MigrantoCost of living in the USA
What a month costs, how prices compare with other countries, and where the money goes
Monthly cost in the USA
Spending runs from $1,325 a month in the poorest fifth to $12,242 in the richest
Per person, whole country
$3,839
what a typical person spends in a month
Spending across the population
$1,325richest 20%
$12,242
Where people spend money in the USA
One person's out-of-pocket spending, averaged across the whole country
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Key facts
The cost of living in the USA in numbers
Health care takes an unusual share of the budget
It absorbs 20.8% of spending here, or $799 a month, against 4.2% in a typical country, 16.6 points more.
Among the most expensive countries in the world
More expensive than 95% of countries. A basket that costs $1,000 at world-middle prices costs $1,923 here.
The most expensive of its neighbours
Every neighbouring country is cheaper. The same basket costs $1,923 here against $1,731 in Canada, the closest on price.
The richest fifth spends 9.2× the poorest
Spending runs from $1,325 a month in the poorest fifth to $12,242 in the richest, which is #25 of 185 countries by that gap. A single national average hides a lot here.
Typical spending takes 77% of the average wage
A typical person spends $3,839 a month while the average take-home wage is $4,972, so 23% of an average wage sits above what a typical person spends.
How living costs in the USA compare
Neighbours, region and the world on the same monthly figure
What things cost here
How much the same goods and services cost in the USA against other countries
More expensive than 95% of countries
Where USA sits when every country is lined up from cheapest to most expensive
Pakistanmost expensive
Bermuda
middle
A basket of goods and services that costs $1,000 at world-middle prices costs $1,923 here.
Data source: household consumption 2022 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), category breakdown 2023 (United Nations Statistics Division), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
Living-cost calculator
What it costs to live in the USA
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- How it compares with today
Cost of living in the USA
$1,325/mo
vs $800 in your country
Take-home
$3,628
vs $1,200 in your country
Potential savings
$2,303
more than in your country
Standard of living
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in the USA?
A typical person in the USA spends about $3,839 a month — around $46,068 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the standard of living in the USA?
By spending, The USA ranks #4 of 185 countries. A typical person spends about $3,839 a month, the poorest 20% about $1,325 and the richest 20% about $12,242. The gap between them shows how unevenly people live.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in the USA?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about $1,325 a month per person, a typical one around $3,839, and a comfortable life around $5,873. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
What do people spend the most on in the USA?
The biggest expense is health care, at about $799 a month (21% of spending). Then come housing ($710, 19%) and transport ($380, 10%).
Is the average salary in the USA enough to live on?
In most cases yes, but without much of a cushion. Average spending is about $3,839 a month, while the average take-home pay in the USA is about $4,972. For more on incomes, see salaries in the USA.
Is the USA an expensive country to live in?
Yes. The USA is more expensive than 98% of countries worldwide and ranks 2nd of 3 in North America by cost of living.
What currency is used in the USA?
The USA uses the US Dollar (USD). Amounts on this page are shown in it; the currency switcher converts them.
Where to live?
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Living in the USA
See the full country overview