Urban Stress Index

Tracking cost of living across cities. Creator of the Urban Stress Index. As featured on @VisualCap and @CTV.
​Posts daily.

[Urban Stress Index @projectUSI]

On April 28, the amazing team at @VisualCap created a gorgeous vis on my USI for U.S. cities! 🤯🙏

Since then, I've seen all feedback and now added 10 massive cities (Philly, Vegas, etc.), and recalculated the Urban Stress Index. And this time Miami is #1 !

[Urban Stress Index @projectUSI]

El Paso vs Minneapolis

🏙️ El Paso: 35.3% of income
👉 https://t.co/KNKwBai8QM

🏙️ Minneapolis: 29.5% of income
👉 https://t.co/8Z5o0WjZI8

El Paso spends +5.8% more than in Minneapolis.

Which city is more affordable?
#CostOfLiving #HousingAffordability

[Urban Stress Index @projectUSI]

Minneapolis vs Baltimore

🏙️ Minneapolis: 29.5% of income
👉 https://t.co/8Z5o0WjZI8

🏙️ Baltimore: 28.0% of income
👉 https://t.co/Vi3b3O9QKa

Minneapolis spends +1.5% more than in Baltimore.

Which city is more affordable?
#CostOfLiving #HousingAffordability

[Urban Stress Index @projectUSI]

Hololulu vs Portland

🏙️ Hololulu: 49.5% of income
👉 https://t.co/boKcvFoiPm

🏙️ Portland: 32.3% of income
👉 https://t.co/xHFLM23tSK

Hololulu spends +17.2% more than in Portland.

Which city is more affordable?
#CostOfLiving #HousingAffordability

[Urban Stress Index @projectUSI]

New York City vs Houston

🏙️ New York City: 46.85 % of income
🏙️ Houston: 32.38% of income

New York City spends 14.5% more than in Houston.

Check your city: https://t.co/UXNMD5P1sI
#CostOfLiving #HousingAffordability

[Urban Stress Index @projectUSI]

@WallStreetApes Stagnant wages vs surging prices is a math problem, and the data proves she’s 100% right. 🚨
​In our 2026 Q2 index tracking BLS income vs rent/food across 42 US cities, places like Miami and San Diego have crossed the 44% survival burden.
​Full data: https://t.co/mg0vPyEkP4

[Urban Stress Index @projectUSI]

On April 28, the amazing team at @VisualCap created a gorgeous vis on my USI for U.S. cities! 🤯🙏

Since then, I've seen all feedback and now added 10 massive cities (Philly, Vegas, etc.), and recalculated the Urban Stress Index. And this time Miami is #1 !

[Urban Stress Index @projectUSI]

@neppy The 3x rent rule is officially dead. 💀
When you map rents + food against actual median gross incomes, more than half of major U.S. cities breach the 33% line.
In Miami & San Diego, the average worker spends 44%–46% just to survive.
https://t.co/MXD2IHwsvj

[Urban Stress Index @projectUSI]

On April 28, the amazing team at @VisualCap created a gorgeous vis on my USI for U.S. cities! 🤯🙏

Since then, I've seen all feedback and now added 10 massive cities (Philly, Vegas, etc.), and recalculated the Urban Stress Index. And this time Miami is #1 !

[Urban Stress Index @projectUSI]

@MarketManiaCa This is exactly what the macro data shows.
​In our original index, Canadian cities like Halifax, Vancouver, and Toronto completely surpassed the US with a brutal 75% income burden just for food and housing.
​It's not an outlier; it's the baseline now. (Full thread on my profile)

[Urban Stress Index @projectUSI]

@scottbudman @Zumper Great data from Zumper! I analyzed analysed how these rents impact locals paired with BLS wage data and food costs.

​Interestingly, SF and NYC have the highest absolute rents,local salaries help to relief the burden.
​
​Here is the full comparison: https://t.co/mg0vPyEkP4

[Urban Stress Index @projectUSI]

On April 28, the amazing team at @VisualCap created a gorgeous vis on my USI for U.S. cities! 🤯🙏

Since then, I've seen all feedback and now added 10 massive cities (Philly, Vegas, etc.), and recalculated the Urban Stress Index. And this time Miami is #1 !