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Purchasing Power: The Real Value of $100 by Metropolitan Area, 2023

6 min readBy: Erica York

If you’ve ordered a rideshare or gotten a haircut in a major US city, you’ve likely noticed that the price of these services is higher than in other parts of the country. The difference is due to price level variation throughout the United States.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released data detailing the disparities in spending power across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas of each state for calendar year 2023. Using the data, we can compare how much $100 buys across the country.

The differences can be large, and they have significant implications for the relative impact of economic and taxA tax is a mandatory payment or charge collected by local, state, and national governments from individuals or businesses to cover the costs of general government services, goods, and activities. policies across the United States.

One hundred dollars tends to buy the least in large cities in the Northeast, California, and the Pacific Northwest. On the other hand, $100 goes the furthest in rural areas in the Southeast and Midwest. Prices can vary within states too—$100 in Colorado tends to buy $103.90 worth of goods and services in nonmetropolitan areas of the state, but only $97.93 worth in metropolitan areas.

 

Expand or Collapse Table

Compare the Real Value of $100 in Your Metro Area

Real Value of $100 Adjusted for Regional Purchasing Power, 2023
MSAStateReal Value of $100 in 2023
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$84.58
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$86.61
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$88.12
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$88.13
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Washington$88.50
Salinas, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$88.50
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$88.60
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$88.82
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania$88.91
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$89.43
Napa, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$89.47
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Massachusetts-New Hampshire$89.63
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$89.69
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$90.24
Urban Honolulu, HI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Hawaii$90.71
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$90.84
Massachusetts (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Massachusetts$91.11
Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY (Metropolitan Statistical Area) *New York *$91.13
Vallejo, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$91.58
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$91.84
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (Metropolitan Statistical Area)District of Columbia-Virginia-Maryland-West Virginia$92.05
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$92.65
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Washington$92.99
Stockton, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$93.09
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Oregon-Washington$93.80
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Connecticut$93.91
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Washington$93.92
Corvallis, OR (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Oregon$94.02
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Hawaii$94.09
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Washington$94.32
Barnstable Town, MA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Massachusetts$94.50
Naples-Marco Island, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$94.51
Bend, OR (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Oregon$94.51
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Arizona$94.77
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Colorado$94.80
Manchester-Nashua, NH (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New Hampshire$95.17
Modesto, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$95.27
Chico, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$95.59
Albany-Lebanon, OR (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Oregon$95.59
Anchorage, AK (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Alaska$95.65
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Minnesota-Wisconsin$95.69
Bellingham, WA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Washington$96.03
Fresno, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$96.16
Hawaii (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Hawaii$96.28
Yuba City, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$96.49
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$96.49
Portland-South Portland, ME (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Maine$96.53
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware-Maryland$96.57
New Haven-Milford, CT (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Connecticut$96.62
Eugene-Springfield, OR (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Oregon$96.64
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$96.68
Medford, OR (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Oregon$96.76
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$96.81
Madera, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$97.14
Redding, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$97.24
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Maryland$97.40
California (Nonmetropolitan Portion)California$97.47
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Connecticut$97.50
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$97.50
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin$97.51
Salem, OR (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Oregon$97.65
Bakersfield, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$97.80
Trenton-Princeton, NJ (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New Jersey$97.97
Wenatchee, WA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Washington$98.02
Worcester, MA-CT (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Massachusetts-Connecticut$98.02
Port St. Lucie, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$98.35
Ocean City, NJ (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New Jersey$98.55
Visalia, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$98.70
New Hampshire (Nonmetropolitan Portion)New Hampshire$98.78
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$98.90
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Washington$98.98
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Georgia$99.08
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Rhode Island-Massachusetts$99.15
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$99.17
Grants Pass, OR (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Oregon$99.30
