All eyes are on North America for the World Cup this summer, with at least five million expected visitors across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The 39-day event runs from June 11-July 19, spanning 16 cities across the globe–including 12 American cities.
With 104 games and 48 teams poised to play, the 2026 World Cup will provide Americans and international fans alike a chance to check out some of the U.S.’ most popular areas. But the question is–how much would it cost to stay there?
Zoocasa analyzed the cost of living and home prices in the 11 U.S. World Cup host metros to see where fans and future residents can actually afford to put down roots—and where the numbers make homeownership unrealistic, even for high earners.
Despite all earning a spot on the final list of host cities, these metro areas have distinct differences. This is especially true of how much it costs to live there or buy a home, which can cost you around $100,000 on the lower end and near $2 million on the higher end.
Which World Cup City is the Least Expensive to Live in?
1. Houston, TX
Houston was chosen as a host city for its reputation as one of the most diverse cities in America, according to the United Bid Committee report. With 2.3 million residents, Houston was ranked fourth nationally in 2024 for its racial diversity across the city.
Houston was also chosen because of its history of hosting large sporting events, including the 2017 Super Bowl LI and, more recently, the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship.
The average annual cost of living in the Houston area for a family of four is $102,944–the lowest of all 11 cities.
The area also rounds out the bottom of the list for median home cost, at $331,500. At $72,800 below the national median, Houston is the lowest-cost option for buying an existing home in a U.S. World Cup host city.
2. Kansas City, MO-KS
Coming in second for affordability among World Cup cities is Kansas City, where the median home price is $346,900. Despite its lower cost, prices increased 5.5% for Q1 of this year compared to the previous year, the largest of any city on this list.
Similar to Houston, the median annual cost of living in the Kansas City area for a family of four is $107,287. Kansas City is about a quarter of the size of Houston, however, at around 672,700 residents.
Kansas City straddles the Missouri-Kansas state line, and the goal of hosting the World Cup was bringing together both Kansas City, MO, and Kansas City, KS, to celebrate soccer, per the Bid report.
The city boasts dozens of unique districts. Beyond sports, Kansas City has a thriving jazz and blues scene, with over 40 clubs throughout the city and the American Jazz Museum.
3. Dallas, TX
Located in the Dallas metro area, Arlington is no stranger to hosting large sporting events.
Situated between Dallas and Fort Worth, Arlington boasts a large repertoire of attractions, from Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor to Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers. Many of the city’s premier points of interest are located in the Entertainment District.
The average annual cost of living in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area for a family of four is $114,454, with a median single-family home cost of $369,000.
The affordability gap between Dallas and Houston sits at around $38,000 when it comes to buying a home, but only about $12,000 when it comes to annual cost of living.
4. Atlanta, GA
At $370,200, buying a home in Atlanta is about 10% cheaper than the national median average of $404,300. Meanwhile, the median annual cost of living in the Atlanta area for a family of four is $119,593.
Despite its smaller population of around 520,000, the median household income actually outperforms several of the more expensive cities on this list at $88,165.
Atlanta was a prominent city at the center of change during the Civil Rights Movement in America, and today still boasts a vast history to explore through local museums, trails, and more.
Atlanta’s downtown area, home to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, is connected to the rest of the city through Atlanta’s robust rail system MARTA, allowing for easy travel.
5. Philadelphia, PA
An existing home in Philadelphia costs around $381,100, with an average annual cost of living of $124,895 for a family of four.
In addition to its sports acumen, Philadelphia is deeply rooted in the founding of the United States, with the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.
Culturally, Philly offers options for all walks of life, from its vibrant food scene to nightlife and the Gayborhood in Midtown Village, an LGBTQ+ hub.
Philly is also very diverse; about four in 10 residents identify as Black, and Latinos make up 16% of the city’s population.
For the first half of this list, the gap between the least and most expensive areas to live tops out at about $50,000 for home prices and $28,000 for cost of living. For the second half, however, that number shifts drastically.
Which World Cup City is the Most Expensive to Live in?
The picture of affordability becomes complicated when it comes to average living expenses for the top six most-expensive World Cup host cities. Five of the seven most-expensive cities on this list have renter rates of at least 60%, according to 2024 U.S. Census Bureau data–meaning home ownership is likely out of reach for many residents.
With this in mind, the average cost of living in a city may not factor in higher single-family mortgage costs. To account for this, Zoocasa has calculated the gross annual income a family would need to afford a home in each city based on the median home cost using Fannie Mae’s Mortgage Affordability Calculator with 5% down and a 30-year mortgage at 6.5% interest.
6. Miami, FL
Although known for its expansive beaches, Miami also has a rich sports history. Hard Rock Stadium hosted games for the 2024 Copa América and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The stadium has also hosted six Super Bowls, with the latest in 2020.
Nearly 58% of Miami’s population is foreign-born, and demographic data shows that Hispanic or Latino residents make up 71.5% of the local population.
The average annual cost of living in the Miami area for a family of four is just $120,968. However, this number doesn’t account for homeownership in Miami, and Census Bureau data indicates that 67.3% of residents in Miami are renters.
Despite being neighbors on this list, there’s around a $270,000 price gap between Miami and Philadelphia, signaling a sizable affordability gap.
Miami’s median existing home sales price marks the middle-ground of U.S. World Cup host cities at $650,000. A household would need to make about $174,600 annually to afford a median-priced home in this area.
