Quarterly Cost of Living Index is Available

13 Dec, 2013

Among the 306 urban areas that participated in the third quarter 2013 Cost of Living Index, the after-tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living ranged from more than twice the national average in New York (Manhattan) N.Y. to almost 18 percent below the national average in Norman, Okla. The Cost of Living Index is published quarterly by C2ER – The Council for Community and Economic Research.

The Cost of Living Index measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures, for professional and managerial households in the top income quintile. It is based on more than 90,000 prices covering 60 different items for which prices are collected quarterly by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, and university applied economic centers in each participating urban area. Small differences should not be interpreted as showing a measurable difference.

The composite index is based on six component categories — housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services.

For more details or to learn about a subscription to the index, visit www.coli.org.

10 Most Expensive and Least Expensive Urban Areas

Third Quarter 2013

National Average for 306 Urban Areas = 100

Most Expensive                                                Least Expensive

Ranking Urban Areas               COL Index                    Ranking  Urban Areas             COL Index

1 New York (Manhattan)NY        221.3                                     1 Norman OK                                     82.4

2 New York (Brooklyn) NY          175.6                                     2 Pueblo CO                                       82.5

3 Honolulu HI                                    167.5                                     3 Harlingen TX                                 83.4

4 San Francisco CA                          159.9                                     4 Memphis TN                                  84.9

5 New York (Queens) NY              151.4                                     5 Youngstown-                                 85.5

                                                                                                                     Warren OH

6 Hilo HI                                              149.1                                     6 Covington KY                              85.7

7 San Jose CA                                    148.8                                    7 Tupelo MS                                     85.8

8 Stamford CT                                   143.3                                     8 Augusta-                                        85.9

                                                                                                                     Aiken GA‐SC

9 Washington DC                             141.6                                    9 Birmingham AL                            85.9

10 Orange County CA                   140.7                                     10 Sherman‐                                   86.2

                                                                                                                     Denison TX

Illustration by artur84 at Free Digital Photos.com

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