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United States landscape

North America

US flag

United States

Capital Washington · 327M people · Dollar

Photo by Connor Gan on Unsplash

  • Cost
    Mid-range
  • Safety
    Caution
    2.2/5
  • Mobility
    Limited
    2.8/5
  • Culture
    Rich
    4.0/5
  • Climate
    Variable
    -7–36°

Top cities

Source: GeoNames

Map of United States
© Stadia Maps, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap · Imagery © CNES, Airbus, PlanetObserver
New York City
14.2M
New York City
  • Career
  • Nightlife
Portland
1.8M
Portland
  • Outdoors
San Francisco
4.7M
San Francisco
  • Mild Climate
Columbus
875K
Columbus
  • Quiet
Washington
3.5M
Washington
  • Parks
San Diego
2.0M
San Diego
  • Sun & Sea

Cost of living in United States

Monthly median
$3,502/mo
solo, balanced budget in USD

Where you live matters as much as the country.

United States' $3,502 monthly cost ranks #91 of 95 countries worldwide (#1 is cheapest) — above the world median of $1,439.

San Francisco ($5,450) runs 2.0× Detroit ($2,740); most of the 33 cities cluster near the $3,502 median.

Monthly cost by city
cheapest first · 33 cities
NATIONAL $3,491
Detroit
$2,740
Houston
$3,133
Chicago
$3,665
Philadelphia
$3,909
Los Angeles
$4,351
Boston
$4,582
San Francisco
$5,450

Good to know — low cost often trades against local salaries and visa options — budget for income, not just spending. Learn how we measure this →

33 citiesupdated 2026estimatedSource & methodMedium confidence

Safety in United States

Overall safety
2.2/5
Use caution

The one thing to watch: property crime.

United States' 2.2/5 safety score ranks #56 of 95 countries worldwide (#1 is safest) — below the world median of 2.6/5.

Property crime: highest in Detroit, far calmer elsewhere — a local risk, not a national one.

Crime & accidents
Natural hazards

Good to know — a calm national average can hide neighbourhood-level crime — research the specific district you would live in. Learn how we measure this →

35 citiesupdated 2026Street & hazard indicesMedium confidence

Getting around United States

Overall mobility
2.8/5
City-dependent

Mobility in United States depends on the city — San Francisco leads, Jacksonville trails.

United States' 2.8/5 mobility score ranks #38 of 95 countries worldwide (#1 is easiest to get around) — above the world median of 2.6/5.

San Francisco reaches 4.0 while Jacksonville sits at 1.6 — choose by city, not by country.

Mobility by city
8 biggest cities · easiest first
+27 more cities on the map

Good to know — strong airport access can coexist with weak everyday transit — check the mode you would actually use. Learn how we measure this →

35 citiesupdated 2026Mobility indicesMedium confidence

Culture in United States

Overall culture
4.0/5
Strong scene

Culture in United States concentrates in its big cities — New York City leads, Jacksonville is lighter.

United States' 4.0/5 culture score ranks #18 of 95 countries worldwide (#1 is richest) — above the world median of 3.5/5.

New York City reaches 4.8 while Jacksonville sits at 2.6 — check the specific city, not the country.