Charleston-North Charleston, SC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)South Carolina$99.37
Norwich-New London, CT (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Connecticut$99.58
California-Lexington Park, MD (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Maryland$99.75
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$99.78
Connecticut (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Connecticut$99.83
Lewiston-Auburn, ME (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Maine$99.89
El Centro, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$99.92
Burlington-South Burlington, VT (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Vermont$99.96
Boulder, CO (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Colorado$100.15
Oregon (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Oregon$100.48
Merced, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$100.49
Longview, WA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Washington$100.59
Fairbanks, AK (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Alaska$100.64
Jacksonville, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$100.79
Kennewick-Richland, WA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Washington$101.02
Kingston, NY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New York$101.04
Ithaca, NY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New York$101.09
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$101.27
Charlottesville, VA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Virginia$101.43
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania-New Jersey$101.58
Punta Gorda, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$101.59
Springfield, MA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Massachusetts$101.60
Hanford-Corcoran, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)California$101.61
Walla Walla, WA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Washington$102.01
Washington (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Washington$102.03
Yakima, WA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Washington$102.03
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Michigan$102.03
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$102.05
Raleigh-Cary, NC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Carolina$102.05
Richmond, VA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Virginia$102.05
Panama City, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$102.06
Ann Arbor, MI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Michigan$102.07
Rochester, NY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New York$102.39
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$102.44
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New York$102.48
Reno, NV (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Nevada$102.62
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Tennessee$102.64
Colorado Springs, CO (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Colorado$102.66
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Nevada$102.67
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$102.70
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Virginia-North Carolina$102.71
Alaska (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Alaska$102.86
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New Jersey$102.91
Wilmington, NC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Carolina$102.94
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Carolina-South Carolina$103.12
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$103.18
Gainesville, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$103.20
Coeur d'Alene, ID (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Idaho$103.22
York-Hanover, PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania$103.47
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Carolina$103.48
Fort Collins, CO (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Colorado$103.50
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania$103.60
Salt Lake City, UT (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Utah$103.73
St. Louis, MO-IL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Missouri-Illinois$103.83
Lancaster, PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania$103.84
Colorado (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Colorado$103.90
Asheville, NC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Carolina$104.03
Gainesville, GA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Georgia$104.06
St. George, UT (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Utah$104.10
Reading, PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania$104.15
Greeley, CO (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Colorado$104.18
Madison, WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Wisconsin$104.40
East Stroudsburg, PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania$104.54
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)South Carolina$104.54
Savannah, GA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Georgia$104.64
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$104.65
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Wisconsin$104.67
Ocala, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$104.71
Homosassa Springs, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$104.79
Lebanon, PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania$104.90
Tallahassee, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$104.95
Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Michigan$105.05
Syracuse, NY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New York$105.07
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Maryland-West Virginia$105.10
Ogden-Clearfield, UT (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Utah$105.12
Salisbury, MD-DE (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Maryland-Delaware$105.13
Racine, WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Wisconsin$105.22
Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Arizona$105.23
Provo-Orem, UT (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Utah$105.24
Midland, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$105.53
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Alabama$105.57
Vermont (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Vermont$105.65
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Indiana$105.73
Columbus, OH (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Ohio$105.80
Pittsburgh, PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania$105.89
Huntsville, AL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Alabama$105.94
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New York$105.94
Tucson, AZ (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Arizona$105.99
Winchester, VA-WV (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Virginia-West Virginia$106.00
The Villages, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$106.05
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana$106.27
