Lifestyle
United States — Living: Cost Of Living
The BLS reports US consumer prices up 3.7% in the 12 months to September 2026, with shelter up 3.2%, food up 2.5% and energy up 20.4%.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceUS Bureau of Labor Statistics — Consumer Price Index summary, September 2026Last reviewed: 2026-10-23
Why this matters
Understanding the cost of living is crucial for relocating individuals to plan their finances and budget accordingly.
Key facts
- CPI-U rose 3.7% over the 12 months to September 2026, up from 3.4% in August; it rose 0.6% in the month seasonally adjusted.
- Core CPI excluding food and energy was up 2.6% year over year.
- Shelter rose 3.2% over the year and 0.4% in September; food rose 2.5%, with food at home down 0.1% and food away from home up 0.2% in the month.
- Energy was up 20.4% over the year and gasoline rose 9.1% in September alone.
- Regional spread was wide: the New York area was highest at 4.5% and the Chicago area lowest at 2.9% among metros reviewed.
- BLS publishes price changes, not a monthly budget for a foreign resident.
Steps
- Research the Cost of Living in Your Desired Location — Use online resources such as Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index or PayScale's Cost of Living Calculator to compare the cost of living in different cities and regions.
- Consider the Cost of Housing — Housing costs, including rent or mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance, can be a significant factor in determining the overall cost of living in a particular area.
- Plan for Other Living Expenses — In addition to housing costs, consider other expenses such as food, transportation, healthcare, and entertainment when determining your overall cost of living.