What are the cities with the highest cost of living?

[ringmastery]

And why do people live there when other places are much more affordable?

[NightTrain]

1. My guess would be New York and San Francisco

As to why people live there when there are more affordable places, I'll take a city over the bland, boring suburbs any ol' time!

[eyesroll]

2. Everywhere in Hawaii is expensive,

Being that they have to ship everything they can't grow or make there across an ocean.

...but I suppose the fact that it's Hawaii makes up for it.

[maggrwaggr]

3. the town currently under my ass

Santa Monica California.

Ironically I get more work here and make more money than I would elsewhere. All the same, I spend it all.

[MercutioATC]

4. Because the pay is usually better there and they're more accodomating to

certain jobs (art, fashion, etc).

[Zomby Woof]

5. Seattle

And to answer your question, I did move.

[unblock]

6. job pay is often commensurate with cost of living

mostly, at least.

even waiters make a sh*tload more in manhattan than in peoria. but they need to, just to pay rent....

[dawn]

7. San Francisco, NYC, Boston, West L.A.

I think the salaries are higher, but I still couldn't afford the rents.

[Lindsey]

8. I live in West L.A. and due to knowing someone,

my rent is unbelievably low. However, I've heard from others that aren't lucky like me that it's outrageous. But...my understanding is that San Francisco and New York are even more expensive. I love San Fransciso so much though, I'd happily move there if the opportunity presented itself.