Carson City, NV (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Nevada$106.32
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Kentucky-Indiana$106.36
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Michigan$106.41
Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania$106.47
Hinesville, GA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Georgia$106.51
Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New Jersey$106.67
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$106.69
Appleton, WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Wisconsin$106.84
Glens Falls, NY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New York$106.89
Florida (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Florida$107.00
Boise City, ID (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Idaho$107.04
Bloomington, IN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Indiana$107.10
Santa Fe, NM (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New Mexico$107.10
Athens-Clarke County, GA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Georgia$107.21
Kansas City, MO-KS (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Missouri-Kansas$107.22
Nevada (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Nevada$107.24
State College, PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania$107.27
Harrisonburg, VA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Virginia$107.28
Monroe, MI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Michigan$107.28
Rochester, MN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Minnesota$107.40
Lexington-Fayette, KY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Kentucky$107.40
Missoula, MT (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Montana$107.40
Cleveland-Elyria, OH (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Ohio$107.47
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania$107.56
Pittsfield, MA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Massachusetts$107.57
Albuquerque, NM (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New Mexico$107.58
Columbia, SC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)South Carolina$107.61
Logan, UT-ID (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Utah-Idaho$107.63
Maryland (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Maryland$107.69
Lansing-East Lansing, MI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Michigan$107.71
Fond du Lac, WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Wisconsin$107.72
Akron, OH (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Ohio$107.73
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)South Carolina-North Carolina$107.74
Chattanooga, TN-GA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Tennessee-Georgia$107.77
Greenville-Anderson, SC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)South Carolina$107.78
Knoxville, TN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Tennessee$107.79
Burlington, NC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Carolina$107.82
Jackson, MI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Michigan$107.84
Gettysburg, PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania$107.85
Williamsport, PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania$107.89
Greensboro-High Point, NC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Carolina$107.90
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Iowa$107.92
Great Falls, MT (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Montana$108.00
Staunton, VA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Virginia$108.00
Elkhart-Goshen, IN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Indiana$108.02
Birmingham-Hoover, AL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Alabama$108.03
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Nebraska-Iowa$108.09
Memphis, TN-MS-AR (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Tennessee-Mississippi-Arkansas$108.19
Pueblo, CO (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Colorado$108.23
Tyler, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$108.24
Kankakee, IL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Illinois$108.33
Dayton-Kettering, OH (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Ohio$108.36
Morgantown, WV (Metropolitan Statistical Area)West Virginia$108.37
Utica-Rome, NY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New York$108.39
Elmira, NY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New York$108.46
Clarksville, TN-KY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Tennessee-Kentucky$108.52
Grand Junction, CO (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Colorado$108.54
Michigan City-La Porte, IN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Indiana$108.61
Green Bay, WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Wisconsin$108.62
Odessa, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$108.63
Bloomington, IL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Illinois$108.69
Lincoln, NE (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Nebraska$108.75
Casper, WY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Wyoming$108.89
Iowa City, IA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Iowa$108.90
Sherman-Denison, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$108.93
Killeen-Temple, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$108.98
Muskegon, MI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Michigan$109.07
Dover, DE (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Delaware$109.11
Binghamton, NY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New York$109.13
Greenville, NC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Carolina$109.16
Jacksonville, NC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Carolina$109.19
Warner Robins, GA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Georgia$109.21
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Indiana$109.26
Erie, PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania$109.27
Bangor, ME (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Maine$109.33
New York (Nonmetropolitan Portion)New York$109.38
Ames, IA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Iowa$109.39
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Indiana-Michigan$109.39
Winston-Salem, NC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Carolina$109.40
Eau Claire, WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Wisconsin$109.40
Janesville-Beloit, WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Wisconsin$109.42
Fayetteville, NC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Carolina$109.43
Corpus Christi, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$109.52
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Wisconsin-Minnesota$109.54
Sebring-Avon Park, FL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Florida$109.56
Flagstaff, AZ (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Arizona$109.57
New Orleans-Metairie, LA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Louisiana$109.71
