U.S. cities located on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts continue to have the highest cost of living out of 269 cities, according to a recent analysis by the Council for Community and Economic Research. This is no huge surprise for anyone who’s ever lived in New York, Los Angles, Seattle, or Miami.

The analysis, which compares the cost of consumer goods and services, found that the cost of living in these cities is significantly higher than the national average.

The study considers various factors such as housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services. It is based on the spending habits of households in the top income quintile, making it a useful tool for comparing relative costs across cities.

An index value of 100 represents the national average cost of living across 269 cities. If a city has a value over 100, its cost of living is higher than average. Under 100, lower than average.

Leading the pack in terms of high cost of living are three major cities:

• Honolulu

• San Jose

• San Francisco

These cities have index values of 179.2, 171.3, and 169.5 respectively, indicating that their cost of living is well above the national average.

On the other hand, cities like McAllen, Texas; Augusta, Georgia; and Amarillo, Texas are experiencing a more affordable cost of living at 80.2, 82.8, and 84.4 index values.

Only three Colorado cities cracked the list of being above the average national cost of the living and they may not be the three cities, or in the order, you might have guessed. Westminster has the highest Colorado cost of living, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research. While Denver came in second and Colorado Springs came in third.

But the analysis also reveals some interesting exceptions within the mid- and south Atlantic regions. Cities like Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaska have some of the highest relative grocery prices due to the cost of shipping goods to these remote areas.

Meanwhile, cities such as Pierre, South Dakota; Houma, Louisiana; and Thibodaux, Louisiana have the lowest grocery prices.

One notable mention from the report is the high cost of living in Manhattan, which, if considered as its own city, would have the highest index value of 227.8. This points to the fact that the cost of living in major cities, especially those on the coast, is significantly higher compared to other areas.

For those still working remotely due to the pandemic, the study suggests that a move to a more affordable city could be a smart financial move. For example, with a New York salary, one could enjoy a lower cost of living in a city like Amarillo, Texas. This highlights the potential benefits of the remote working trend and its impact on individual finances.

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• BIDENOMICS CLOSES ICONIC SCHWAN’S HOME DELIVERY IN COLORADO

• COLORADO'S 5.3% INFLATION RATE OUTPACES NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 3.7%

In conclusion, while U.S. cities along the coasts continue to have a higher cost of living, there are exceptions within the mid- and south Atlantic regions. This study serves as a reminder to individuals and families to carefully consider their living expenses and explore options for improving their financial situation.