Most Expensive US Cities: San Diego Tops List; Beats the Likes of LA, New York and San Fransisco – News18

San Diego tops the list of the most expensive cities in the United States, according to the 2023-2024 ranking by US News and World Report. Factors contributing to this ranking include the city’s inflation rate, the cost of gasoline, and various living expenses such as housing costs, median gross rent, and homeownership fees.

The report notes that San Diego’s home prices surpass the national median sale price and highlights that many residents in the downtown area must pay homeowners association fees for housing complex upkeep, USA News reported.

According to the report, the high cost of living in San Diego is often colloquially referred to as the ‘sunshine tax’ by residents, acknowledging the price of enjoying a year-round temperate climate.

Los Angeles takes the second spot, followed by Honolulu and Miami, with California cities dominating seven of the top ten positions and half of the top 25. New York City, the most populous city in the US, is ranked 11th.

The report emphasises that cities at the top of the list require a significant level of wealth for residents to live comfortably. Notably, almost half of the 25 cities on the list are located in California. Here is the list of the 25 most expensive American cities:

• 1 – San Diego
• 2 – Los Angeles
• 3 – Honolulu
• 4 – Miami
• 5 – Santa Barbara, Calif.
• 6 – San Francisco
• 7 – Salinas, Calif.
• 8 – Santa Rosa, Calif.
• 9 – San Juan, Puerto Rico
• 10 – Vallejo and Fairfield, Calif.
• 11 – New York City
• 12 – Boston
• 13 – Seattle
• 14 – San Jose, Calif.
• 15 – Sacramento, Calif.
• 16 – Denver
• 17 – Stockton, Calif.
• 18 – Washington, D.C.
• 19 – Modesto, Calif
• 20 – Fresno, Calif.
• 21 – Portland
• 22 – New Haven, Conn.
• 23 – Boulder, Colo.
• 24 – Trenton, N.J.
• 25 – Eugene, Ore.