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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Midwest dominates with 10 of top 10. 10 of the 10 top-ranked cities are in the Midwest. Rust Belt affordability and steady incomes keep these cities competitive. We analyzed 286 cities across the country to build this ranking using 2026 federal data. Evansville, IN takes the #1 spot with a cost inde…
Rent ranges from $1,010/mo in Evansville to $3,830/mo in San Francisco — a monthly difference of $2,820, or $33,840 per year.
Evansville (index 85) and San Francisco (index 181) sit 96 points apart on the cost index — proof that the US is far from monolithic in affordability.
10 of the 10 top-ranked cities are in the Midwest. Rust Belt affordability and steady incomes keep these cities competitive.
The race is tight: Evansville, Toledo, Fargo, Wichita, Akron are all within 1 points of each other. At this level, differences in rent, taxes, or a single category can sway the decision.
Midwest dominates with 10 of top 10. 10 of the 10 top-ranked cities are in the Midwest. Rust Belt affordability and steady incomes keep these cities competitive. We analyzed 286 cities across the country to build this ranking using 2026 federal data. Evansville, IN takes the #1 spot with a cost index of 85 and rent of $1,010/month.
A closer look at Evansville: the cost index of 85 breaks down to a Housing index of 63 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 88 (weakest). Median rent is $1,010/month — 47% below the national median — while household income sits at $52,251, meaning locals spend about 23% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard.
Bottom line: Evansville, IN leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers. Not even close to the national average.
#1 Ranked: Evansville, IN — cost index 85, rent $1,010/mo, income $52,251
$2,820/mo rent gap across the ranking
176 of 286 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EvansvilleIN | $1,010 | 35% | 85 | Details |
| 2 | ToledoOH | $1,060 | 36% | 83 | Details |
| 3 | FargoND | $1,096 | 38% | 92 | Details |
| 4 | WichitaKS | $1,125 | 39% | 87 | Details |
| 5 | AkronOH | $1,134 | 39% | 84 | Details |
| 6 | Des MoinesIA | $1,141 | 39% | 88 | Details |
| 7 | RockfordIL | $1,151 | 39% | 86 | Details |
| 8 | Cedar RapidsIA | $1,158 | 40% | 88 | Details |
| 9 | Fort WayneIN | $1,160 | 40% | 90 | Details |
| 10 | TopekaKS | $1,169 | 40% | 87 | Details |
| 11 | ShreveportLA | $1,170 | 40% | 85 | Details |
| 12 | Little RockAR | $1,171 | 40% | 89 | Details |
| 13 | DaytonOH | $1,186 | 41% | 85 | Details |
| 14 | TulsaOK | $1,207 | 41% | 89 | Details |
| 15 | MaconGA | $1,207 | 41% | 87 | Details |
| 16 | SpringfieldMO | $1,209 | 41% | 90 | Details |
| 17 | MemphisTN | $1,234 | 42% | 86 | Details |
| 18 | AmarilloTX | $1,245 | 43% | 89 | Details |
| 19 | Oklahoma CityOK | $1,255 | 43% | 89 | Details |
| 20 | MobileAL | $1,264 | 43% | 89 | Details |
| 21 | Sioux FallsSD | $1,265 | 43% | 95 | Details |
| 22 | McallenTX | $1,272 | 44% | 91 | Details |
| 23 | BeaumontTX | $1,275 | 44% | 88 | Details |
| 24 | LafayetteLA | $1,279 | 44% | 90 | Details |
| 25 | KilleenTX | $1,280 | 44% | 90 | Details |
115,332 residents · Indiana
Dive into Evansville's numbers: cost index 85 (27 points below national average), rent $1,010/month, income $52,251, and a home price of $194,790. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 63, while Healthcare runs 88. With 115,332 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
265,304 residents · Ohio
A closer look at Toledo: the cost index of 83 breaks down to a Housing index of 57 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 85 (weakest). Median rent is $1,060/month — 44% below the national median — while household income sits at $47,532, meaning locals spend about 27% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
133,188 residents · North Dakota
Why Fargo ranks #3: the numbers tell a clear story. At 92 on the cost index, residents save roughly 20% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,096/month while the median household pulls in $66,029/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 80, though Healthcare (95) lags behind. Home prices average $312,872 — $154,498 below the national median (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
396,119 residents · Kansas
What does daily life actually cost in Wichita? Start with the 21% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Housing (index 68) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 90) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $63,072 — we had to double-check this one — and homes at $198,074 round out a profile that ranks #4 for clear reasons.
188,701 residents · Ohio
What does daily life actually cost in Akron? Start with the 28% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. That alone makes it worth considering. On the category level, Housing (index 61) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 87) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $48,544 — for better or worse — and homes at $134,376 round out a profile that ranks #5 for clear reasons (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Evansville, IN | 3.05% | 7% | 0.78% | $40,112 |
2Toledo, OH | 3.5% | 7.24% | 1.36% | $39,877 |
3Fargo, ND | 2.5% | 7.04% | 0.94% | $40,399 |
4Wichita, KS | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $38,727 |
5Akron, OH | 3.5% | 7.24% | 1.36% | $39,877 |
6Des Moines, IA | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $38,727 |
7Rockford, IL | 4.95% | 8.83% | 1.73% | $39,119 |
8Cedar Rapids, IA | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $38,727 |
9Fort Wayne, IN | 3.05% | 7% | 0.78% | $40,112 |
10Topeka, KS | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $38,727 |
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Evansville (ranked #1) has a cost index of 85 and rent of $1,010/mo, while San Francisco (ranked #286) has a cost index of 181 and rent of $3,830/mo — a 96-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Evansville is $1,010/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $885 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Evansville is $194,790, which is 3.7× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.