Average Cost of Living in 2011

The average cost of living (COL) varies by city. The national average cost of living index in 2011 is 100, which relates directly to the average salary of $43,000. The COL index for New York City at 218 is the highest, whereas the COL index for Ford Smith (Arkansas), at 85.2, is the lowest in the US. It means a person living in New York requires over $93,750 per year to have the same standard of living as someone earning only $36,600 in Ford Smith. New York, San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Boston are among the most expensive cities, while Texarkana, Shreveport, Anniston, Jackson, Decatur and Florence are among the cheapest.