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Georgia-South Carolina$109.85
Lawrence, KS (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Kansas$109.90
Oklahoma City, OK (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Oklahoma$109.92
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Arkansas$109.94
Roanoke, VA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Virginia$109.96
Cheyenne, WY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Wyoming$109.97
Cleveland, TN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Tennessee$110.04
Lubbock, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$110.05
San Angelo, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$110.05
Champaign-Urbana, IL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Illinois$110.10
Amarillo, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$110.12
Baton Rouge, LA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Louisiana$110.13
Waco, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$110.15
Sheboygan, WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Wisconsin$110.17
Montgomery, AL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Alabama$110.18
College Station-Bryan, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$110.25
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Wisconsin$110.26
Jackson, MS (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Mississippi$110.29
Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Virginia$110.31
Wyoming (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Wyoming$110.31
Spartanburg, SC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)South Carolina$110.32
Victoria, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$110.34
Bay City, MI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Michigan$110.42
Midland, MI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Michigan$110.42
Springfield, IL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Illinois$110.44
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New York$110.48
Bowling Green, KY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Kentucky$110.48
Toledo, OH (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Ohio$110.68
Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania$110.69
Rapid City, SD (Metropolitan Statistical Area)South Dakota$110.72
Columbus, IN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Indiana$110.73
Lynchburg, VA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Virginia$110.76
Maine (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Maine$110.76
Sioux Falls, SD (Metropolitan Statistical Area)South Dakota$110.77
Dalton, GA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Georgia$110.77
Manhattan, KS (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Kansas$110.79
El Paso, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$110.81
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$110.82
Rome, GA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Georgia$110.84
Wausau-Weston, WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Wisconsin$110.95
Decatur, AL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Alabama$110.99
Rockford, IL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Illinois$111.03
Macon-Bibb County, GA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Georgia$111.06
Owensboro, KY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Kentucky$111.07
Fort Wayne, IN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Indiana$111.14
Tuscaloosa, AL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Alabama$111.15
Cedar Rapids, IA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Iowa$111.16
Idaho Falls, ID (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Idaho$111.18
New Bern, NC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Carolina$111.18
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Arizona$111.24
Abilene, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$111.30
Flint, MI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Michigan$111.32
Evansville, IN-KY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Indiana-Kentucky$111.40
Utah (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Utah$111.43
Goldsboro, NC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Carolina$111.44
Brunswick, GA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Georgia$111.47
Niles, MI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Michigan$111.51
Kokomo, IN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Indiana$111.52
Montana (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Montana$111.53
Bismarck, ND (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Dakota$111.55
Beckley, WV (Metropolitan Statistical Area)West Virginia$111.55
Billings, MT (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Montana$111.59
Wichita, KS (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Kansas$111.76
Tulsa, OK (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Oklahoma$111.76
Mobile, AL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Alabama$111.83
Fargo, ND-MN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Dakota-Minnesota$111.84
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Kentucky$111.87
Las Cruces, NM (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New Mexico$111.92
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Mississippi$111.93
St. Cloud, MN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Minnesota$111.94
Hattiesburg, MS (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Mississippi$111.98
Columbia, MO (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Missouri$112.01
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Iowa-Illinois$112.01
Springfield, MO (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Missouri$112.02
Saginaw, MI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Michigan$112.03
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Carolina$112.08
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Arkansas$112.24
Dubuque, IA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Iowa$112.29
Wisconsin (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Wisconsin$112.35
Wheeling, WV-OH (Metropolitan Statistical Area)West Virginia-Ohio$112.37
Wichita Falls, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$112.47
Johnson City, TN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Tennessee$112.52
Auburn-Opelika, AL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Alabama$112.54
Muncie, IN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Indiana$112.61
Columbus, GA-AL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Georgia-Alabama$112.62
Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH (Metropolitan Statistical Area)West Virginia-Ohio$112.66
Pennsylvania (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Pennsylvania$112.72
Springfield, OH (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Ohio$112.78
Peoria, IL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Illinois$112.85
Twin Falls, ID (Metropolitan Statistical Area) *Idaho *$112.89
