Cost of living in the United States
Living the same way in the United States costs about 111% of what it costs in Canada and 108% in the UK. These are national averages from the World Bank's 2025 price levels for household spending, rent included.
What your spending becomes in the United States
Each row takes a month's spending at home, all in, and shows what living the same way costs in the United States, in your money and in USD.
| At home, a month | Same life in the United States | In USD | Compared with home |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA$4,000 in Canada | CA$4,440 | $3,170 | 11% more |
| £2,500 in the UK | £2,710 | $3,560 | 8% more |
Visa income figures for the United States
None of the open remote-work, retirement or freelance routes to the United States states a monthly income figure we can compare. See every route to the United States.
The United States and countries at a similar price level
What $3,000 a month in the US becomes in each country, cheapest first. The order is the same from Canada or the UK.
| Country | $3,000 in the US becomes | Price level against the US |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $2,770 | 92% |
| Australia | $2,830 | 94% |
| Norway | $2,890 | 96% |
| Luxembourg | $2,960 | 99% |
| United States | $3,000 | 100% |
| Ireland | $3,060 | 102% |
| Denmark | $3,140 | 105% |
Read these figures with care
- National averages. Capital cities and towns popular with movers usually cost more than the national figure, rent most of all.
- 2025 figures. Prices and exchange rates move. Treat this as a first sort, then price a real flat and a real weekly shop where you'd live.
- The same life, not a cheaper one. The World Bank compares what the same basket of goods and services costs in each country at market exchange rates. Living differently there, for better or worse, changes the sum.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (PPP conversion factor for private consumption, and the official exchange rate), licensed CC BY 4.0. Data updated 2026-10-08. Visa figures from our routes table, checked against official sources. General information, not financial or immigration advice.