The U.S. Cities Where You Can’t Afford To Live Alone: New Study

A recent study by Highland Cabinetry ranks the most expensive U.S. cities for single populations, focusing on costs such as rent, home affordability, and the overall cost of living. The research aims to highlight cities where individuals living alone face the greatest financial challenges. The evaluation considers metrics like population, average house cost, per capita income, average rent (as of February 2025), and cost of living index. The final ranking is based solely on disposable income, ranking cities from lowest to highest financial challenges.

You can see the full research by the link.

Irvine leads the pack with a negative disposable income of -$2,285. The city combines the highest average rent ($4,700) among all surveyed cities with a staggering median home price of $1.54 million. Despite offering a solid per capita income, Irvine’s extreme housing costs create an unsustainable financial situation for singles.

Santa Ana ranks 2nd with -$2,915 in disposable income, the worst financial outlook on the list. The city presents a particularly challenging combination of low per capita income ($28,966) and high cost of living index (164), creating an insurmountable gap between earnings and expenses for single residents.

In 3rd place, Anaheim has a disposable income of -$2,155. Home to major attractions and entertainment venues, Anaheim’s nearly $1 million median home price, alongside moderate wages, creates significant financial pressure for singles, with housing costs consuming over 87% of the average monthly income.

Chula Vista comes in 4th with -$2,107 in disposable income. While its cost of living index (146) is lower than the previous three California cities, Chula Vista’s per capita income ($41,675) isn’t sufficient to offset high housing costs, though it fares slightly better than Santa Ana’s extreme income-to-cost disparity.

New York is 5th with -$1,166 in disposable income. Despite having the largest population among all cities listed, New York shows much better financial metrics than the California cities above it, with a lower cost of living index of 126.

Santa Clarita ranks 6th with -$1,699 in disposable income. Its per capita income of $51,962 surpasses all previous cities except Irvine, yet its high average rent ($3,550) and elevated cost of living index at 149 still create a significant negative cash flow, though not as severe as the top three cities.

San Jose follows in 7th with -$609 in disposable income. While its median home price ($1,426,853) nearly matches Irvine’s, San Jose’s higher per capita income ($63,575, the highest among all cities discussed) helps create the most manageable negative cash flow of any California city on the list.

Hialeah ranks 8th with -$2,274 in disposable income. Along with having the lowest median home price ($454,974) and cost of living index (121) of any city discussed so far, Hialeah’s extremely low per capita income ($25,674) creates a disposable income gap similar to Irvine’s.

Boston ranks 9th with -$320 in disposable income. With a high per capita income ($61,919, second only to San Jose) and a relatively moderate cost of living index (119, the lowest seen so far), Boston achieves the smallest negative disposable income among all cities analyzed.

Los Angeles rounds out the top ten with -$1,554 in disposable income. While it has a large population and diverse economy, LA still faces significant affordability challenges, placing it behind New York and other cities with a better income-to-cost ratio.

A spokesperson from Highland Cabinetry commented on the study: “Living alone can present significant financial challenges, particularly in areas where housing costs far exceed average wages. High rent and home prices leave little room for savings or long-term financial security. As these expenses continue to rise, singles often find themselves in a cycle of financial strain, highlighting the need for affordable housing solutions that support not only immediate living costs but also long-term economic well-being.”