10 Most Expensive US Cities To Live Comfortably in 2026, Ranked
Affording more than just the basics is becoming increasingly difficult for many Americans. A new CouponFollow study found that in some U.S. metro areas, the annual cost of living comfortably is approaching six figures after accounting for housing, food, transportation, healthcare, other necessities and taxes.
The study analyzed the 100 largest U.S. metro areas to determine how much residents need to cover essential expenses and maintain a comfortable lifestyle. Four California metro areas landed in the top 10, highlighting the state's continued affordability challenges despite cooling inflation.
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Here's where living comfortably costs the most in 2026.
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California
Total annual living costs: $91,359
Annual housing costs: $31,296
Annual food costs: $4,973
Annual transportation costs: $13,666
Annual healthcare costs: $6,038
Annual cost for other necessities: $11,261
Annual taxes: $24,125
2. Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, California
Total annual living costs: $83,438
Annual housing costs: $28,224
Annual food costs: $4,569
Annual transportation costs: $13,620
Annual healthcare costs: $5,737
Annual cost for other necessities: $10,181
Annual taxes: $21,106
3. New York
Total annual living costs: $83,262
Annual housing costs: $28,872
Annual food costs: $5,109
Annual transportation costs: $8,315
Annual healthcare costs: $8,981
Annual cost for other necessities: $10,550
Annual taxes: $21,435
4. San Francisco
Total annual living costs: $83,007
Annual housing costs: $27,300
Annual food costs: $5,629
Annual transportation costs: $11,619
Annual healthcare costs: $7,299
Annual cost for other necessities: $10,224
Annual taxes: $20,936
5. Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Massachusetts-New Hampshire
Total annual living costs: $79,709
Annual housing costs: $27,156
Annual food costs: $5,017
Annual transportation costs: $12,956
Annual healthcare costs: $4,959
Annual cost for other necessities: $9,989
Annual taxes: $19,633
6. San Diego-Carlsbad, California
Total annual living costs: $77,560
Annual housing costs: $25,740
Annual food costs: $4,431
Annual transportation costs: $13,452
Annual healthcare costs: $5,777
Annual cost for other necessities: $9,367
Annual taxes: $18,793
7. Nassau-Suffolk, New York
Total annual living costs: $76,192
Annual housing costs: $22,176
Annual food costs: $4,772
Annual transportation costs: $13,935
Annual healthcare costs: $8,055
Annual cost for other necessities: $8,366
Annual taxes: $18,889
8. Oakland-Fremont, California
Total annual living costs: $75,015
Annual housing costs: $23,244
Annual food costs: $5,000
Annual transportation costs: $13,321
Annual healthcare costs: $6,882
Annual cost for other necessities: $8,769
Annual taxes: $17,798
9. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
Total annual living costs: $74,025
Annual housing costs: $22,644
Annual food costs: $5,146
Annual transportation costs: $12,821
Annual healthcare costs: $5,551
Annual cost for other necessities: $8,628
Annual taxes: $19,235
10. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, California
Total annual living costs: $73,947
Annual housing costs: $22,452
Annual food costs: $4,569
Annual transportation costs: $14,477
Annual healthcare costs: $6,678
Annual cost for other necessities: $8,389
Annual taxes: $17,382
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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