When you’re watching one of your favorite TV shows, have you wondered what it costs to live the lifestyle of the characters? It’s only natural!
To prepare this, we consulted BestPlaces.net – the primary resource for United States cost of living data. BestPlaces provides data on housing costs, healthcare, taxes, and other essential factors for budgeting, allowing users to compare two areas side-by-side.
A 100 cost of living score in the tables below represents the national average. So, a cost of living score of 147 represents a cost of living that is 47% higher than the national average, while a cost of living score of 83 represents a cost of living that is only 83% of the national average.
Kendall Roy’s apartment building in “Succession”
Kendall Roy’s apartment – Succession – 33rd St. and 11th Ave, New York City
Succession is filmed in many places in New York City, with patriarch Logan’s apartment and Waystar Royco offices as the two main locations. Logan’s apartment was built and filmed in a studio, but the lobby was filmed at the American Irish Historical Society on Fifth Avenue. Waystar Royco is not real, but it is filmed in two empty office areas of the World Trade Center.
So, the closest real-life place we can look at is Kendall Roy’s third-season home in the 35 Hudson Yards building (zip code 10001). It’s a mixed-use skyscraper in Manhattan’s West Side composed of apartment units and a hotel. Located near Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea, and the Penn Station area, the Hudson Yards project is a plan to redevelop the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s West Side Yards.
Chelsea – West Midtown (zip code 10001) cost of living is 203.7
|
COST OF LIVING
|
Chelsea – West Midtown
|
New York
|
USA
|
|
Overall
|
203.7
|
121.5
|
100
|
|
Grocery
|
127.6
|
103.8
|
100
|
|
Health
|
125.1
|
120.7
|
100
|
|
Housing
|
341.7
|
127.9
|
100
|
|
Median Home Cost
|
$1,562,600
|
$413,600
|
$338,100
|
|
Utilities
|
150.3
|
115.9
|
100
|
|
Transportation
|
153.7
|
140.7
|
100
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
168.1
|
121.8
|
100
|
(100=National Average)
Detective Bosch’s house in Los Angeles, “Bosch”
Bosch’s house – Bosch – West Hollywood, California
In the TV show Bosch, the house of Detective Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch is in the West Hollywood hills of Los Angeles at 1870 Blue Heights Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90069. It’s a simple two-bedroom affair on stilts, but it’s the view that is truly breathtaking – overlooking the sprawling 400-square-mile City of Angels. At night, when the show’s eponymous character is listening to his favorite jazz records on a fancy McIntosh tube amplifier, is when the endless sea of twinkling lights below reveals what a special house it really is.
West Hollywood (zip code 90069) cost of living is 208.6
|
COST OF LIVING
|
West Hollywood (Zip Code 90069)
|
California
|
USA
|
|
Overall
|
208.6
|
149.9
|
100
|
|
Grocery
|
106.8
|
105.1
|
100
|
|
Health
|
90.2
|
98.3
|
100
|
|
Housing
|
413.4
|
234.8
|
100
|
|
Median Home Cost
|
$1,254,000
|
$733,500
|
$338,100
|
|
Utilities
|
85.2
|
102.4
|
100
|
|
Transportation
|
160.7
|
133.1
|
100
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
133.2
|
118.7
|
100
|
(100=National Average)
Walter White’s house – Breaking Bad – Albuquerque, New Mexico
In the AMC series Breaking Bad, Walter White’s house is in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The address is 3828 Piermont Drive NE, 87111 and it is a real-life home. While filming the show, the interior was remodeled for Walter White’s needs – like adding his infamous underground meth lab.
As you can see below, it’s one of the more affordable areas on our list.
Albuquerque (zip code 87111) cost of living is 99.2
|
COST OF LIVING
|
Albuquerque
|
New Mexico
|
USA
|
|
Overall
|
99.2
|
88.4
|
100
|
|
Grocery
|
98.6
|
93.3
|
100
|
|
Health
|
79.8
|
82.6
|
100
|
|
Housing
|
114.3
|
84.3
|
100
|
|
Median Home Cost
|
$359,700
|
$267,100
|
$338,100
|
|
Utilities
|
94.9
|
100.4
|
100
|
|
Transportation
|
89.8
|
84.6
|
100
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
104.3
|
85.5
|
100
|
(100=National Average)
The Roy Retreat – Succession – Southampton, New York
Originally built by Henry Ford II in 1960, Logan Roy’s home in the Hamptons in season two of Succession stands on a 42-acre estate. The stunning Southampton mansion has an estimated value of $75 million and boasts the largest ocean frontage of any property in the area.
