Not that we necessarily needed a list to inform the premium that comes with living in California, but alas, the Business Journals have quantified just how expensive it can be to live in the Golden State.
Looking at the latest regional price parity data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Business Journals have identified the top 32 metro areas that are the least affordable in the nation. And California dominated the field with 13 of the 32 spots.
Coming in at no. 1, San Francisco-Oakland, followed by San Jose at no. 2.
One of the biggest factors in establishing which areas are the least affordable is rent costs, with 21 of the top 32 also ranking among the most expensive markets for rent. According to the L.A. Business Journal, that includes San Jose and San Francisco, which were the only metros with a rent index score above 200.
Elsewhere on the list, New York/Newark came in at no. 3, followed by Honolulu, Santa Cruz, Napa, Santa Rosa, Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim, Poughkeepsie/Newburgh/Middletown, NY and Vallejo, CA, rounding out the top 10.
To see the full list, click here.