The Cost of Living

Every month you shell out big bucks for your bills, rent or mortgage and anything else to keep your home up and running. While everyone's bank account takes a hit there's a big difference when you start comparing zip codes.

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released a report of the most expensive cities for housing costs, gleaned from information gathered by surveying renters and homeowners in metropolitan areas. The bureau then calculated each cities median housing expense based on rent and mortgage payments, utilities and property tax. They found that in cities such as San Francisco and Washington, D.C. where cost of living is high, median incomes also tend to be higher.

The report also found that price is driven by demand and supply. For example the cost to rent or buy in Seattle, San Francisco and Manhatten is high because people want to live in those big exciting cities, close to jobs and entertainment. But the surrounding bodies of water put a limit on any type of urban sprawl. Keep reading to see the most expensive places to live, including the surprising number one city. Find out how you compare to your friends all around the country.

Most Expensive Places to Live-From the U.S. Census Bureau

20. New York. N.Y.
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,363

19. Seattle, Wash.
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wa. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,368

18. Manchester, N.H.
Manchester-Nashua, N.H. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,372

17. Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, N.Y. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,399

16. Riverside, Calif.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,400

15. Trenton, N.J.
Trenton-Ewing, N.J. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,401

14. Napa, Calif.
Napa, Calif. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,418

13. Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,422

12. Santa Barbara, Calif.
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, Calif. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,448

11. Boston, Mass.
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, M.A.-N.H. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,466

10. Santa Rosa, Calif.
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, Calif. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,485

9. San Diego, Calif.
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,510

8. Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hi. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,532

7. Vallejo, Calif.
Vallejo-Fairfield, Calif. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,594

6. Santa Cruz, Calif.
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Calif. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,633

5. San Francisco, Calif.
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,660

4. Washington, D.C.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.V. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,706

3. Oxnard, Calif.
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, Calf. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,780

2. Bridgeport, Conn.
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Ct. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,793

1. San Jose, Calif.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif. Metropolitan Statistical Area
Median Monthly Housing Costs: $1,828