5Seattle, Washington

Despite its thriving job market and lively cultural scene, the Emerald City comes with a significant downside.

As of March, the median home sale price in Seattle stood at a steep $676,889, making it the priciest city on this list. Nevertheless, if you’re lucky enough to secure a high-paying job at Amazon, the expense might be worthwhile.
With over 40,000 Seattle-based employees and a massive 8.1 million square feet of office space, the tech giant’s influence has prompted other major companies to set up shop and compete for top talent in the area.