer units, the average expenditure cost was calculated for each place. Using the average expenditure and mortgage, the total cost of living was calculated for each place. All data was collected on Nov. 21, 2025.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How the Cost of Living Compares in 25 Major Cities and Their Top Suburbs

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