Took this awesome pic of i-10 and i-45 right at the northern ed…
The Territorial acquisitions of the United States, such as the …
The Rotunda at the University of Virginia. Charlottesville, Vir…
United States view 4
John Trumbull's painting, Declaration of Independence, depictin…
The dome of the US Capitol building.

United States

Arctic Ocean, Atlant…
Climate
USD
Currency
Moderate
Safety
High
Cost of Living
English
Language
Country Information United States

The United States is a vast country located in North America, characterized by a remarkable diversity of geographic features and climates. It spans from the Arctic conditions in Alaska to subtropical environments in Florida and Hawaii, encompassing n...

Cost of Living
vs EU Average46% more expensive
Rent
$2,643Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Meal
$26.00Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Groceries
$1.40Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Transport
$2.63One-way Ticket (Local Transpo…
Read the full cost-of-living guide

Your United States Roadmap

40+ page relocation analysis tailored to your profile.

  • Custom Tax & Cost Projection
  • District Matching for your Lifestyle
  • Vetted Local Partner Directory

With a safety index of 51/100, United States offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.

Entry Requirements & Visa Options

Foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States generally must obtain a U.S. visa prior to travel, except those eligible for visa-free entry under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The most common visa types for temporary visits include the B-1 visa for business, the B-2 visa for tourism, and the combined B-1/B-2 visa for both purposes. Applicants must complete the DS-160 online nonimmigrant visa application, pay the application fee (currently $185 for tourist visas), and attend an interview at a...

Work permits available
Read full guide

Discover Cities in United States

Create your free profile to see personalized match scores.

Location Intelligence for United States
Cost of Living68.7

46% above EU avg

Safety50.8

22% below EU avg

Quality of Life190.2

23% above EU avg

Purchasing Power161.8

131% above EU avg

Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.

Capital

Washington, D.C.

Timezone

UTC-12:00

Area

9,372,610 km²

Population

329,484,123

United States shows a purchasing power index of 162/100, indicating excellent economic conditions for expats.

Economic Overview in United States

GDP

$27.72T

HDI

0.9

Quality of Life

82/100

+39 vs NYC

Purchasing Power

67/100

+25 vs NYC

Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in United States. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.

Comparison data legendCompare:
United States
Continent Avg

Cost of Living Index

Moderate

Moderate cost of living with a CPI of 65.35 (NYC=100 baseline). Groceries index at 73.95 and restaurant price index at 66.47 reflect moderately high daily expenses.

Housing Market

Excellent

Very affordable housing market with property prices averaging 3.43 years of income, indicating good accessibility for residents.

Average Income Levels

Excellent

Excellent purchasing power index of 155.67, indicating strong income levels relative to living costs across the country.

Tax System

Moderate

Progressive federal income tax rates range from 10% to 37%, plus state and local taxes varying widely; sales tax averages around 6-7%, with property taxes varying regionally.

Business Environment

Good

Ranked #6 in the World Bank 2024 ease of doing business report, with a large startup ecosystem and generally favorable regulatory environment.

Social Security

Good

Comprehensive social security including Social Security retirement benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, and unemployment insurance, though healthcare coverage varies by insurance.

Work & Business in United States
Business ClimateSee full guide for details
Work PermitsRequirements vary by nationality
Key IndustriesExplore opportunities
Read full guide
Education SystemInternational schools, universities & curricula
Explore Guide
Climate

The United States features highly diverse climates due to its vast size exceeding 9 million km², spanning from tropical zones in Hawaii and South Florida to polar conditions in northern Alaska. Köppen classifications include tropical, arid, Mediterranean, humid subtropical, continental, and polar types, creating varied living conditions across regions.

Climate
Tropical, Arid
Summer
20–35°C
Winter
-15–20°C
Sunshine
3500+ hrs/yr

6 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details

Read full guide
Demographics in United States

Life Expectancy

77.0

Population

329,484,123

Religions

Christianity (Protestant)
46.5%
Non-religious
22.8%
Christianity (Catholic)
20.8%
Judaism
1.9%
Islam
0.9%

Ethnic Composition

By race: 61.6% White 12.4% Black 6% Asian 1.1% Native American 0.2% Pacific Islander 10.2% two or more races 8.4% other
N/A
What Expats Say About United StatesBETA

Research in Progress

We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for United States. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!

We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.

Transportation & Infrastructure in United States
Public TransitAvailable in major cities
AirportsInternational connectivity
InfrastructureRoad & rail networks
Read full guide
Social Integration in United States
Expat CommunityActive communities available
Cultural IntegrationTips & resources
Language BarrierSee guide for details
Read full guide
Retirement & Benefits in United States
Retirement VisaCheck eligibility
Healthcare AccessPublic & private options
Pension RecognitionSee guide for details
Read full guide
Political Landscape & Stability

The United States is governed as a federal republic with a bicameral legislature and a president serving as both head of state and government. The 2025 administration under President Donald J. Trump has initiated Project 2025, aiming to centralize executive power and reshape federal agencies, leading to increased tensions between federal and state governments and significant policy shifts in immigration, civil rights, and governance.

System
Federal republic
Stability
Moderately Stable
Democracy
Flawed Democracy
Legal System
Common law system with federal and state jurisdictions
Read full guide
Environment & Sustainability in United States
Air QualitySee detailed assessment
Green SpacesParks & nature areas
SustainabilityEnvironmental policies
Read full guide
United States flag
United States at a Glance

Languages

English

UN Member

Yes

Quick Facts for United States

Population

329,484,123

Currency

USD

Timezones

UTC-12:00 to UTC-04:00, UTC+10:00, UTC+12:00

Calling Code

+1

Week starts on

Sunday

Gini Coefficient

41.4 (2018)

Traffic side

right side

Location

Map coordinates not available for this location

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.