New York and California Cities Top U.S. List of Most Expensive Places to Live

Manhattan leads with soaring housing costs, while European cities like Zurich and Geneva dominate global rankings.

Manhattan is the most expensive U.S. city, with living costs more than double the national average and a median home price of $936,000.
California cities such as San Jose and San Francisco also rank high, with median home prices around $1.5 million and $1.3 million, respectively.
Honolulu, Hawaii, ranks as the second most expensive U.S. city, where groceries cost 24% above the national average.
Globally, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Zurich are the most expensive cities, driven by high rent and living costs.
Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. face high living costs, with significant portions of their populations living below the poverty line.