Country guide

Overview

United States🇺🇸

At a Glance

How United States compares across key indices

Quality of Life160Safety68Healthcare68Affordability100ClimateClean Air16

Cost of Living

100 vs NYC

100 = NYC

Safety Index

68/100

Healthcare

68/100

Quality of Life

160/200

Cost of Living

How far your money goes in United States

Cost of Living

100

100 = NYC baseline

Rent Index

75

100 = NYC rent

Groceries

100

100 = NYC groceries

Restaurant Prices

105

100 = NYC dining

Safety & Crime

Low Risk

How safe residents feel in United States - based on surveys of people living there

Safety Index

68/100

Crime Index

23/100

Lower is better

Walking Safety

Daytime100
Nighttime100

0 point drop from day to night

Cities in United States

United States has 300 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $2,231 in Tucson to $2,519 in Washington. Tucson leads on safety, scoring 67/100. South Boston ranks highest for quality of life at 154/200.

đź’¸Most Affordable

Tucson

$2,231/mo

Safest

Tucson

67/100

Best Quality of Life

South Boston

154/200

Best Healthcare

New York City

79/100

City filter
Featured
Curated and popular cities first.
40 of 300 shown
CityMonthly CostSafetyQuality of LifeHealthcarePollution
Washington$2,51965/100152/20077/10021
New York City$2,46463/100151/20079/10026
Los Angeles$2,43563/100151/20078/10025
Brooklyn$2,40064/100152/20077/10023
Chicago$2,39864/100152/20077/10023
Queens$2,38364/100152/20076/10023
Houston$2,38364/100152/20076/10023
Phoenix$2,34765/100152/20075/10021
Philadelphia$2,34365/100153/20075/10021
San Antonio$2,33965/100153/20075/10021
Manhattan$2,33665/100153/20075/10021
San Diego$2,33065/100153/20075/10021
The Bronx$2,33065/100153/20075/10021
Dallas$2,32565/100153/20075/10020
Jacksonville$2,29766/100153/20074/10019
Fort Worth$2,29566/100153/20074/10019
San Jose$2,29566/100153/20074/10019
Austin$2,29266/100153/20074/10019
Columbus$2,28666/100153/20073/10019
Charlotte$2,28666/100153/20073/10019
Indianapolis$2,28166/100153/20073/10019
San Francisco$2,27566/100154/20073/10019
Seattle$2,26867/100154/20073/10018
Denver$2,26267/100154/20073/10018
Nashville$2,25567/100154/20072/10018
Oklahoma City$2,25567/100154/20072/10018
El Paso$2,25567/100154/20072/10018
Boston$2,25167/100154/20072/10018
Portland$2,25167/100154/20072/10018
Detroit$2,24867/100154/20072/10018
Las Vegas$2,24867/100154/20072/10018
New South Memphis$2,24867/100154/20072/10018
Memphis$2,24667/100154/20072/10018
Louisville$2,24667/100154/20072/10018
Baltimore$2,24067/100154/20072/10017
South Boston$2,23567/100154/20072/10017
Albuquerque$2,23567/100154/20072/10017
Milwaukee$2,23567/100154/20072/10017
Tucson$2,23167/100154/20072/10017
Fresno$2,23167/100154/20072/10017

Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.

Compare Cities Side by Side

Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life

Families

Schools

1826 verified school profiles across 0 cities in United States — language model, grade range, credentials, and published tuition. A sample is shown here; filter the full set in the School Finder.

Browse all 1826 schools

32nd Street/LAUSD USC Magnet School

Verified

Location variesAges varyContact school

International Curriculum
Ib World School

A C Davis High School

Verified

Location variesAges varyContact school

International Curriculum
Ib World School

A C Flora High School

Verified

Location variesAges varyContact school

International Curriculum
Ib World School

Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School

Verified

Location variesAges varyContact school

International Curriculum
Ib World School

Academia de Lenguaje y Bellas Artes (ALBA)

Verified

Location variesAges varyContact school

International Curriculum
Ib World School

Academie Lafayette

Verified

Location variesAges varyContact school

International Curriculum
Ib World School

1802 more verified schools in United States are available in the School Finder, with filters for city, age, language, credentials, and tuition.

School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.

Healthcare

Healthcare system overview for United States

Healthcare68Safety68Quality of Life160
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Environment

Clean

Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in United States

Pollution Index

16/100

Lower is better

PM2.5

7.8ug/m3

Good

Environmental Quality

Air Quality100/100

Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about living in United States, answered with data

What is the cost of living in United States?

United States has a cost of living index of 100 relative to New York City (100). It is on par with or more expensive than major US cities. Monthly costs for a single person start around $2,066 in Downey and reach $2,519 in Washington.

What is the cheapest city in United States for expats?

Downey is the most affordable city in United States in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $2,066 for a single person including rent. Elmhurst is the next most affordable at $2,066/mo.

Is United States safe for expats?

United States has a safety index of 68/100, making it generally safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Odessa scores highest on safety at 71/100.

What is the best city in United States for expats and digital nomads?

Odessa ranks highest for quality of life in United States, scoring 157/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $2,068/mo for a single person. For budget-conscious expats, Downey offers the lowest monthly costs at $2,066/mo.

How good is healthcare in United States?

United States scores 68/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it good by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.

What is the air quality and pollution like in United States?

United States has a pollution index of 16/100 (lower = cleaner). This is relatively clean by global standards, making it appealing for those prioritising air quality and outdoor lifestyle.

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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources

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