About CostOfLiving.data
CostOfLiving.data is an independent data platform that provides free, comprehensive cost of living information for every city and zip code in the United States. We aggregate data from official government sources and trusted real estate providers to help Americans — and anyone considering a move to the US — make informed decisions about where to live.
Our Mission
Cost of living data exists across dozens of government databases and research portals, but it is rarely easy to access or compare. Our mission is to make this data accessible, transparent, and easy to compare — whether you are considering a cross-country move, negotiating a remote salary, comparing neighborhoods, or researching real estate markets.
We believe that financial transparency helps people make better decisions. By combining housing costs, regional prices, and home values into a single comparable index, we give you a clear picture of what it actually costs to live in any US city.
Who Runs This Site
I'm an independent data journalist and software engineer based in France, with a background in quantitative data analysis, web development, and public-interest information platforms. I build and maintain data sites that take hard-to-access public datasets and turn them into clear, comparable tools — for readers, researchers, and anyone trying to make a decision with better information.
CostOfLiving.data grew out of my own experience helping friends and former colleagues evaluate remote-work salaries and potential cross-country moves. The existing cost of living sites either hid their data behind paywalls, relied on user-submitted estimates, or didn't make methodology transparent. I wanted a site where the numbers, the sources, and the formula were all on the table.
Editorial Standards
Every number on the Site comes from a named, publicly accessible source. We do not accept user-submitted data, we do not run sponsored content or pay-for-placement rankings, and we do not manipulate indices based on commercial relationships. Our editorial principles are:
- Source transparency — each city, state, and zip-code page links back to the authoritative source (Census Bureau, BEA, HUD, BLS, NOAA, Zillow). Our Methodology page documents the exact formula and weights used to compute the Cost of Living Index.
- Independence — the Site is self-funded through Google AdSense advertising only. We have no sponsors, paid partnerships, or affiliate relationships that could influence editorial content.
- Freshness over flash — we prioritize refreshing data from primary sources over adding new features. Update dates are published on the Methodology page.
- Correction policy — if you spot an error, a stale data point, or a broken source attribution, email contact@uscostofliving.com and we will investigate and correct publicly within 7 business days.
What We Cover
- 32,000+ US cities and towns — from major metros to small communities, each with a detailed cost breakdown.
- 33,000+ zip codes — granular data at the neighborhood level.
- 50 states + DC + Puerto Rico — state-level aggregates and rankings.
- City-to-city comparison tools — side-by-side comparisons of income, rent, home values, and everyday prices.
- Climate data — NOAA 30-year temperature and precipitation normals for every city.
- Everyday prices — BLS average prices for gas, groceries, electricity, and more by metro area.
- Interactive tools — a Find Your City filter tool and detailed Best Places guides for every state.
Data Sources & Attribution
All data on this site comes from authoritative, publicly available sources:
- US Census Bureau — American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates for income, rent, home values, demographics, and commute data.
- Zillow Research — Monthly Home Value Index (ZHVI) and Rent Index (ZORI), used under their research data license with attribution.
- HUD — Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMR) by bedroom count.
- Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) — Regional Price Parities for 384 metro areas.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — Average consumer prices by metro area.
- NOAA — 1991-2020 US Climate Normals for temperature and precipitation.
Data Update Schedule
- Census ACS 5-Year data — refreshed annually each September when the new release is published.
- Zillow ZHVI & ZORI — refreshed monthly during the second week of each month.
- HUD Fair Market Rents — refreshed annually each October.
- BEA Regional Price Parities — refreshed annually each December.
- BLS consumer prices — refreshed quarterly.
- NOAA climate normals — 30-year normals are refreshed by NOAA every ten years (current vintage: 1991-2020).
How We Calculate the Index
Our Cost of Living Index uses a weighted formula where the US national average equals 100. It combines housing costs (40%), BEA regional prices (35%), and home values (25%). For full details, see our Methodology page.
Contact & Corrections
For data corrections, source questions, partnership inquiries, or press:
- Contact form: https://uscostofliving.com/contact
- Email: contact@uscostofliving.com
We read every message and typically reply within 48 hours.