It's easy to imagine big city life as being glamorous, exciting and expensive. We picture busy professionals with amazing jobs, living in high-rise, waterfront apartments. But wait, how much of their income are they really saving, given the higher cost of living they face?
We were curious about this, so we analyzed how much Americans would need to earn in order to live comfortably and save some money while residing in the 10 of the most expensive cities in the U.S.
We also included high-paying jobs with great reputations, but won't allow you to save adequately and live a cushy life in these cities.
10. Dallas, TX
Brunch time in Dallas is not taken lightly. Plus, you can get all this, for $6.50! Image via
Average annual spending of a Dallas resident: $80,452
Average annual housing cost: $28,416
Average taxes paid: $11,687
High-paying jobs that won't enable you to earn enough:
- Airfield operations specialist: $60,760/year or $29.21/hour
- MRI technologist: $71,550/year or $34.40/hour
- Registered nurse: $71,910/year or $34.57/hour
9. Stamford, CT
Stamford residents know that boredom can be fixed with a short train ride to NYC. Image via
Average annual spending of a Stamford resident: $57,027
Average annual housing cost: $20,341
Average taxes paid: $13,164
You'll still struggle if you have any of these respectable jobs:
- Power plant operator: $68,660/year or $33.01/hour
- Human resources specialist: $69,610/year or $33.47/hour
- Computer science professor: $72,450/year or $34.83/hour
8. Boston, MA
Jaywalking isn't just a New Yorker thing. Bostonians jaywalk incessantly. So much so, that they don't even get ticketed for it. Image via
Average annual spending of a Boston resident: $65,650
Average annual housing cost: $21,384
Average taxes paid: $12,011
Great jobs with great pay, but without the great life:
- Microbiologist: $68,290/year or $32.83/hour
- Market research analyst: $74,010/year or $35.58/hour
- Physical therapist: $82,440/year or $39.63/hour
7. Miami, FL
Rule number one: if you live in Miami, you don't party at South Beach, ever. This guy is clearly a tourist. Image via
Average annual spending of a Miami resident: $65,516
Average annual housing cost: $16,212
Average taxes paid: $6,328
Welcome to Miami, where these jobs won't suffice:
- Radiologic technologist: $48,310/year or $23.22/hour
- Credit counselor: $49,780/year or $23.93/hour
- IT support specialist: $50,530/year or $24.29/hour
6. Honolulu, HI
Yes, there's traffic in paradise too. Honolulu, Hawaii was once ranked as the second most congested city for traffic, after L.A. Image via
Average annual spending of a Honolulu resident: $55,460
Average annual housing cost: $19,376
Average taxes paid: $4,677
Living in Hawaii won't be the same as vacation in Hawaii, if you any have these jobs:
- Bus and truck mechanic: $56,170/year or $27.01/hour
- Insurance underwriter: $59,890/year or $28.79/hour
- Marriage and family therapist: $69,560/year or $29.11/hour
5. Washington, D.C.
Not surprisingly, it's very common for Washington D.C. residents to ask, "So, what do you do for a living?" Image via
Average annual spending of a Washington, D.C. resident: $80,452
Average annual housing cost: $28,416
Average taxes paid: $32,812
Even with these elite jobs, D.C. still isn't affordable:
- Computer programmer: $92,460/year or $44.45/hour
- Mechanical engineer: $110,060/year or $52.91/hour
- Pharmacist: $113,540/year or $54.59/hour
4. Chicago, IL
Anyone who lives in Chicago knows that hanging out at the Navy Pier only means one thing: they're with out-of-town guests. Image via
Average annual spending of a Chicago resident: $57,919
Average annual housing cost: $20,527
Average taxes paid: $9,664
The Windy City will blow you away once you find out how little you save with these jobs:
- Aircraft mechanic: $65,880/year or $31.67/hour
- Chemist: $70,830/year or $34.05/hour
- Registered nurse: $73,540/year or $35.35/hour
3. San Francisco, CA
You're not a true San Franciscan unless you know about ParkMobile (an app that lets you feed the parking meters through your smartphone). A parking ticket in SF costs about $76. Image via
Average annual spending of a San Francisco resident: $70,807
Average annual housing cost: $25,366
Average taxes paid: $7,690
You wouldn't be able to make it in San Francisco with these jobs:
- Human resource specialist: $86,110/year or $41.40/hour
- Electrician: $86,670/year or $41.67/hour
- Accountant: $87,840/year or $42.23/hour
2. Los Angeles, CA
"We need more actors and hipsters in this town," is one thing you'll never hear an Angelino say. Image via
Average annual spending of an Los Angeles resident: $55,852
Average annual housing cost: $21,353
Average taxes paid: $7,690
None of these jobs will get you the house in the hills:
- Epidemiologist: $57,640/year or $27.71/hour
- Physical therapist assistant: $64,500/year or $31.01/hour
- Web developer: $69,270/year or $33.30/hour
1. New York City, NY
This "cozy" two-bedroom in NYC's Lower East Side can be yours for a monthly rental price of $3,200. It even comes with its own "exit" sign. Image via
Average annual spending of a New York City resident: $60,791
Average annual housing cost: $24,187
Average taxes paid: $10,279
These occupations only sound like they can fund the New York lifestyle:
- Forensic science technician: $64,140/year or $30.84/hour
- Landscape architect: $67,810/year or $32.60/hour
- Tax preparer: $69,730/year or $33.53/hour
Methodology
The most expensive U.S. cities are selected based on
.
Average annual expenditures for U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) are based on 2012-2013 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Average taxes paid by each state come from the U.S. Census Bureau as of July 2012. Average incomes for each MSA are based on the 2013 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The amount to live comfortably (before taxes) is calculated by adding the average annual expenditure and the average taxes paid.
Occupational employment statistics for each MSA is provided by the the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2014.
Do you live in any of these expensive cities and agree that it's hard to save? Or do we have it all wrong and you find it easy to save? Comment on this story below or chime in our Facebook! To see the story on our site, visit MyBankTracker.com
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.