Just looked into housing costs across major US cities and honestly, some of these numbers are wild. If you're thinking about chasing the American Dream in one of the expensive cities in US, you better be prepared financially.

San Jose and San Francisco are basically in their own league - you'd need household income around $319K and $297K respectively just to comfortably live there. The mortgage costs alone are insane, averaging over $9K and $8K per month. Then you've got San Diego, LA, and NYC rounding out the top 5, all requiring $220K-$242K in household income.

What's interesting is how the expensive cities in us break down beyond just housing. Grocery bills are consistently high across the board - most places running $9K-$10K annually. But some cities surprise you. DC actually ranks 10th with a lower income requirement ($187K) compared to Boston or Oakland, even though you'd think it'd be pricier.

The analysis uses the 50/30/20 rule - half your income for needs, 30% for discretionary spending, 20% for savings. That's why the required income is roughly double the annual cost of living. If you're considering moving to one of the expensive cities in us, these numbers are worth running through carefully before making the jump.

Seattle and Long Beach are slightly more affordable than the coastal California spots, but still require $212K-$215K. Really makes you think about whether the opportunity cost is worth it, especially if you're not already earning six figures. The expensive cities in us market is definitely brutal for anyone just starting out.