Southampton is an affluent village located within Suffolk County on Long Island’s East End. This area has an incredibly high cost of living due to its desirable location right off the beach and proximity to upscale restaurants and stores; it has one of the highest median home values anywhere in New York State.
Southampton cost of living is 288.5
|
COST OF LIVING
|
Southampton
|
New York
|
USA
|
|
Overall
|
288.5
|
121.5
|
100
|
|
Grocery
|
113.6
|
103.8
|
100
|
|
Health
|
125.2
|
120.7
|
100
|
|
Housing
|
686.8
|
127.9
|
100
|
|
Median Home Cost
|
$1,211,200
|
$413,600
|
$338,100
|
|
Utilities
|
124.6
|
115.9
|
100
|
|
Transportation
|
98.8
|
140.7
|
100
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
154.8
|
121.8
|
100
|
(100=National Average)
The Tanner House – Full House – San Francisco, California
Full House is an American sitcom that aired from 1987 to 1995 and follows the lives of the Tanner family, a widowed father raising three daughters with help from his brother-in-law and best friend. The famous house from the show is located at 1709 Broderick St, San Francisco, CA 94115. Full House became popular due to its heartwarming feel, wholesome messages, and memorable characters. In 2016, Netflix produced a sequel series called Fuller House which continues the original storyline.
San Francisco (zip code 94115) cost of living is 261.7
|
COST OF LIVING
|
San Francisco
|
California
|
USA
|
|
Overall
|
261.7
|
149.9
|
100
|
|
Grocery
|
117.4
|
105.1
|
100
|
|
Health
|
114.9
|
98.3
|
100
|
|
Housing
|
562
|
234.8
|
100
|
|
Median Home Cost
|
$1,471,600
|
$733,500
|
$338,100
|
|
Utilities
|
97.5
|
102.4
|
100
|
|
Transportation
|
156.9
|
133.1
|
100
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
162.6
|
118.7
|
100
|
(100=National Average)
Beverly Hillbillies – Los Angeles, California
The actual house from The Beverly Hillbillies TV show is located at 513 North Mapleton Drive, in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA (zip code 90077). That’s a little bit northwest of the city of Beverly Hills where the show is set narratively.
Los Angeles (zip code 90077) cost of living is 393.0
|
COST OF LIVING
|
Los Angeles (Zip Code 90077)
|
California
|
USA
|
|
Overall
|
393
|
149.9
|
100
|
|
Grocery
|
117.1
|
105.1
|
100
|
|
Health
|
90.2
|
98.3
|
100
|
|
Housing
|
1004.8
|
234.8
|
100
|
|
Median Home Cost
|
$2,820,800
|
$733,500
|
$338,100
|
|
Utilities
|
89.6
|
102.4
|
100
|
|
Transportation
|
163.7
|
133.1
|
100
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
133.2
|
118.7
|
100
|
(100=National Average)
Beverly Hills 90210 – Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills 90210 is an American teen drama television series that aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000. It followed the lives of a group living in the wealthy area of Beverly Hills, California and was mainly set at the fictional West Beverly High School.
We can get even more exact with our cost of living statistics thanks to the specificity of the show’s title, and you can see below just how exclusive that area is.
