Cities Where Inflation Is Rising the Most

Between housing prices that make your eyes bulge and sticker shock at the grocery store so profound you’ve considered looking into extreme couponing, we’ve all felt the pressures of inflation by now. While there isn’t a city left in the country that hasn’t faced inflationary adversity, there are some places where it is growing more rapidly than others. WalletHub compared cities’ inflation rates by consumer price index increases over two-month and one-year periods, and Cheapism has dissected its findings to show the 10 cities that are the biggest breeding grounds for inflation, along with some insight as to why each area ranks as it does. What are your experiences with inflation in these cities, or your own city? Let us know in the comments. 

Related: How to Outsmart Inflation, According to Experts

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 2 months before): 0.3%

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 1 year ago): 8.7%

The Windy City has seen some serious inflationary gusts that have led to a 0.2% increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ consumer price index in September and 0.3% more than two months before. Chicago’s cost of living is 23% higher than the national average, and housing costs in the city are 59% above the average figure for the nation as a whole.

Related: Inflation and What Consumers Are Doing to Get By  

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 2 months before): 0.9%

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 1 year ago): 8.1%

During the two-month period ending in September 2022, Boston saw a 0.9% increase in the consumer price index. Bureau of Labor Statistics Regional Commissioner William J. Sibley pointed out that the higher shelter and food prices — food prices rose 2.1% during the period — were somewhat balanced out by a 7.3% decline for the energy index.

Related: These 8 Things Just Got Cheaper

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 2 months before): 0.9%

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 1 year ago): 8.2%

With plenty of sights to see, notoriously pleasant weather, and beautiful beaches, San Diego is a tourist magnet. But San Diego isn’t exactly known for being affordable, especially as it is taking some massive inflationary hits. The cost of living in so-called “America’s Finest City” is an astounding 47% higher than the national average — a figure that is undoubtedly impacted the most by housing costs, which are 120% (yes, you read that right) above the national average.

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Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 2 months before): 0.1%

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 1 year ago): 9.5%

Although the overall cost of living in Houston is 6% lower than the national average, the city is still feeling the impacts of inflation. For the two months ending in August 2022, the consumer price index rose 0.1%, with the food index increasing 2.9%.

Related: People are Struggling with Inflation Most in These States

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 2 months before): 0.5%

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 1 year ago): 9.2%

During a two-month period ending in September 2022, the consumer price index in Dallas jumped up 0.5% with the food index rising 2.4%. Utilities cost 10% more than the national average in Dallas, contributing to the city’s overall cost of living sitting 4% above the average figure for the nation.

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 2 months before): 0.1%

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 1 year ago): 10.2%

Baltimore is vibrant, unique, and offers visitors plenty to see and do, but residents of the city are taking quite the hit from inflation. The overall cost of living in the area is 7% higher than the national average, which further breaks down to 14% higher than average housing costs, 6% higher prices for utilities, and groceries are 10% higher in cost.

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 2 months before): 0.3%

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 1 year ago): 10.5%

The consumer price index went up 0.3% between July and August 2022 in Tampa. BLS Regional Commissioner Janet S. Rankin stated that all items except food and energy jumped by 1.1% during the same period. When it comes to the cost of living in Tampa, figures are actually 5% beneath the national average. 

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 2 months before): 0.4%

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 1 year ago): 10.7%

As a city teeming with beaches, restaurants, upscale shopping, and culture to boot, Miami is a coveted vacation destination for some, but it’s not the most sought after place to live if affordability is the goal — housing prices in the Miami area are a colossal 40% higher than the national average. Groceries are also 21% higher than average in Miami, boosting the cost of living to 17% above the national average.

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 2 months before): 1.3%

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 1 year ago): 11.7%

The cost of groceries in Atlanta might fall 2% beneath the national average and the price of utilities an even more substantial 16% lower than the national average cost, but that doesn’t quite cover enough ground. Atlanta’s cost of living is still 5% higher than the overall average. The consumer price index in the area also jumped 1.3% from June-August 2022. 

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 2 months before): 0.8%

Consumer Price Index Change (Latest month vs. 1 year ago): 13%

While the overall cost of living in Phoenix is just 4% higher than the national average figure, average housing costs are a staggering 17% ahead of the norm. According to the consumer price index breakdown, prices for the Phoenix area were up 0.8% for the two-month period ending in August 2022 — an increase that BLS Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund said was mainly attributable to rising costs for food, shelter, and medical care.