Cultural capitals
richest first · top 3 of 26
New York City
4.8/5
New York City
  • Arts
  • Nightlife
  • Festivals
  • Theatre
Overall culture 4.8 out of 5, band strongChicago
4.4/5
Chicago
  • Nightlife
  • Arts
  • Theatre
  • Festivals
Overall culture 4.4 out of 5, band strongPhiladelphia
4.2/5
Philadelphia
  • Arts
  • Theatre
  • Nightlife
  • Festivals
Overall culture 4.2 out of 5, band strong
+23 more cities on the map
World Heritage Sites
best known in United States · links to the official UNESCO record
Statue of Liberty
1984UNESCO ↗
Statue of Liberty
  • Cultural
  • Artistic masterpiece
Statue of Liberty. Cultural World Heritage site, inscribed 1984. Photo: Don Ramey Logan, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Opens the official UNESCO record.Independence Hall
1979UNESCO ↗
Independence Hall
  • Cultural
  • Living heritage
Independence Hall. Cultural World Heritage site, inscribed 1979. Photo: Mys 721tx, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Opens the official UNESCO record.Grand Canyon National Park
1979UNESCO ↗
Grand Canyon National Park
  • Natural
  • Natural beauty
Grand Canyon National Park. Natural World Heritage site, inscribed 1979. Photo: Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo portfolio, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Opens the official UNESCO record.Yellowstone National Park
1978UNESCO ↗
Yellowstone National Park
  • Natural
  • Natural beauty
Yellowstone National Park. Natural World Heritage site, inscribed 1978. Photo: James St. John from Newark, Ohio, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Opens the official UNESCO record.Mesa Verde National Park
1978UNESCO ↗
Mesa Verde National Park
  • Cultural
  • Ancient civilization
Mesa Verde National Park. Cultural World Heritage site, inscribed 1978. Photo: Elaine from Sheffield, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Opens the official UNESCO record.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons · data UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Good to know — a strong national culture score can be carried by one or two big cities — check the specific city, not only the country average. Learn how we measure this →

26 citiesupdated 2026Culture indicesMedium confidence

Airports in United States

Air connectivity
129airports
major gateways · 1.8B passengers/yr
Major hub

Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport is United States' busiest gateway.

United States is busier than 86 of 87 countries worldwide. It sees ~6 air passengers per resident a year — a derived figure, not itself ranked.

129 major airports handle about 1.8B passengers a year. Tap any to see its nearest cities and how far they are.

By traffic
busiest first · top 5 of 129

+124 more airports on the map

Source: faa 2023

Good to know — passenger volume is total throughput, not direct-route breadth; a large hub can still lack flights to your region. Learn how we measure this →

129 airportsupdated 2026Medium confidence

Passport strength in United States

Full analysis
US coat of arms
Global rank
#10by mobility
Elite access

United States's passport ranks #10 worldwide — 169 destinations visa-free.

This is the passport you’d gain by naturalizing here — a long-horizon payoff measured in years of residency, not a signal for the move itself.

Visa-free reach
where this passport opens doors
Mobility
#10
169 destinations
GDP reach
#44
72.6% of world GDP
Heritage
#34
1,038 of 1,353 UNESCO sites

Good to know — a mobility rank counts how many destinations you can enter, not how useful they are; a strong passport can still gate the one place you care about. Learn how we measure this →

updated 2026High confidence

Climate in United States

Climate character
-7° → 36°
feels-like, where most people live
Biggest cities: New York City, Los Angeles, MiamiColdest: Minneapolis -29°Hottest: Phoenix 46°

Warm summers, gentle winters.

Where most people in the United States live, it's typically -7° to 36° feels-like across the year; sun is plentiful, up to ~342 days a year in Honolulu.

Feels-like °C — where most people live, vs the city-to-city spread

16-7J18-6F21-2M263A2910M3418J3622J3620A3315S297O23-1N17-5D
Where most people liveColdest / hottest city
Seasonal extremes
coolest → warmest city, per metric
Hot days 30°+/yr
0
San Diego
22New York City65Los Angeles105Oklahoma City136Houston169San Antonio
191
Phoenix
Frost days/yr
0
Los Angeles
37Charlotte53New York City92Chicago125Omaha142Denver
172
Anchorage
Rainy days/yr
18
Las Vegas
31Phoenix84Fort Worth98San Antonio118New York City133Houston
191
Miami
Sunny days/yr
118
Anchorage
159Seattle190Columbus206New York City244San Antonio315Los Angeles
342
Honolulu
Peak UVindex
3.3
Anchorage
7.1New York City7.7Chicago8.7Memphis9.4Houston10.2Los Angeles
11.8
El Paso

Good to know— a country isn't one climate but a range; the extremes here are different cities, not the same place across seasons. Learn how we measure this →

60 citiesupdated 2026Medium confidence

Who thrives in United States

United States suits a wide range of lifestyles.

Fit is scored per lifestyle and anchored to the cities that serve each best — Career Builder leads. Pick one to see exactly where it works.

