C2ER Releases “Cost of Living Index”
11 Feb, 2013
Among the 307 urban areas that participated in the 2012 “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 19 percent below the national average in Harlingen. Texas. 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 50,000 prices covering almost 60 different items for which prices are collected three times a year by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations or university applied economic centers in each participating urban area. Small differences in the index numbers should not be interpreted as significant.
The data presented represent average prices submitted for the first three quarters of 2012. For further details on the annual average methodology, click here.
Most Expensive Least Expensive
Ranking Urban Areas COL Index Ranking Urban Areas COL Index
1 New York (Manhattan) 225.4 1 Harlingen TX 81.8
2 New York (Brooklyn) 178.6 2 McAllen TX 85.4
3 Honolulu HI 167.0 3 Norman OK 85.6
4 San Francisco CA 163.4 4 Ardmore OK 85.9
5 San Jose CA 153.4 5 Memphis TN 86.0
6 New York (Queens) 148.3 6 Fayetteville AR 86.0
7 Stamford CT 146.1 7 Wichita Falls TX 86.4
8 Washington DC 144.7 8 Muskogee OK 86.9
9 Orange County CA 140.6 9 Pueblo CO 87.1
10 Boston MA 139.9 10 Ashland OH 87.6
Illustration by suphakit73 for Free Digital Photos.net
Compiled from C2ER media release.
