United States

Living in United States: the short version

The US offers the world’s largest job market and the highest salaries in many professions, but it is one of the hardest countries to move to without an employer or family sponsor. Costs vary enormously by state: rent in rural Ohio can be a third of rent in San Francisco, and nine states levy no state income tax at all.

Best for: Professionals with a job offer or rare skills, founders, and people with US family ties.

How to move to United States: main visa and residency routes

Summaries only — requirements and income thresholds change. Always check the official sources below.

H-1B specialty occupation visa

Employer-sponsored work visa for degree-level jobs; annual cap filled by lottery.

L-1 intracompany transfer

For employees moving to a US office of the same company after a year abroad.

O-1 extraordinary ability

For people with documented top-level achievement in their field.

E-2 treaty investor

For citizens of treaty countries investing substantially in a US business.

Healthcare for newcomers

There is no universal public system for working-age adults. Most people get private insurance through an employer or the ACA marketplace; budget for premiums, deductibles and co-pays.

How United States compares

Calculated from our data for all 55 countries. How we calculate this

Cost of living rank

2nd most expensive of 55

Single person, core costs

$2,460/mo

Family of four, core costs

$4,755/mo

Take-home on $60,000

$46,903/yr

• Renting a one-bedroom home takes about 28% of the average local salary in United States, less than the median of 36% across the countries we cover.
• Core monthly costs for one person (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, internet and eating out) come to about $2,460, or 46% of the average local monthly salary.
• On a gross salary of $60,000 taxed locally, our estimate leaves $46,903 a year after income tax and employee social security (an effective rate of 22%), the 10th highest take-home pay of 55 countries. After single-person core costs, that leaves roughly $17,383 a year to save or spend.
• Countries with a similar overall cost of living: Switzerland, Singapore, Norway.
• Cheaper options in North America: Canada, Mexico.

Estimates for planning, using simplified national tax brackets in US dollars; local taxes, deductions and your own spending will differ. Try your own numbers in the tax calculator or budget planner.

Sources and methodology

Figures on this page are estimates in US dollars, compiled from the international datasets below and converted at recent exchange rates. The cost of living index uses New York City as 100. Guidance was last reviewed on September 30, 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.