Among the 252 urban areas that participated in the third quarter of the 2024 Cost of Living Index, the after-tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living ranged from more than twice the national average in New York (Manhattan) NY to more than 20 percent below the national average in Decatur, IL. The Cost of Living Index is published quarterly by C2ER – The Council for Community and Economic Research.
The Ten Most and Least Expensive Urban Areas in the Cost of Living Index (COLI)
Review of Quarter Three in 2024
National Average for 252 Urban Areas = 100
The Cost of Living Index measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures, for professional and managerial households in the top income quintile. Covering 61 different items, prices are collected quarterly by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, and university applied economic centers in each participating urban area. Small differences should not be interpreted as showing a measurable difference.
The composite index is based on six component categories – housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services.
What Do Groceries Cost?
The C2ER grocery index is drawing data from over 320 million grocery prices derived from 1.5 trillion historical data points collected across the country to generate the most accurate data possible. Datasembly’s weekly collection covers 200 national and regional retailers and quick service restaurants representing over 150,000 brick and mortar locations across 30,000 zip codes. With food prices still being a big part of the national conversation, C2ER decided to feature those communities once again with the most and least expensive food costs as measured by the grocery item index number. The twenty-six items priced come from a variety of surrogate categories to represent the grocery item component of the index. With food prices still being a big part of the national conversation, C2ER decided to feature those communities once again with the most and least expensive food costs as measured by the grocery item index number. The twenty-six items priced come from a variety of surrogate categories to represent the grocery item component of the index.
The Five Most and Least Expensive Places for Grocery Items by Index Number in the Cost of Living Index (COLI)
Review of Quarter Three in 2024
Average for 252 Urban Areas = 100
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PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release – COLI Q3
PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release COST OF LIVING INDEX Among the 252 urban areas that participated in the third quarter of the 2024 Cost of Living Index, the after-tax cost for a professi…
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