Our Editorial Team
The 5 researchers and analysts behind CostOfCity's data — combining federal-data expertise with local market knowledge, led by editor-in-chief James Okafor.
Our Editorial Standards
Every cost estimate on CostOfCity is researched, calculated, and reviewed by our team. We source data exclusively from federal agencies (BLS, Census Bureau, HUD, EIA) and apply city-specific adjustments using peer-reviewed methodology. Our team reviews each data release within two weeks of publication and updates affected pages with new timestamps. We never publish cost data without source verification and confidence-level disclosure. See our full editorial policy and methodology.
Founder
Hakkı Eren
Hakkı founded CostOfCity in 2025 with the mission of making federal cost data accessible and decision-ready for everyone facing a relocation, business launch, or household budget question. He has 15+ years of experience in data product development and consumer-facing publishing across multiple markets, and oversees CostOfCity's editorial independence framework — ensuring that no city, real-estate company, or service provider ever pays to alter rankings or cost data on the site.
Researchers & Analysts
Sarah Chen
Sarah leads CostOfCity's data research team, specializing in regional cost variation modeling and federal data analysis.
Marcus Rivera
Marcus specializes in business startup cost analysis and small business economics across US metro areas.
Diana Kowalski
Diana covers housing, rent, and home services cost research at CostOfCity.
James Okafor
James serves as CostOfCity's editor-in-chief, ensuring every cost estimate meets editorial accuracy and quality standards.
Katherine Park
Katherine leads salary and compensation research at CostOfCity, translating BLS occupational wage data into city-specific salary guides.
Our Research Process
Data Collection
We pull raw data from BLS, Census Bureau, HUD, and EIA APIs within two weeks of each release.
City-Level Modeling
Our proprietary model adjusts national data using local cost indices, regional sensitivity weights, and per-topic offsets.
Expert Review
Each city profile is reviewed by a subject-matter specialist who verifies data accuracy and adds editorial context.