Data Sources

Every number on How Expensive Is comes from public, official U.S. government data. We compile three federal sources into one comparable view and update them as new editions are released. This page lists exactly what we use and what each source contributes.

Because these datasets are produced by U.S. government agencies, they are in the public domain. We apply our own calculations and presentation on top of them, but the underlying figures are auditable and free for anyone to verify.

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)

The BEA Regional Price Parities provide the cost-of-living index, where 100 is the national average. They measure relative price levels for metropolitan areas, broken down into housing, goods, and other services. This is the backbone of every city's overall index on the site.

U.S. Census Bureau

The American Community Survey (5-Year estimates) supplies median household income, median gross rent, median home value, and population for each city. The ACS is the largest household survey in the country and reflects what residents actually report.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

HUD Fair Market Rents give rent benchmarks by apartment size, from a studio to four bedrooms, at the metropolitan level. These are the same figures HUD uses to set payment standards in federal housing programs, which makes them a reliable, consistent national reference.

Updates and Independence

We refresh our data when each agency publishes a new edition, typically once a year. How Expensive Is is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any government agency. The site is free to use and supported by advertising.