2025 Report: The Most Expensive and Most Affordable Largest U.S. Cities
doxoINSIGHTS’ latest report, the 50 Largest U.S. Cities Household Spend Report 2025, provides a crucial look into the financial realities of millions of Americans.
By analyzing household bill payments across the nation’s most populous cities, the report uncovers significant disparities in the cost of living and reveals the cities where residents are feeling the most financial pressure. This data offers actionable insights for consumers, businesses, and policymakers alike.
The report provides a granular breakdown of spending across thirteen key household bill categories: Mortgage, Rent, Auto Loan, Electric, Gas, Water and Sewer, Waste and Recycling, Auto Insurance, Cable and Internet, Health Insurance (consumer-paid portion), Mobile Phone, Alarm and Security, and Life Insurance.
This category-level detail allows for a deeper understanding of what drives the high costs in specific cities. For instance, high housing costs (Mortgage and Rent) are often the primary drivers of overall expense, but other bills like utilities or insurance can also play a significant role in creating financial strain.
Key Report Findings
- The National Picture: The report confirms that the typical U.S. household spends a median of $24,695 annually on essential bills. This figure, representing 31% of the national median household income, serves as a vital benchmark for understanding household financial health.
- A Tale of Two Coasts: The report’s most impactful insight is the dramatic difference in bill expenses between the most and least expensive cities. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) highlights that residents in the most expensive cities, predominantly on the West and East Coasts, pay significantly more than the national median. This data powerfully illustrates the geographic divide in financial burdens.
- The Cost of Living Index (COBI): The COBI provides a standardized metric to compare the cost of living with a specific focus on essential bills. With 100 representing the national median, cities with a COBI above 100 are more expensive, while those below are more affordable. This index is a powerful tool for consumers considering relocation and for companies setting compensation and benefits.
High-Level Snapshot: The Most and Least Expensive Cities
The report provides a clear ranking of the 50 largest U.S. cities. The analysis below highlights the stark contrast between the top and bottom of the list.
10 Most Expensive Largest U.S. Cities for Household Bills:
| City | Monthly Bill Expense Per Household¹ | Cost of Bills Index (COBI)² | % of Household Income | % Above National Median |
| San Jose, CA | $3,523 | 171 | 29% | +71% |
| New York, NY | $3,385 | 164 | 35% | +64% |
| San Francisco, CA | $3,272 | 159 | 27% | +59% |
| San Diego, CA | $3,185 | 155 | 35% | +55% |
| Boston, MA | $3,162 | 154 | 36% | +54% |
| Seattle, WA | $2,941 | 143 | 30% | +43% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,869 | 139 | 45% | +39% |
| Washington, D.C. | $2,866 | 139 | 30% | +39% |
| Denver, CO | $2,617 | 127 | 34% | +27% |
| Austin, TX | $2,550 | 124 | 30% | +24% |
10 Least Expensive Largest U.S. Cities for Household Bills:
| City | Monthly Bill Expense Per Household¹ | Cost of Bills Index (COBI)² | % of Household Income | % Below National Median |
| Cleveland, OH | $1,606 | 78 | 36% | -22% |
| Detroit, MI | $1,641 | 80 | 50% | -20% |
| El Paso, TX | $1,677 | 82 | 34% | -18% |
| Dayton, OH | $1,684 | 82 | 29% | -18% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $1,709 | 83 | 30% | -17% |
| Saint Louis, MO | $1,769 | 86 | 29% | -14% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $1,775 | 86 | 27% | -14% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $1,783 | 87 | 34% | -13% |
| Rochester, NY | $1,785 | 87 | 32% | -13% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $1,809 | 88 | 32% | -12% |
¹Median Monthly Bill shown above reflects the Median Household Bill Pay Expense for the thirteen most common bills paid monthly, including housing (rent/mortgage). See full report for details.
²For the Cost of Bills Index (COBI), the number 100 represents the national median, and then, states, counties, and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national median.
The information presented above and in the report is derived from the doxoINSIGHTS 2025 U.S. Household Bill Pay Report, which reflects a 12-month overview of actual consumer payment data from March 2024 to March 2025. To access the latest analysis of household bill expenses, click on the city hyperlink within the chart. Alternatively, you can visit www.doxo.com/w/explore and select a state to explore household bill expense data for each state, county, and city.
50 Largest U.S. Cities Household Spend Report
A look at the $4.55 trillion U.S. consumer bill pay market, with a specific emphasis on the 13 most common household bill pay categories within the 50 largest cities (based on number of households) across the United States.
Media Inquiries
