The High Cost of Living - Top 10 Most Expensive Places to Live In America and 10 That are Reasonable
HIgh Cost of Living
After the Recession of 2008 - 2010 and America's gradual recovery during the years 2010, 2011, and early 2012, Kiplinger Magazine analysts looked for the most expensive cities in the nation in which to live. These would be cities that, without yearly salaries proportionately high, would be difficult for job-seeking, working, and living.
Kiplinger analysts chose the expensive cities by examining the cost of living index in each city for 2011 with the national index, which is "100", as in percentages. Another place to find cost of living comparisons is Sperling's Best Places on the Internet, where you can choose a town or city and see a comparison of that place's cost of living index for the current year with that of the nation at any time. The very smallest towns in America may or may not be included.
What are the Top 10 Most Expensive Places to Live in the country for 2011 - 2012? Unfortunately, some of them are the same metro areas that offer Americans the largest numbers of jobs, but not the highest paying positions. They can be too costly for living and some people move away to other cities and states.
A full 50% (5) of these high-cost cities are located in California, while Number One is in New York.
Examine the information below about the most and least expensive places to live in our country, and check out the links for another level of useful data.
Number One: New York City
Cost of living here is over twice that of the nation at 218 and housing costs are generally quadruple the national average. Employers in New York City offer over 208,000 job listings in January 2012. Also see NYC Recovery Zone. Additionally, many of the Richest Cities In America are nearby.
NYC always shows up in job search results on major search engines as the number one city for the most high demand jobs, because it is a large city with a large population..
In January 2012, these top included Project Managers,Business Analysts,Occupational Therapists, Physician Assistants, Physical Therapists, Administrative Assistants, Java Developers, and Physicians that include Psychiatrists, and Pharmacists. The healthcare related occupations listed here are, in fact, some of the most well paid jobs, but they require education, training, and licensing.
New York's Little Italy
- Italian Immigration to America - 1850s
Immigration from Italy and the rest of Europe beginning in the 1950s for 50 years hence is known as THE SECOND WAVE of European Immigration. America was not even 100 years old yet in 1850!
SNAPSHOT January 2012
2.Honolulu HI - Cost of living Index 163 and about 7,800 job postings. Most-advertised jobs include Baristas, Shift Supervisor, Dentists, Pharmacists, Clinical Psychologists, Nurses (RNs),Physicians,and Clinical Social Workers and these healthcare jobs are well paid.
3.San Francisco - Cost of Living Index a little over 162. High demand jobs among over 101,000 listings include Software Engineers, Baristas, Shift Supervisors, Physical Therapists, Senior Software Engineers, Product Managers, Occupational Therapists, and Project Managers. Bold listings are the highest paid overall in this city, Healthcare and IT being at the top of the scale.
4. Orange County CA, specifically Santa Ana - Cost of Living Index 146.5. Hot job among over 84,400 include Baristas, Shift Supervisors, Dentists, Dental Assistants, Front Desk Staff, Salespeople, Physical Therapists, Asst. Store Managers, and Project Managers. The occupations in BOLD type are higher paid, with many at medium to low wages.
East Coast Expensive
5. Stamford CT - The Stamford-Bridgeport area is an improving and growing area with a Cost of Living Index of about 146. Homes may cost twice the US average here, but Bridgeport home prices have fallen as the city has improved infrastructure, businesses, and services. Of 151,000 jobs listings, these are in highest demand: Project Managers, Administrative and Executive Assistants, Physician Assistants, Java Developers, Psychiatrists, Pharmacists, Physicians, Business Analysts, RN Nurses (some nurses very highly paid).
6. Fairbanks AK - Cost of Living Index about 140. Utilities are especially expensive.Only 1,200 jobs are available and most are not high paying: Physical Therapists, Event Specialists, Assistant Store Managers, Graduate Externs, Phlebotomists, Speech Language Pathologists, CNAs.
7. Washington DC - Cost of Living Index around 138. This is one expensive place in which jobs pay high wages as well. All of the following top jobs there in January 2012 are higher paying among the 166,000 advertised: Physical and Occupational Therapists, Software Engineers, Systems Engineers, Project Managers, Java Developers, Program Managers, and Network Engineers.
High Costs In California
More In California
8. Oakland CA - Cost of Living Index 137. Over 180,000 jobs are on offer in January 2012, those in top demand being Software Engineers, Baristas, Shift Supervisors, Project Managers, Product Managers, Physical and Occupational Therapists and Assistants.
9. Los Angeles CA - Cost of Living Index here is about 136. Over 115,000 jobs. In highest demand are: Baristas, Shift Supervisors, Dental Assistants, Dentists, Physical Therapists, Front Desk Staff, and Project Managers.
10. San Deigo CA - Last in this Top 10 List, the city has a Cost of Living Index of 132.3. About 34,000 job listings. Top jobs include: Baristas, Shift Supervisors, Software Engineers, Physical and Occupational Therapists, Salespeople, Web Developers, and Dental Assistants.
Top 10 Lowest Cost of Living Cities in USA
The ten cities with the lowest cost of living in America (reference: Kiplinger ) are cheaper places to live than the top 10, but even the cheapest city's Cost of Living Index is at 85. This means approximately 85% of the national average, although that is an oversimplification. Access links below for full reviews and job listings.
Top 10 Low Cost American Cities:
- Fort Smith, Arkansas - Cheapest Place in the USA to live, with good jobs as well.
- Pueblo, Colorado - Find high paying jobs here and see what a slopper is.
- Harlingen, Texas - Lower Cost of Living and Unemployment Rate than the national average.
- McAllen, Texas -- Part of Borderplex, a metro area reaching into Mexico.
- Johnson City, Tennessee - Home of the National Storytelling Festival.
- Conway, Arkansas - A fast-growing and busy college town with two colleges, a university, and a premier medical center complex.
- Springfield, Illinois - Land of Abraham Lincoln and entertaining Trolley Tours.
- Covington, Kentucky - Much cheaper than Cincinnati OH, just across the Ohio River, and offering well paying jobs.
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Omaha, Nebraska
