The high cost of 'here'

Some of the costs of living and doing business in New York are shown below, with comparisons to the rest of the United States.

• Taxes: Average state and local taxes were the highest of any state last year, 26 percent above the national norm. That means that a family with an income of $50,000 a year pays an average of $7,600 in state and local taxes annually, compared with a national average of $6,000, according to a survey done by Economy.com, an economic-research firm. New York City is the nation's most expensive place to do business, with costs almost 32 percent above the national average.

• Auto insurance: An average cost of $1,015 per car, second-highest in the country, behind New Jersey. The national average for car insurance was $717.70 in 2001, the last year figures were available, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners said.

• Workers compensation costs: Eighth-highest last year, 34 percent above the national average.

• Energy: Third-highest among states, behind California and Hawaii.

• Health care: Cost was 26 percent above the national average in 2000.