Frequently Asked Questions

Regular unleaded averages $3.98 a gallon nationally as of November 11, 2026 (AAA). The most expensive state is California at $5.71, and the cheapest is North Carolina at $3.23.

Typical US rent is about $1,932 a month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types), up 2.7% from a year earlier. Across the cities we track, Hawaii has the highest average at $3,310 and West Virginia the lowest at $1,027.

Based on the average cost of living index of the cities we track, South Dakota is the least expensive state at 78, and Hawaii is the most expensive at 155. The US average is 100.

Grocery prices (BLS food at home) rose 1.8% over the past year, while overall consumer prices rose 3.7%. Over the long run some staples have risen much faster than the overall CPI, which is up 99% since 2000: ground beef is up 356% and bread 105% (BLS average prices).

The CPI measures a broad national basket of goods and services. Individual categories like rent, gas and groceries can rise faster or slower than the headline number, and costs differ a lot by city. RealInflation shows those categories city by city so you can compare them with the official figure yourself.

For each city we add up a year of typical rent, 600 gallons of gas, groceries, electricity at 900 kWh a month and full coverage car insurance, then divide by the county median household income from the Census. Groceries use what the average household in that Census region spends on food at home in a year, from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, about $5,500 in the South and $7,100 in the Northeast and West. Taxes, health care, child care and transportation beyond gas are not included, so real budgets run higher.

The index compares overall living costs in a city with the US average, which is set at 100. A city at 120 is about 20% more expensive than average, and a city at 90 is about 10% cheaper.

RealInflation is a tracker of what everyday things actually cost across America. It covers 496 cities in all 50 states and DC, with gas, rent, groceries, electricity and car insurance shown next to the official inflation rate.

Gas prices come from AAA state averages, rent from the Zillow Observed Rent Index, grocery prices and CPI from the Bureau of Labor Statistics through FRED, electricity rates from the EIA, car insurance from Bankrate and NAIC, and household income from the Census American Community Survey. Visitors can also submit local prices.

An automated pipeline refreshes the data twice a month, on the 2nd and the 18th. The latest refresh was November 11, 2026. Some sources publish less often: Zillow rent is monthly and car insurance averages are annual.

No. Grocery item prices are national averages from the BLS, so your local store may be higher or lower. Regional grocery inflation rates are shown on state pages, and you can submit prices from your own store.

Rent uses the Zillow Observed Rent Index, which follows rents on the same homes over time across all home types. Smaller cities and suburbs use the metro area they belong to.

Yes. Use the Submit Price page to share what you paid for gas, groceries or a meal. Submissions are reviewed for outliers and shown next to the national averages.