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.
