[121804]

Just thought it was interesting. I had, in the past, always thought Miami was one of the most expensive. Guess it just must depend on the year.

Priciest U.S. cities
These are the most expensive places to live in the United States
By Les Christie, CNN/Money staff writer
June 6, 2006: 3:43 PM EDT


NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Ta dah! To nobody's surprise who has ever lived -- or even visited -- there, Manhattan is the most expensive place in the United States.

That's according to a new survey by Runzheimer International, a Wisconsin-based management consultant. The study considered what a typical family of four earning $60,000 annually spends and compared the costs of maintaining that lifestyle in more than 300 U.S. locations of comparable quality.

Priciest U.S. towns
The five most expensive places to live in the United States

City Annual cost Percent above mean
Manhattan $146,060 137.9%
San Francisco $122,007 98.7%
Los Angeles $117,726 91.8%
San Jose $108,506 76.8%
Washington, D.C. $102,589 67.1%


Source: Runzheimer International


In Manhattan, that family would need to spend $146,060, 137.9 percent more than in the average American town. This slice of the Big Apple topped runner-up San Francisco by more than $24,000 to earn the dubious distinction of being the nation's priciest place.

In the top five locations, which also included Los Angeles, San Jose, and Washington D.C., housing costs make up the lion's share of total living costs. The survey factored in local and state income taxes, costs associated with owning two cars (except in Manhattan), public transportation costs, goods and services, sales taxes, and costs to own a 2,500 square foot house (mortgage payment, insurance, real estate taxes, utilities and maintenance.

In Manhattan the survey figured those housing costs amounted to a whopping $100,532 annually and accounted for nearly 69 percent of all living costs. In San Francisco, similar housing would cost $79,156.

[harry chickpea]

I'm still trying to visualize a 2,500 sf house in Manhattan without bursting out laughing.

[121804]

I would love to know the price of a 2500sq townhome in Manhattan.

[giselle1]

manhattan = priciest? no sh*t.

[tallrick]

How about a comparison of salaries in those places.

[121804]

http://www.merceric.com/pressrelease...ontent/1242865

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

I'm still trying to visualize a 2,500 sf house in Manhattan without bursting out laughing.

a house? uh.......... they are way off. A penthouse, starting at a minimum of 20 million or so. You cant even get a house that size on Long Island anymore

sunny

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by tallrick

How about a comparison of salaries in those places.

IN NYC a jr partner at a mid-sized law firm will be making 400-600k.

In S Florida I knew one who was making 40k

[MrTudo]

I used to rent a loft in Soho before it went nuts and it cost me$2200.00/month for roughly 1,200 sq ft. I guess that loft is rentable today at 5K a month.

A friend of mine who still lives in Manhattan pays $3800.00/month for 1,000 sq ft apartment down near Battery Park.

Greatest city on earth!

[Chromedome]

u get paid more, u spend more money.

makes perfect sense to me