2. New York City, New York
New York City is synonymous with high living costs, and year after year, it stays near the top of America’s priciest metros. In 2024, the median home sale price rose to $748,000, a 3% increase from the year before.
Hudson Yards holds the title of NYC’s most expensive neighborhood, with a staggering $4.99 million median sale price in the third quarter of 2025.
Other luxury strongholds — including Noho, Tribeca, Central Park South, and Nolita — all maintain median prices above $3 million.
Manhattan remains the epicenter of the city’s ultra-high-end real estate market, hosting the densest concentration of elite residential properties.
But housing is only part of the financial equation. Everything from groceries and utilities to healthcare and transportation typically costs more in New York than in most U.S. cities, making everyday life noticeably more expensive for its residents.
