Why is the United States such an expensive country to live in?

Housing, transportation, groceries, healthcare, university education and graduate school, etc. Granted, the US is not the only expensive country in the world. Rural areas and exurbs tend to be cheaper than the suburbs and urban areas. But even in formerly affordable areas the cost of living is skyrocketing. The northeast, northwest, and west coast US are the most expensive regions to live in. But even in the southeast, southwest, Midwest and south central the last two decades prices have gone up a lot. People are leaving the United States for other countries where the cost of living is more reasonable and the quality of life is more attainable now. My parents moved to the US in the late 1970s-early 1980s when the American dream was still alive and achievable. I feel the American dream of making yourself a prosperous life and not overworking oneself is dying.