California city is 4th Most Expensive in the World, Ranking Finds

The only cities ranked higher are Geneva and Zurich in Switzerland, and New York City.Photo byAlexey KomissarovonUnsplash

A recent study by Numbeo confirms what many already know—San Francisco is one of the most expensive places to live, not only in the U.S. but globally. The mid-2024 study ranks San Francisco fourth on the "Cost of Living Index" with a score of 90.5, based on prices of consumer goods like groceries, restaurants, transportation, and utilities. Notably, rent and mortgage costs were not included in the ranking.

The only cities ranked higher are Geneva and Zurich in Switzerland, and New York City. Other U.S. cities in the top 10 include Boston, Washington D.C., Seattle, and Los Angeles, the list found.