7. Los Angeles, CA
As a founding city of Major League Soccer, L.A. brings a history with the sport and a diverse population to the World Cup table.
L.A. has hosted multiple historic matches at local venues, including the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final, the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and several CONCACAF Gold Cup matches.
L.A. has the second-largest population of any city on this list, and California is ranked second nationally for its racial and ethnic diversity. In L.A., 47.2% of the population is Hispanic or Latino, the largest subgroup in the city.
Census Bureau data estimates 64.1% of Los Angeles residents are renters, with an average annual cost of living for a family of four of $143,972.
When accounting for a median-priced $858,500 home, gross family income would need to be $219,408 to afford a home in L.A.
Although both L.A. and Houston both have large populations, at 3.8 million and 2.3 million, respectively, the median price of a home in L.A. is more than double what it would cost in Houston.
8. Seattle, WA
Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, and arguably the most popular. Located just south of the Canadian border, Seattle is called the “Emerald City” for its lush surrounding greenery.
Seattle is known for its large LGBTQ+ community, with the Capitol Hill neighborhood east of downtown serving the city’s queer culture hub.
Seattle was one of two World Cup cities that didn’t make the list of top rental cities. The average annual cost of living in the Seattle area for a family of four is $159,741.
A median existing home in Seattle costs $772,600, meaning buyers would need to make around $201,000 annually to afford a median-priced home in the area.
9. Boston, MA
At the forefront of business innovation and northeastern culture, the greater Boston area is home to dozens of educational institutions. Culturally, Boston has a lot to offer for history lovers, with several museums and the historic Freedom Trail.
Census Bureau data shows that roughly 64% of Boston residents are renters, with an average annual cost of living of $165,820 for a family of four. Looking to move to Boston? Those looking to call “Beantown” home would need a salary of around $195,600 to afford a mortgage on a median-priced home of $747,000.
Boston has the third-highest cost of living among World Cup host cities, although the income needed to buy a home falls in the middle.
10. Newark, NJ and New York City, NY
The New York-New Jersey region is the most-visited area in the country, with 9.5 million overseas tourists in 2024. New York serves as the headquarters for national organizations such as the MLS, NBA and NFL.
As can be expected of the area, live music and arts fans alike have nearly endless options to choose from when it comes to finding a night of entertainment, both at local venues and MetLife Stadium.
Newark has the highest renter rate of the cities, and the lowest household income. With a renter rate of 76.5%, the average annual cost of living in the Newark, NJ area for a family of four is $139,630–meanwhile, the median household income sits at $58,490.
New York City has a renter rate of 67.3%, but a higher median income of $81,228–although NYC also brings a higher cost of living of $167,483, the second-highest of all World Cup host cities.
When accounting for a median-price single-family home mortgage of $750,000 for the NY-NJ MSA, the necessary income to buy a home is $196,200–more than double the median household income in Newark.
11. San Francisco Bay Area, CA
The San Francisco Bay Area is made up of nine counties, with Levi’s Stadium located in the city of Santa Clara. The area has been home to professional soccer teams since the 1960s.
The area is also home to several other major cities, like San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. Similar to L.A., the Bay Area is fairly diverse, with 28% of the population identifying as Asian and 24% as Hispanic or Latino.
The average annual cost of living in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area for a family of four is $220,405. The median-priced existing home in the area will run you around $2.03 million, the highest price across U.S. metros for existing family home prices. Despite its high costs, the rental rate sits around 45.5%.
To sustain a mortgage payment in the Bay Area, a homeowner would need to make around $472,700 annually–more than double estimates including renters.
Although San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara MSA’s population is close to Houston’s, the two couldn’t be more different. Living in the Bay Area will cost you more than double that of Houston, and buying a home will cost you nearly seven times as much.
How Are World Cup Host Cities Chosen?
A list of 49 stadiums across 44 candidate cities was released by the United Bid Committee in 2017, including those in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Initial requirements for the stadiums included 40,000 seats for group stage matches and a capacity of at least 80,000 for consideration to host the Opening Match and Final. The plan was to include 20-25 venues in the final proposal to FIFA.
Of the initial list, 34 cities and 37 stadiums were located in the United States. To be considered, cities had to declare interest in hosting–decisions were eventually made based on the stadium’s facilities and city infrastructure. In the end, 11 U.S. cities were chosen, alongside Toronto and Vancouver in Canada and Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey in Mexico.
In June 2018, FIFA congress members approved the United Bid in a 134-65 decision, marking the first time a World Cup will be hosted by more than two countries.
Thinking About Attending a World Cup Game?
From Houston to Seattle, there are games nationwide for interested fans to check out. Here’s the schedule for upcoming games.
No matter where you’re visiting from, the World Cup is a great way to see new places and meet new people. If you’re thinking of making one of these cities home, Zoocasa has agents across the nation to help you. Reach out today!
Methodology
This analysis used Q1 data from the National Association of REALTORS® on the median sales price of existing single-family homes in metropolitan areas for home prices alongside the Economic Policy Institute’s Family Budget Calculator for annual living costs.
Data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest 2024 American Community Survey’s 1-Year reports (data sets DPO5, S1101 and S1901) for information on population, renter rates and median household income. Additionally, this analysis used Fannie Mae’s Mortgage Affordability Calculator to determine how much homebuyers would need to make in order to pay for a median-priced home with a 5% down payment, 30-year mortgage and 6.5% interest rate.
