Major US Cities Grapple with Soaring Cost of Living

New analysis shows New York, San Diego, and San Francisco among the areas where living expenses are rising fastest.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A new study by Plasma, a company developing stablecoin products, has identified the major U.S. cities where the cost of living is increasing the most rapidly. The analysis combined inflation data, housing costs, monthly living expenses, and average salaries to determine where affordability is shifting across some of the country's most populous metropolitan areas. New York City, San Diego, and San Francisco topped the list, with residents in these cities facing mounting financial pressures despite relatively high incomes.

Why it matters

The findings highlight the growing affordability crisis in many of the nation's largest cities, where even high earners are struggling to keep up with rising rents, inflation, and other living costs. This trend reflects broader economic challenges facing many Americans and the need for financial products and solutions that can better support a mobile, global workforce.

The details

The study focused on the 30 most populous U.S. cities, examining each city's consumer price index, average rent prices, typical monthly expenditures, and average salaries. New York City ranked as the number-one city where cost-of-living anxiety is most pronounced, with over 26,100 related searches made each month. Despite an average monthly salary of $5,250, rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averages $4,564, while essential monthly living costs amount to about $1,646. San Diego and San Francisco rounded out the top three, with residents in these cities also facing high rents and living expenses that outpace their relatively high average incomes.

  • The analysis is based on data accurate as of January 14, 2026.

The players

Plasma

A company developing stablecoin products and infrastructure aimed at transforming global money movement.

Newsweek

The media outlet that published the original article.

Numbeo

A crowdsourced database providing insight on various everyday metrics, including housing price indicators, perceived crime rates, healthcare quality, transport quality, childcare, and other key figures.

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The takeaway

The findings from this study underscore the growing affordability crisis facing many of the nation's largest cities, where even high-earning residents are struggling to keep up with rising rents, inflation, and other living costs. This trend highlights the need for innovative financial solutions and policies that can better support a mobile, global workforce and address the widening gap between incomes and the cost of living.