Houma-Thibodaux, LA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Louisiana$112.89
Canton-Massillon, OH (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Ohio$112.94
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH (Metropolitan Statistical Area)West Virginia-Kentucky-Ohio$113.08
Longview, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$113.10
Charleston, WV (Metropolitan Statistical Area)West Virginia$113.14
Dothan, AL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Alabama$113.23
Altoona, PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania$113.31
Rocky Mount, NC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Carolina$113.33
Battle Creek, MI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Michigan$113.34
Terre Haute, IN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Indiana$113.35
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV (Metropolitan Statistical Area)West Virginia$113.35
Virginia (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Viginia$113.36
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Iowa-Nebraska-South Dakota$113.45
Johnstown, PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Pennsylvania$113.55
Florence, SC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)South Carolina$113.64
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Iowa$113.65
North Carolina (Nonmetropolitan Portion)North Carolina$113.73
St. Joseph, MO-KS (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Missouri-Kansas$113.89
Laredo, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$113.91
Pocatello, ID (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Idaho$113.96
North Dakota (Nonmetropolitan Portion)North Dakota$113.99
Morristown, TN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Tennessee$114.01
Idaho (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Idaho$114.01
Jefferson City, MO (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Missouri$114.05
Mankato, MN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Minnesota$114.11
Lawton, OK (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Oklahoma$114.12
Lima, OH (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Ohio$114.17
Hammond, LA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Louisiana$114.27
Yuma, AZ (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Arizona$114.32
Ohio (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Ohio$114.36
Indiana (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Indiana$114.39
Jackson, TN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Tennessee$114.58
West Virginia (Nonmetropolitan Portion)West Virginia$114.60
Grand Island, NE (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Nebraska$114.60
Carbondale-Marion, IL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Illinois$114.62
Anniston-Oxford, AL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Alabama$114.66
Lewiston, ID-WA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Idaho-Washington$114.67
Texas (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Texas$114.77
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Louisiana$114.77
Gadsden, AL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Alabama$114.92
Georgia (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Georgia$114.92
Lafayette, LA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Louisiana$114.93
Duluth, MN-WI (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Minnesota-Wisconsin$114.97
Danville, IL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Illinois$115.18
Lake Charles, LA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Louisiana$115.28
Valdosta, GA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Georgia$115.32
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Arizona$115.37
Michigan (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Michigan$115.40
Mansfield, OH (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Ohio$115.45
Decatur, IL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Illinois$115.47
Farmington, NM (Metropolitan Statistical Area)New Mexico$115.58
Albany, GA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Georgia$115.73
Kentucky (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Kentucky$115.83
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Missouri-Illinois$115.84
Sumter, SC (Metropolitan Statistical Area)South Carolina$115.94
Alexandria, LA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Louisiana$115.99
Grand Forks, ND-MN (Metropolitan Statistical Area)North Dakota-Minnesota$116.02
Enid, OK (Metropolitan Statistical Area) *Oklahoma *$116.09
New Mexico (Nonmetropolitan Portion)New Mexico$116.15
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Ohio-Pennsylvania$116.27
Nebraska (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Nebraska$116.32
Illinois (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Illinois$116.40
Topeka, KS (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Kansas$116.43
Cumberland, MD-WV (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Maryland-West Virginia$116.52
Minnesota (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Minnesota$116.54
Hot Springs, AR (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Arkansas$116.55
South Dakota (Nonmetropolitan Portion)South Dakota$116.64
Jonesboro, AR (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Arkansas$116.71
South Carolina (Nonmetropolitan Portion)South Carolina$116.73
Joplin, MO (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Missouri$116.76
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Alabama$116.80
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$116.88
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Tennessee-Virginia$117.16
Texarkana, TX-AR (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas-Arkansas$117.22
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Texas$117.39
Fort Smith, AR-OK (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Arkansas-Oklahoma$117.56
Kansas (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Kansas$117.65
Tennessee (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Tennessee$117.65
Iowa (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Iowa$117.68
Alabama (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Alabama$118.67
Oklahoma (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Oklahoma$119.28
Missouri (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Missouri$119.46
Mississippi (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Mississippi$119.50
Monroe, LA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Louisiana$119.62
Louisiana (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Louisiana$120.59
Arkansas (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Arkansas$121.69
Pine Bluff, AR (Metropolitan Statistical Area)Arkansas$124.49
Arizona (Nonmetropolitan Portion)Arizona$125.24
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, “Regional Price Parities” and “County and MSA personal income summary: personal income, population, per capita personal income.”

