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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 59) and San Francisco (index 224) sit 165 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 7 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 59 and rent of $1,010/month.
Dive into Evansville's numbers: cost index 59 (52 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 59, while Healthcare runs 92. With 115,332 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
$2,820/mo rent gap across the ranking. 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.
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.
#1 Ranked: Evansville, IN — cost index 59, rent $1,010/mo, income $52,251
$2,820/mo rent gap across the ranking
173 of 286 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
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 | 27% | 59 | Details |
| 2 | ToledoOH | $1,060 | 28% | 62 | Details |
| 3 | FargoND | $1,096 | 29% | 64 | Details |
| 4 | WichitaKS | $1,125 | 30% | 66 | Details |
| 5 | AkronOH | $1,134 | 30% | 66 | Details |
| 6 | Des MoinesIA | $1,141 | 30% | 67 | Details |
| 7 | RockfordIL | $1,151 | 31% | 67 | Details |
| 8 | Cedar RapidsIA | $1,158 | 31% | 68 | Details |
| 9 | Fort WayneIN | $1,160 | 31% | 68 | Details |
| 10 | TopekaKS | $1,169 | 31% | 68 | Details |
| 11 | ShreveportLA | $1,170 | 31% | 68 | Details |
| 12 | Little RockAR | $1,171 | 31% | 68 | Details |
| 13 | DaytonOH | $1,186 | 32% | 69 | Details |
| 14 | TulsaOK | $1,207 | 32% | 70 | Details |
| 15 | MaconGA | $1,207 | 32% | 70 | Details |
| 16 | SpringfieldMO | $1,209 | 32% | 71 | Details |
| 17 | MemphisTN | $1,234 | 33% | 72 | Details |
| 18 | AmarilloTX | $1,245 | 33% | 73 | Details |
| 19 | OklahomaOK | $1,255 | 33% | 73 | Details |
| 20 | MobileAL | $1,264 | 34% | 74 | Details |
| 21 | Sioux FallsSD | $1,265 | 34% | 74 | Details |
| 22 | McallenTX | $1,272 | 34% | 74 | Details |
| 23 | BeaumontTX | $1,275 | 34% | 74 | Details |
| 24 | LafayetteLA | $1,279 | 34% | 75 | Details |
| 25 | KilleenTX | $1,280 | 34% | 75 | Details |
115,332 residents · Indiana
Real talk: the #1 spot goes to Evansville, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,010/month — saving renters $10,620 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 59, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 92. At a 23% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget (that's pre-tax, of course).
265,304 residents · Ohio
Toledo earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 62 cost index sits 49 points below the national baseline, and the $47,532 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $126,270 — $341,100 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 62, while Healthcare trails at 92.
133,188 residents · North Dakota
A closer look at Fargo: the cost index of 64 breaks down to a Housing index of 64 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 93 (weakest). Median rent is $1,096/month — 42% below the national median — while household income sits at $66,029, meaning locals spend about 20% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard.
396,119 residents · Kansas
The #4 spot goes to Wichita, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,125/month — saving renters $9,240 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 66, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 93. At a 21% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
188,701 residents · Ohio
Akron comes in at #5. Rent is $1,134 a month. Household income is $48,544. The cost of living index is 66. About what you'd guess.
| 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 | 1.95% | 7.04% | 0.94% | $40,687 |
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 59 and rent of $1,010/mo, while San Francisco (ranked #286) has a cost index of 224 and rent of $3,830/mo — a 165-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.