COST OF LIVING INDEX YEAR END REVIEW

Feb. 6, 2024

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 2023.  For further details on the annual average methodology, please visit our website at coli.org.

Among the 276 urban areas that participated in the 2023 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 2023 National Average for 276 Urban Areas = 100
Most Expensive				Least Expensive
		COL				COL
Ranking	Urban Areas	Index		Ranking	Urban Areas		Index
1	New York (Manhattan) NY		225.2	1	Decatur IL		77.9
2	Honolulu HI		180.3	2	Harlingen TX		78.5
3	San Jose CA		174.4	3	McAllen TX		80.9
4	San Francisco CA		170.0	4	Tupelo MS		82.2
5	New York (Brooklyn) NY		160.5	5	Ponca City OK		82.3
6	Orange County CA		150.3	6	Muskogee OK		82.4
7	Los Angeles-Long Beach CA		148.9	7	Conway AR		82.6
8	Washington DC		146.8	8	Florence AL		83.3
9	Boston MA		146.5	9	Kalamazoo MI		83.6
10	Seattle WA		144.6	10	Lawton OK		83.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 276 urban areas that participated in the 2023 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 2023

National Average for 276 Urban Areas = 100

	Composite Index	Grocery Items	Housing	Utilities	Transportation	Health Care	Misc. Goods & Services
Dalton, GA	86.8	97.2	71.7	92.1	82.6	85.3	95.2

 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.