5. Washington, D.C.
Probably all capital cities are expensive. Washington is no exception. Luckily, it is not as expensive as San Francisco or New York, though. Do not rush with conclusions. Let us first compare numbers to the country’s average. First, to buy a house in Washington will cost you approximately $490,000. And remember – prices tend to grow! Getting a job is not that easy since the number of young professionals is constantly increasing. As a rule, an average D.C. household spends more than 40% of the total income on transportation and housing.
6. San Francisco, California
A bit over 10% of all people working and living in San Francisco can afford housing. There the average rent is the highest in the country and only the richest people can buy their own houses and apartments. However, the good news is that bills for utilities and internet are relatively reasonable and will not exceed $170. If you are fine with such a situation, then you are welcome to San Francisco. People who are not obsessed with owning their private apartment or house will feel all right there.