Seattle, Washington

The city that gave us grunge music and the world's largest coffee chain has become one of the most desired locations to live in the United States. Yes, even with the rain. Seattle, Washington is one of America's fastest-growing cities, serving as the capital of King County, Washington, and home to several high-tech corporations (including Amazon and Microsoft). Unfortunately, these economic variables imply that if you want to reside in a city with both beach and mountain views, you'll have to pay a premium.

It is one of the nation's fastest-growing big cities, with a growth rate of 21.1 percent between 2010 and 2020.
The cost of living in the city is 56.7 percent higher than the national average. Seattle has had a luxury real estate boom in recent years, driving up prices even further. While the market did level off in 2019, Seattle's standing as one of the most expensive cities is unlikely to change anytime soon.

Cost of Living: 56.7% higher than U.S. average