A six-figure salary doesn’t buy what it used to — especially in California. A single adult living in the Golden State now needs to earn an eye-watering $126,797 a year before taxes to live “comfortably,” according to a new report from financial planning site SmartAsset. That puts singletons who are bringing in an even $100,000 … Read more
There’s more to this town than sourdough. WalletHub has dished up its annual list of America’s best cities for foodies, spotlighting destinations where diners can feast on highly rated fare without spending a small fortune. One Bay Area destination landed at No. 3 — not bad for a place where the cost of living can … Read more
America’s housing nightmare has a new epicenter – Los Angeles. The City of Angels was ranked dead last among America’s 100 largest metropolitan areas for home affordability and homebuilding, earning an embarrassing “F” on Realtor.com’s national housing report card. The numbers behind the failing grade are brutal. The typical Los Angeles-area home is listed for … Read more
School is in session — and designer clothing is out. That’s the verdict from dozens of New York City public school students, who went back to school today with carefully picked pieces from thrift stores like Beacon’s Closet and buzzy sites like Depop and Poshmark. The city’s young scholars are even hunting for secondhand pieces … Read more
West coast — not best coast. Pricey, high-tax California was shut out of the running in a new report that selected the 50 best towns in the country for retirement-age Americans. According to the number crunchers at MoneyLion, not one municipality with a population between 1,000 and 10,000 in the Golden State deserved consideration — with … Read more
As families look for ways to keep dinner costs down, warehouse clubs are competing for shoppers with prepared meals that offer an alternative to cooking from scratch or spending money on takeout. Among the prepared meal options is Sam’s Club’s Member’s Mark Chicken Shawarma Kit, a 37-ounce meal listed for just under $16 on the retailer’s website. … Read more
A new report lays bare just how much it takes to live the good life in California. Americans say they’d need to earn $420,000 per year to feel financially secure, according to a survey conducted last year by Bankrate — but in parts of California, you’d need double that to be considered “rich.” An analysis … Read more
Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright said Wednesday the fast-casual chain is seeing improvement in customers’ perceptions of affordability. Speaking on Chipotle’s second-quarter earnings call, Boatwright said the company’s brand tracking showed improved perceptions of value across “all income groups and age cohorts.” “As it relates to value, I’m happy to report our brand tracker showed really solid progress across all … Read more
Can healthy eating really cost less than a drive-thru run? Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is betting it can with a new government-backed coking show aimed at proving nutritious meals don’t have to break the bank. The new program, “The Real Food Show,” makes “healthy, affordable cooking simple and accessible for every American,” according to the … Read more
It’s National Chicken Wing Day, and fans of one of America’s most iconic foods have reason to celebrate: Wing prices have fallen after years of soaring costs. Wholesale whole wing prices are down from a year ago. There’s also a steady supply available, according to a July market trend report published by Performance Foodservice. It’s likely chicken … Read more
Californians already struggling to afford day-to-day necessities will be hit even harder next year when a hefty increase in health insurance rates goes into effect. Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, announced this month that its private health plans will see prices rise on average 9.9% in 2027 for the second straight year. This … Read more
Gov. Gavin Newsom recently doubled down on his mission to make California a haven where only new electric vehicles are sold, but most Californians — including fellow Democrats — are saying hell no, according to a new survey by the Public Policy Institute of California. The survey, conducted June 29 to July 6, revealed that … Read more
A cheeseburger, fries and a soda remain one of America’s classic comfort meals, but what Americans pay for that combo depends heavily on where they live, according to the so-called Cheeseburger Index. A new DoorDash State of Local Commerce report, which compares the average price of a cheeseburger, fries and a soda across US cities, found … Read more
The average new car payment rose to an all-time high in the first quarter as American households continued to face affordability challenges in the economy. A new report by LendingTree citing data from Experian for the first quarter of 2026 found that the average monthly payment for a new vehicle rose 2.9% from a year … Read more
If summer road trips have you craving pizza, a new report spotlights key places across the country to stop for the most affordable slice. With Americans continuing to watch their spending on dining out, the survey highlights where travelers can stretch their food budgets the furthest while on the road this summer. In its US Pizza … Read more
Salute to the loot. Veterans of the United States military are unwittingly forfeiting billions in untapped financial support from the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) across major cities, including NYC, due to lack of awareness and eligibility confusion, per a startling report. Researchers for Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s largest VA lender, determined that … Read more
California may be home to some of the country’s priciest real estate, but just across the border, one desert city is quietly becoming a haven for bargain-hunting homebuyers. A new WalletHub study ranking the most affordable US cities for homebuyers found that no California metro cracked the top tier, while Yuma landed at number four … Read more
New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport is one of the priciest airports in the country — with average plane tickets topping $400 as a majority of Americans say increasing costs are keeping them out of the air, a new study showed. Average airfares at JFK in 2026 were $404.59 as of May, earning … Read more
The city once dubbed America’s meth capital is apparently becoming surprising wholesome. Fresno was once called “The City Addicted to Crystal Meth” in a 2009 BBC documentary — but now, somehow, it’s apparently one of the better places to raise a family in the United States. The much-maligned Central Valley metro — which also recently landed on … Read more
Call it deflation. One of the country’s largest grocers, Kroger, is slashing prices to lure inflation-ravaged customers from Walmart, Costco and other high-value grocery giants. CEO Greg Foran hopes these proposed price cuts will help give value-conscious customers reeling from surging gas prices, economic uncertainty, and other effects of inflation a bit of a breather … Read more