Report: D.C. region most expensive in the country

WASHINGTON — Looking to cut costs on living expenses? Try scoping out a neighborhood in New York or San Francisco.

Or, for that matter, look anywhere but D.C.

The D.C. region is the priciest place to live in the country, according to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Just a few years ago, New York political activist Jimmy McMillan based his entire campaign on the slogan “rent is too damn high.” Imagine what he would say of D.C.

In 2012, the study found households in the D.C. area spent, on average, $17,603 on a place to live. Households in Cleveland, on the other hand, spent about half that ($9,061), the report shows.

The study found that even the typical poster cities for high-priced living costs are now looking up at the nation’s capital.

D.C. leaders frequently note that more than 1,000 people move to town in any given month, testing the supply of housing and pushing prices higher.

Below is the list of the top 10 most expensive places to live, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The list is based on the average annual expenditures on housing-related items, per household, between 2011 and 2012.

1. Washington, D.C.
2. San Francisco, California
3. New York, New York
4. San Diego, California
5. Baltimore, Maryland
6. Los Angeles, California
7. Seattle, Washington
8. Boston, Massachusetts
9. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10. Chicago, Illinois

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