Beverly Hills (zip code 90210) cost of living is 671.4
|
COST OF LIVING
|
90210 Zip Code
|
California
|
USA
|
|
Overall
|
671.4
|
149.9
|
100
|
|
Grocery
|
123.4
|
105.1
|
100
|
|
Health
|
90.2
|
98.3
|
100
|
|
Housing
|
1910
|
234.8
|
100
|
|
Median Home Cost
|
$5,242,000
|
$733,500
|
$338,100
|
|
Utilities
|
85.2
|
102.4
|
100
|
|
Transportation
|
158.8
|
133.1
|
100
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
133.2
|
118.7
|
100
|
(100=National Average)
Simpsons House – The Simpsons – Springfield, Oregon
On the TV show The Simpsons, the family lives in the fictional town of Springfield in an unspecified U.S. state. The address of their home is 742 Evergreen Terrace, which was selected by Matt Groening, the creator of the show. Groening is from Portland, Oregon and studied at The Evergreen State College, leading many fans to conclude that the Springfield in question is the one in Oregon, a few miles from Eugene.
Springfield’s cost of living, around the national average and a bargain for Oregon, makes it a realistic place to set your sights on.
Springfield cost of living is 101.4
|
COST OF LIVING
|
Springfield
|
Oregon
|
USA
|
|
Overall
|
101.4
|
114.3
|
100
|
|
Grocery
|
99.7
|
100.4
|
100
|
|
Health
|
96
|
94.6
|
100
|
|
Housing
|
120.1
|
150.2
|
100
|
|
Median Home Cost
|
$393,700
|
$468,400
|
$338,100
|
|
Utilities
|
79.6
|
81
|
100
|
|
Transportation
|
91.3
|
107.1
|
100
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
123.4
|
108.2
|
100
|
(100=National Average)
Goonies House – Astoria, Oregon
Granted it’s a movie and not a TV show, but it’s such a classic it needs to be included! The Goonies is an American adventure film from 1985 that follows a group of young misfits called the ‘Goonies’ on their quest to save their homes from foreclosure. The iconic movie was directed by Richard Donner (Superman, Lethal Weapon) and features a mix of comedy, adventure, suspense, and drama. It has gained cult-like status in the decades since its release and continues to be a classic amongst generations of children today.
The actual house is at 368 38th St, Astoria, OR 97103 on the Oregon coast. It was recently sold to new owners in 2022 for $1.65 million and has been a popular tourist attraction for decades. Fortunately, you don’t have to pay anywhere near that much money to live in the same neighborhood and maybe go on your own “Goonies” adventures!
Astoria (zip code 97103) cost of living is 103.4
|
COST OF LIVING
|
Astoria
|
Oregon
|
USA
|
|
Overall
|
103.4
|
114.3
|
100
|
|
Grocery
|
100
|
100.4
|
100
|
|
Health
|
100.1
|
94.6
|
100
|
|
Housing
|
133.3
|
150.2
|
100
|
|
Median Home Cost
|
$436,300
|
$468,400
|
$338,100
|
|
Utilities
|
69.8
|
81
|
100
|
|
Transportation
|
82.4
|
107.1
|
100
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
117.1
|
108.2
|
100
|
(100=National Average)
Jessica Fletcher’s house – Murder, She Wrote – Cabot Cove, Maine
Cabot Cove, Maine is a fictional town featured in the television series Murder, She Wrote. The show, now enjoying a retro-kitsch renaissance, was created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson, and William Link and originally ran from 1984 to 1996. It featured Angela Lansbury as a crime novelist who solves real-life murders in her spare time.
Despite Cabot Cove being a fictitious town, many fans think a town like Kennebunkport, Maine typifies the cozy coastal vibe seen on the show.
Kennebunkport cost of living is 147.9
|
COST OF LIVING
|
Kennebunkport
|
Maine
|
USA
|
|
Overall
|
147.9
|
97
|
100
|
|
Grocery
|
115.3
|
107.1
|
100
|
|
Health
|
91
|
96.5
|
100
|
|
Housing
|
255.4
|
103.4
|
100
|
|
Median Home Cost
|
$905,300
|
$334,000
|
$338,100
|
|
Utilities
|
104.1
|
103.6
|
100
|
|
Transportation
|
93.2
|
79.2
|
100
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
106.2
|
92.2
|
100
|
(100=National Average)
Cost of living information is important to individuals because it can help them understand how much they need to earn in order to maintain their desired lifestyle. By comparing the cost of living between cities or states, people can make informed decisions on where they would like to live or work. Additionally, understanding the cost of living in an area can help with budgeting and planning for the future.
TV and City 