The 10 Most Expensive U.S. Cities for Workers

Sometimes it’s necessary to move for that perfect job, but at what price?

May 24, 2012 RSS Feed Print

In Pictures: The 10 Priciest Cities for U.S. Workers

There's nothing quite like finding that perfect job, especially after weeks (and sometimes months) of exhaustive searching and interviewing.

But sometimes, a golden work opportunity can move you from everything you know and love to a much pricier location. Aside from housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare, relocation expenses can cost you thousands, depending on where you move and how many people come with you.

Here's a bit more about the 10 costliest U.S. cities for today's workers, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER):

1. Manhattan, N.Y. Whether you've landed a financial analyst position at Goldman Sachs or a waitressing gig at one of Times Square's most-trafficked restaurants, a move to the Big Apple really hits you in the pockets. C2ER finds that the average monthly expenses for a married couple living in Manhattan with one child younger than six years old equaled a whopping $12,719 this decade. The cost of living for a couple with two children between the ages of 6 and 17 totaled $14,041 per month. Home-owning Manhattanites' monthly expenses equaled $13,468, while renters paid about $9,449 in that same period.

Relocation Expense: Moving from the Midwest to Manhattan for the career you always wanted? According to movingcalculator.info, relocating from Topeka, Kan., to Manhattan, N.Y., in late June will cost you anywhere from $1,410 to $2,800, depending on your number of bedrooms.

2. Brooklyn, N.Y. Construction workers, self-employed entrepreneurs,and artists—if they're living and working in Brooklyn, chances are, they're paying thousands each month to stay afloat. On average, Brooklyn-dwellers' living expenses are lower than those of folks living in downtown Manhattan—but not by much. The monthly cost of living for a family of three (including a child younger than age six) averaged a hefty $10,473 this decade. Larger families living in Brooklyn paid $11,685 in that same period, while homeowners paid $11,367, and renters shelled out a monthly $7,720.

Relocation Expense: Ditching your southern digs for a job minutes from the Brooklyn Bridge? This June, moving from Atlanta to Brooklyn will run you anywhere from $1,150 (for one bedroom) to $2,480 (five bedrooms), reports movingcalculator.info.

3. Honolulu. Few are unmoved by the majestic beauty of the Hawaiian Islands, but aesthetically pleasing living environs don't come cheap. A managerial job at a beachfront resort or a professor post at a local university in Honolulu is usually accompanied by a generous cost-of-living price tag. Couples with one young child paid a hefty $9,887, on average, in monthly living expenses this decade. Couples with two or more children younger than age 18 paid $10,920 in that same period. Meanwhile, homeowners and renters paid $9,712 and $8,574, respectively.

Relocation Expense: Leaving behind a New England corner office for one with a Pacific Ocean view? The trek from Manchester, N.H., to Honolulu will cost you between $5,990 and $8,410 this June.

4. San Francisco. Hopping on a cable car to make it to that comfy tech job at Astro Gaming each morning can really add up. San Francisco homeowners paid about $878 in monthly commuting costs in 2010. The average cost of living for a couple with a baby or young child clocked in at $9,556 a month. Monthly expenses were about $10,555 for a couple with older children. Homeowners spent $9,797 on monthly living expenses in 2010, while renters spent $7,582, on average.

Relocation Expense: Saying goodbye to the nation's capital and hello to sunny San Francisco this June can cost you anywhere from $2,950 (one bedroom) to $4,680 (five bedrooms), according to estimates from movingcalcultor.info.

5. Queens, N.Y. Living like a queen in, um, Queens costs a pretty penny. If you're a registered nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital raising a four-year-old with your husband, a landscaper for C & H Construction, you likely paid $8,812 in monthly living expenses in 2010, C2ER finds. Couples with two or more older children paid about $9,873. Homeowners spent $9,330, and renters paid $7,073 in that time frame.

Relocation Expense: Moving within the Empire State for a new job in early summer probably won't burn too deep of a whole in your pocket. It costs as little as $580 and as much as $1,740 to relocate from Alleghany to Queens, according to movingcalculator.info.

6. San Jose, Calif. If you've just accepted a staffing position at the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, you can expect to pay thousands in monthly living expenses. San Jose couples with a child younger than age six paid $8,565 in living expenses every four weeks, while families with two or more older children paid about $9,629, C2ER reports. The monthly cost of living for homeowners averaged about $9,324 in 2010, while renters paid about $6,603.

Relocation Expense: Ditching cacti for palm trees can run you anywhere from $1,830 to $3,320. That's approximately how much movingcalculator.info predicts a move from Dallas to San Jose, Calif., will cost this June.

7. Stamford, Conn. If you just nabbed the marketing managerposition of your dreams at Purdue Pharma, L.P., plan on shelling out about $8,562 in living expenses every four weeks—especially if you and your spouse are raising an infant or toddler. Couples with older children, homeowners, and renters paid $9,518, $8,680, and $7,343, respectively, this decade.

Relocation Expense: Hastening from Bellingham, Wash., to Stamford, Conn., in late June will run most workers between $3,100 and $4,880, according to movingcalculator.info.

8. Truckee/Truckee-Nevada County, Calif. Everyone from librarians to shop owners feel the economic pinch of working and living in Truckee. The monthly cost of living for couples with a child younger than six years old equaled $8,321 in 2010, while couples with two or more older children paid $9323. Homeowners and renters spent $8,689 and $6,962 respectively, C2ER reveals.

Relocation Expense: Workers might spend as little as $280 (if moving to a spot with one bedroom) and as much as $1,370 (for five bedrooms) when relocating within the Sunshine State this June. That's about how much it costs to move from Sacramento to Truckee, Calif., movingcalculator.info reports.

9. Washington, D.C./Washington-Arlington-Alexandria D.C.-Va. Government workers and street vendors might enjoy living in or around our politically prestigious capital. But they pay dearly for it. In 2010, Washington D.C., metropolitan-area dwellers with one baby or a young child paid $8,271 in monthly living expenses, according to C2ER. Residents with two or more tweens or teenagers paid a meaty $9,234 each month. Homeowners spent $8,798, and renters paid $6,444.

Relocation Expense: Moving from Raleigh, N.C. to the D.C. area for a new job at the start of summer will run you anywhere from $490 (one bedroom) to $1,680 (five bedrooms).

10. Newport Beach/Orange County, Calif. Rarely does art mirror life perfectly, but the primetime soap opera The O.C. hit all the right notes in that regard. Lawyersand doctors in Newport Beach really do live in mansions that big, kids do attend high schools that grand, and the residents do drive cars that expensively luxurious. In 2010, a working couple with one young child paid about $8,176 per month to live in this area. Families with older children looking to make ends meet paid about $9,182 in that same period. Homeowners' monthly expenses averaged $8,819, while renters' monthly expenses equaled about $6,364.

Relocation Expense: Leaving behind an office in a towering skyscraper for one closer to a sprawling beach? Relocating from Manhattan to Newport Beach will cost you anywhere from $2,920 (one bedroom) to $4,650 (five bedrooms), movingcaluclator.info reports.

Remember, it's always a good idea to research your options prior to accepting a new job, but especially if you're heading to a costly city.