Cost of living in the USA in 2026

Hi,

Here are some numbers, based on my current experience, living 2h drive North from NYC, family of 5, in a rental family house.

What is the cost of renting or buying an apartment or house in the USA? Individual house,  4 bedrooms, 0.5 acre backyard, monthly rent $3,000

What are the typical fares for public transportation such as buses, subways, trains, trams, or taxis? I do not use public transportation

Could you share the average monthly cost of your grocery shopping? Family of 5, in the $1,500 range per month for grocery.

How much does health insurance cost? What is the price of a medical consultation in the USA? base consultation for primary care provider is around $200. My part of Health insurance for the whole family is around $600/month, including health and dental, with a $3,300 family deductible for health.

What are the tuition fees for children? University grad school for my daughter is around $40,000/year, without housing.

What are the average monthly costs for utilities, such as electricity, gas, water, internet, and phone plans? Heating is natural gas, and including AC, average cost of gas/electricity is around $350/month.

Internet house plan (1GB/Fiber internet only, no cable TV) is $89.99/month (FIOS/Verizon)

Cell phone plan for the family is around $150/month.

@ecazorla

Thank you for sharing such a detailed breakdown of your current living costs. This kind of firsthand information is very helpful for members trying to understand the realities of family life and expenses in the USA.

All the best

Bhavna

Mid-size US city: Rent for a 1-bedroom is $1,200-$1,600/month, homes are ~$250k-$400k, bus fare is $2-$3 (most people drive), gas is ~$3–$4/gal, groceries for one person run $350-$500/month, health insurance through an employer is $200-$400/month (without it can be $400-$800+), a doctor visit without insurance is $100-$250, public school is free (private $8k-$25k/year), utilities + internet + phone are $250-$400/month, leisure is usually $200-$500/month, and car insurance is $100-$200/month