The cost of living in the United States fluctuates significantly by region. Areas in and near large cities and on the East and West Coasts are the most expensive, while rural areas tend to be much less expensive. Many resources to calculate cost of living are available online. A comprehensive resource can be found on Sperling's Best Places . This Web site uses the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index as a source for cost of living information on cities throughout the United States. When you visit the site, you can grasp the difference in cost of living among cities in various regions by selecting two locations to compare. For example, according to the cost of living statistics, San Diego, California, is 45.7 percent more expensive than Memphis, Tennessee. In addition, a $50,000 salary in Memphis would need to increase to $72,835 annually in San Diego in order for a comparable standard of living to be maintained.
