Following is the data sourced from ACCRA Cost of Living Index, formerly known as the American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association. This Cost Living Index measures regional diffrences in the cost of consumer goods and services, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures, for professional and managerial households in the top income quintile. Following is the press release version of cost of living index data for the second quarter of 2005.
ACCRA Cost of Living Index:
Among the 283 urban areas participating in the second quarter 2005 ACCRA Cost of Living Index, the after-tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living ranged from more than twice the national average in New York (Manhattan) NY to more than 20 percent below the national average in McAlester OK. The ACCRA Cost of Living Index is compiled and published quarterly by ACCRA � The Council for Community and Economic Research.
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The Ten Most Expensive Urban Areasin the ACCRA Cost of Living Index (COLI) Second Quarter 2005 National Average for 283 Urban Areas = 100 |
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| Ranking | Urban Areas | State | Index |
| 1 | New York(Manhattan) | New York(NY) | 202.1 |
| 2 | San Fransisco | California(CA) | 179.5 |
| 3 | San Jose | California(CA) | 168.4 |
| 4 | Honolulu | Hawaii(HI) | 157.8 |
| 5 | Oakland | California(CA) | 153.0 |
| 6 | San Diego | California(CA) | 152.1 |
| 7 | Nassau County | New York(NY) | 152.0 |
| 8 | New York (Queens) | New York(NY) | 149.4 |
| 9 | Stamford | Connecticut(CT) | 145.6 |
| 10 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | DC - VA | 141.4 |
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The Ten Least Expensive Urban Areasin the ACCRA Cost of Living Index (COLI) Second Quarter 2005 National Average for 283 Urban Areas = 100 |
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| Ranking | Urban Areas | State | Index |
| 1 | McAlester | Oklahoma(OK) | 78.0 |
| 2 | Conway | Arkansas(AR) | 83.1 |
| 3 | Lancaster | South Carolina(SC) | 83.8 |
| 4 | Pryor Creek | Oklahoma(OK) | 83.9 |
| 5 | Jonesboro | Arkansas(AR) | 84.3 |
| 6 | Kingsport | Tennessee(TN) | 85.2 |
| 7 | Amarillo | Texas(TX) | 85.3 |
| 8 | Douglas | Georgia(GA) | 85.3 |
| 9 | Palestine-Anderson County | Texas(TX) | 85.3 |
| 10 | Paris | Texas(TX) | 85.3 |
The ACCRA Cost of Living Index measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures, for professional and managerial households in the top income quintile. It is based on more than 50,000 prices covering almost 60 different items for which prices are collected quarterly by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations or university applied economic centers in each participating urban area. Small differences should not be interpreted as showing a measurable difference.
The composite index is based on six components � housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care and miscellaneous goods and services.
The quarterly ACCRA Cost of Living Index is available by subscription for $140 per year (print or PDF version) or $250 per year (electronic version). Send check, payable to ACCRA, P.O. Box 100127, Arlington VA 22210-0407, or subscribe on the Internet at www.coli.org.
Cost of Living Index