MIAMI (CBSMiami) — A new study reveals moderate-income Miamians are living a hard-knock life.

Citing the Center for Housing Policy’s study, CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald reports housing and transportation costs consume 72 percent of the income of moderate income households in Miami – the heaviest cost burden of any large U.S. city.

The national average among the top 25 cities was 59 percent of income went to housing and transportation among moderate-income groups, the report from the Washington, D.C.-based think tank said.

The crux of Miami’s problem is the area median income is so low that it is out of sync with its relatively moderate housing and transportation costs, according to the report.

The study looks at households earning 50 percent to 100 percent of an area’s median income, or $25,444 to $50,888 a year, for Miami.

Nationwide, moderate-income households have been losing ground: Since 2000, the combined cost of housing and transportation rose 44 percent in the 25 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, but household income increased only 25 percent, according to the Center for Housing Policy.

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