Data compiled by Erica York

Table 1 shows the 15 most expensive metropolitan areas in the United States, where the real value of $100 is the lowest. The San Francisco Bay Area was the most expensive metropolitan region in 2023, where $100 would buy goods and services only worth $84.58 compared to the national average.

Put another way, residents of the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward MSA had, at least in terms of purchasing power, about a 15 percent lower standard of living than their nominal incomes alone may suggest, as illustrated by the price-adjusted per capita income relative to nominal income in Table 1.

Table 1. 15 Most Expensive Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Real Value of $100 Adjusted for Regional Purchasing Power, 2023

Metropolitan Statistical AreaReal Value of $100Nominal Per Capita IncomePrice-Adjusted Per Capita Income
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$84.58$130,730$110,577
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$86.61$80,898$70,069
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$88.12$82,736$72,903
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$88.13$78,091$68,821
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$88.50$99,339$87,918
Salinas, CA$88.50$68,943$61,018
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$88.60$148,036$131,160
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$88.82$88,581$78,676
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$88.91$91,448$81,307
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL$89.43$84,302$75,388
Napa, CA$89.47$94,973$84,972
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$89.63$100,880$90,415
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$89.69$79,122$70,967
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA$90.24$72,721$65,621
Urban Honolulu, HI$90.71$69,893$63,397
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, “Regional Price Parities” and “County and MSA personal income summary: personal income, population, per capita personal income.”

The difference between the most and least expensive areas tends to correspond to differences in housing costs. Generally, states with higher nominal incomes also have higher price levels as they tend to see the prices of fixed resources like land rise. When residents seek to occupy a limited amount of available land, it pushes up the cost of housing (especially in areas where housing supply is slow to respond). Areas with higher costs of living also tend to pay higher salaries for identical jobs, which can offset at least some of the lower average purchasing power.

Some metropolitan areas, however, are more affordable. Table 2 shows the 15 least expensive metropolitan areas in the United States. They tend to be in the southeastern US and are smaller than their more expensive counterparts. While nominal incomes in such areas appear lower at first glance, when adjusted for how much further a dollar can go, price-adjusted incomes are relatively higher than their nominal incomes suggest.

15 Least Expensive Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Real Value of $100 Adjusted for Regional Purchasing Power, 2023

Metropolitan Statistical AreaReal Value of $100Nominal Per Capita IncomePrice-Adjusted Per Capita Income
Pine Bluff, AR$124.49$42,135$52,456
Monroe, LA$119.62$49,272$58,937
Fort Smith, AR-OK$117.56$47,206$55,496
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX$117.39$38,523$45,224
Texarkana, TX-AR$117.22$47,883$56,130
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA$117.16$50,922$59,660
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX$116.88$34,373$40,176
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL$116.80$47,156$55,077
Joplin, MO$116.76$47,609$55,587
Jonesboro, AR$116.71$49,153$57,364
Hot Springs, AR$116.55$52,506$61,195
Cumberland, MD-WV$116.52$49,268$57,409
Topeka, KS$116.43$57,810$67,309
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA$116.27$51,869$60,307
Enid, OK$116.09$51,152$59,381
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, “Regional Price Parities” and “County and MSA personal income summary: personal income, population, per capita personal income.”

The two metropolitan areas with the greatest disparity in price levels are the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, California, region and Pine Bluff, Arkansas. In 2023, the real value of $100 in San Francisco was $84.58, compared to $124.49 in Pine Bluff. In other words, the purchasing power in the Pine Bluff area is 47 percent greater than in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward area.

Many policies, such as minimum wage levels, tax bracketsA tax bracket is the range of incomes taxed at given rates, which typically differ depending on filing status. In a progressive individual or corporate income tax system, rates rise as income increases. There are seven federal individual income tax brackets; the federal corporate income tax system is flat., and means-tested public benefit income thresholds, are denominated in nominal dollars, even though a dollar in one region may go much further than a dollar in another. Lawmakers should keep that reality in mind as they make changes to tax and economic policies.

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