The cost of living index is a method that can help you determine how expensive a place you want to live will be. This index uses key details from the Department of Labor, the Census Bureau, and the President's Council of Advisors. For example, New York, NY is the 8th most expensive place to live in the US. Tokyo, Japan is the most expensive in the world. The cost of living index for Washington,
. DC is 2008 was 140. Out of a salary of $80,000, if living in Washington, DC, a person would have $18,381 spendable income after living expenses.
