Major U.S. cities are similar to cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen in China, with higher costs of living. However, small and medium-sized U.S. cities are entirely different, showing significant variations from major cities regarding population size, lifestyle, and daily expenses. Below is an account from an immigrant living in the United States, using her home in a small city in South Carolina as an example to break down living expenses in a smaller American locality across three categories: food, housing, and transportation.
1. Food
The stores we visit most often include Costco (large portions, suitable for families), Whole Foods (organic grocery store), Asian markets (specializing in Chinese food and various seafood), and farmers markets (local produce, usually very affordable). Generally speaking, milk is 4.29 per carton, eggs are 3.99 per carton, shrimp are 4.99 per pound, chicken wings are 2.99 per pound, bananas are 0.39 per pound, apples are 6.99 per box, blueberries are 6.99 per box, kiwis are 5.99 per box, pork ribs are 6.59 per pound, cauliflower is 3.99 per head, tomatoes are 2.99 per pound, and potatoes are 0.99 per pound. Most of these items, such as chicken, meat, milk, eggs, apples, blueberries, tomatoes, and potatoes, are organic; if one opts for non-organic products, the expenses can be reduced by 30% to 40%.
Dining out is relatively expensive in the U.S. An average casual meal out costs about 30-60 USD, and the food quality is merely average, so most ordinary families cook at home and only dine out a few times per month. If we do not eat out, we spend about 650 USD per month on food, most of which covers organic products. Without buying organic food, skipping restaurant visits, and shopping more at farmers markets, 500 USD is sufficient.
2. Housing
Housing prices in small cities differ significantly from those in major cities. We purchased a single-family house over 200 square meters—comprising four bedrooms, a living room, and three bathrooms—which is currently valued at approximately 330,000 USD. Since there is no "common area" ratio (as is common in China), the three of us live quite spaciously. There is plenty of room even when both of our parents visit. Some younger people buy smaller single-family homes or townhouses at lower prices. For instance, a friend of mine bought a three-bedroom townhouse of 160 square meters for only 230,000 USD; as a young couple without children yet, they are very happy living there.
Our property has a 15-year mortgage with monthly payments of 1,400 USD. Because the previous owner installed solar panels, electricity costs are negligible. The remaining expenses include 50 USD for water, 60 USD for property insurance, 50 USD for HOA fees, and 40 USD for internet, none of which are very expensive. However, a major part of housing costs in the U.S. is property tax. Fortunately, property tax in our local area is low, amounting to about 220 USD per month.
Although the house is relatively new and requires little repair, basic maintenance and lawn care are necessary, which costs nearly 100 USD per month. Thus, we spend at least 1,900 USD per month on housing.
3. Transportation
This is relatively simple, involving car payments, insurance, and gasoline. Cars in the U.S. are not expensive, and many rental companies like Hertz sometimes sell off used cars that have been leased for a year or two. These vehicles are still under warranty but are priced very affordably, offering high value. For example, a 2019 high-spec Cadillac XTS with about 30,000 kilometers driven was sold by Hertz for just 24,000 USD. I bought a one-year-old used car from Hertz that had been driven about 40,000 kilometers; the original price was 24,000, but I paid just over 16,000 for it.
We have two cars, and our monthly insurance is about 60 USD. Since I do not work outside the home and my husband’s commute is short, gasoline only costs 80 USD. Other maintenance costs are also low, totaling about 60 USD per month, so cars cost us around 200 USD a month. This expense may be higher for many families, especially if they live in large cities with longer commutes, which can result in significant monthly gasoline costs.
Aside from food, housing, and transportation, there are expenses for education, medical care, and other miscellaneous items, such as monthly mobile phone bills, clothing for the whole family, travel, and more. I calculated our monthly household budget for a family of three to be about 4,250 USD, totaling 51,000 USD annually. After accounting for our already established retirement savings, we still have a surplus of approximately 20,000 USD.
This reflects the cost of living in a small U.S. city. Our life is certainly not extravagant, but it is comfortable. For a local Chinese family with a stable job, this amount is not a heavy burden. However, if one desires a higher quality of life—such as private schools for children, luxury handbags, high-end cars, or spontaneous international travel—the costs would be much higher. Overall, the basic cost of living in small and medium-sized U.S. cities is not high, and one can tailor their lifestyle to be as simple or as lavish as they wish.