COST OF LIVING INDEX YEAR END REVIEW

Feb. 10, 2026

Beginning with quarter four of 2007, C2ER has annually published an unweighted average of prices accumulated from the previous three quarters. This analysis uses average prices submitted for the first three quarters of 2025.  For further details on the annual average methodology, please visit our website at coli.org.

Among the 283 urban areas that participated in the 2025 Cost of Living Index, the after-tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living ranged from more than twice the national average in New York (Manhattan) NY to more than 20 percent below the national average in Decatur, IL.   The Cost of Living Index is published quarterly by C2ER – The Council for Community and Economic Research.

 

The Ten Most and Least Expensive Urban Areas  in the Cost of Living Index (COLI)  Year-End Review of Three Quarters in 2025  National Average for 283 Urban Areas = 100
Most Expensive			Least Expensive
		COL			COL
Ranking	Urban Areas	Index	Ranking	Urban Areas	Index
1.	New York (Manhattan) NY	238.9	1.	Tupelo MS	78.8
2.	San Jose CA	183.9	2.	Harlingen TX	79.7
3.	Honolulu HI	183.8	3.	Decatur IL	79.9
4.	New York (Brooklyn) NY	163.9	4.	Richmond IN	80.9
5.	Orange County CA	163.7	5.	McAllen TX	80.9
6.	San Francisco CA	163.6	6.	Oklahoma City OK	81.2
7.	New York (Queens) NY	153.8	7.	Ashland OH	81.6
8.	Los Angeles-Long Beach CA	152.3	8.	Amarillo TX	81.6
9.	Nassau County NY	149.1	9.	Pittsburg KS	81.7
10.	Boston MA	148.4	10.	Salina KS	81.9

The Cost of Living Index measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures, for professional and managerial households in the top income quintile. Covering 61 different items, prices are collected quarterly by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, and university applied economic centers in each participating urban area. Small differences should not be interpreted as showing a measurable difference.

The composite index is based on six component categories – housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services.

Among the 283 urban areas that participated in the 2025 Cost of Living Index, the after-tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living ranged from more than twice the national average in New York (Manhattan) NY to more than 20 percent below the national average in Decatur, IL. The Cost of Living Index is published quarterly by C2ER – The Council for Community and Economic Research.

 

Dalton’s Cost of Living Index (COLI) 

Review of Quarter Four in 2025 

National Average for 283 Urban Areas= 100 

   Dalton, GA 

	Composite Index	Grocery Items	Housing	Utilities	Transportation	Health Care	Misc. Goods & Services
	90.2	98.8	72.9	88.3	87.9	105.3	100.6