The US is widely known as having one of the highest standards of living in the world, but it is a high standard that is supported by some of the highest costs of living. In general, one can expect to pay 10 percent more than the global average for living expenses while residing in the United States. The weakness of the US dollar against both the euro and the yen, although bad news for Americans traveling outside of its borders, has reduced the relative cost of living of its cities, making the US more attractive to ex-patriots.

The United States is so vast that in many ways its regions can be seen as different economies. Salaries, prices and the cost of living will all vary enormously from one location to another. A person who is offered a job in a particular location in the United States should therefore ask the human resources department of the hiring company for an estimate of the total cost of living in the community. Big companies often have an office of international services or training liaison officers who will have access to cost ranges. Even within US cities, actual living costs will depend heavily on house type and location, as well as transportation options available from one's residence to the workplace and on whether the employee brings a family.