Great fit

Career Builder
Excellent
New York City100%Chicago94%
English Speaker
Excellent
Boston100%New York City100%
Nightlife & Social
Excellent
New York City100%Los Angeles95%
Cosmopolitan
Excellent
New York City100%San Francisco97%
Ocean Lover
Excellent
Miami100%Honolulu100%
Mountain Seeker
Excellent
Salt Lake City100%Honolulu88%
Park & Garden Lover
Excellent
Minneapolis100%Washington91%
Foodie
Excellent
New York City100%San Francisco100%
Outdoor Enthusiast
Excellent
Salt Lake City100%Portland100%
Big City Energy
Excellent
New York City100%Los Angeles100%
Clean Air Seeker
Excellent
Flagstaff100%Port Angeles100%
Sunshine Lover
Excellent
San Luis93%Somerton93%
Sun & Sea Lover
Excellent
Honolulu93%San Diego83%
Arts & Intellectual
Excellent
New York City93%Washington86%
Winter Escapist
Excellent
Kaneohe92%Kailua92%
Escaping Weather
Excellent
San Francisco91%San Diego90%
Eternal Summer
Excellent
Kaneohe88%Kailua88%
Frequent Traveller
Excellent
New York City87%Dallas80%
Crowd Avoider
Excellent
Columbus85%Detroit83%
Car-Free Urbanist
Very Good
Boston75%New York City75%
Safety Seeker
Very Good
Honolulu73%Raleigh65%

Decent fit

Active Retiree
Fair
San Francisco43%Denver43%
Budget-Conscious
Fair
Detroit41%Indianapolis41%

Good to know — fit is by city, not country; a lifestyle that thrives here may only do so in one or two of its cities. Learn how we measure this →

23 lifestylesupdated 2026Medium confidence

Frequently asked about the United States

▶Is the United States expensive to live in?
United States' $3,502 monthly cost ranks #91 of 95 countries worldwide (#1 is cheapest) — above the world median of $1,439. San Francisco ($5,450) runs 2.0× Detroit ($2,740); most of the 33 cities cluster near the $3,502 median.
▶Is the United States safe?
United States' 2.2/5 safety score ranks #56 of 95 countries worldwide (#1 is safest) — below the world median of 2.6/5. Property crime: highest in Detroit, far calmer elsewhere — a local risk, not a national one.
▶What's the weather like in the United States?
Warm summers, gentle winters. Where most people in the United States live, it's typically -7° to 36° feels-like across the year; sun is plentiful, up to ~342 days a year in Honolulu.
▶Which cities in the United States does HabiBubble cover?
HabiBubble covers cities across the United States, including its largest — New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Phoenix. Each has its own cost, safety, climate and mobility profile — check the specific city, not the country.
▶Is it easy to get around the United States?
United States' 2.8/5 mobility score ranks #38 of 95 countries worldwide (#1 is easiest to get around) — above the world median of 2.6/5. San Francisco reaches 4.0 while Jacksonville sits at 1.6 — choose by city, not by country.
▶What's the culture like in the United States?
United States' 4.0/5 culture score ranks #18 of 95 countries worldwide (#1 is richest) — above the world median of 3.5/5. New York City reaches 4.8 while Jacksonville sits at 2.6 — check the specific city, not the country.
▶What are the United States' main airports?
United States is busier than 86 of 87 countries worldwide. It sees ~6 air passengers per resident a year — a derived figure, not itself ranked. 129 major airports handle about 1.8B passengers a year.
▶Does the United States have a strong passport?
The United States' passport ranks #10 worldwide — 169 destinations visa-free. This is the passport you'd gain by naturalizing here — a long-horizon payoff measured in years of residency, not a signal for the move itself.
▶Who is the United States for?
United States is a strong fit for a wide range of lifestyles, including Career Builder, English Speaker, Nightlife & Social, Cosmopolitan and Ocean Lover. Fit is scored per lifestyle and anchored to the cities that serve it best — check the specific city, not the country.
Take the quiz→Discover by priority→