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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The gap is staggering: 165 points separate #1 Evansville (index 59) from #286 San Francisco (index 224). That spread means your housing, groceries, and daily expenses can cost 74% more depending on which city you choose. Here are all 286 cities, ranked with 2026 data.
The gap is staggering: 165 points separate #1 Evansville (index 59) from #286 San Francisco (index 224). That spread means your housing, groceries, and daily expenses can cost 74% more depending on which city you choose. Here are all 286 cities, ranked with 2026 data.
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.
Here's the thing: 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
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 | 15% | 59 | Details |
| 2 | ToledoOH | $1,060 | 16% | 62 | Details |
| 3 | FargoND | $1,096 | 16% | 64 | Details |
| 4 | WichitaKS | $1,125 | 17% | 66 | Details |
| 5 | AkronOH | $1,134 | 17% | 66 | Details |
| 6 | Des MoinesIA | $1,141 | 17% | 67 | Details |
| 7 | RockfordIL | $1,151 | 17% | 67 | Details |
| 8 | Cedar RapidsIA | $1,158 | 17% | 68 | Details |
| 9 | Fort WayneIN | $1,160 | 17% | 68 | Details |
| 10 | TopekaKS | $1,169 | 18% | 68 | Details |
| 11 | ShreveportLA | $1,170 | 18% | 68 | Details |
| 12 | Little RockAR | $1,171 | 18% | 68 | Details |
| 13 | DaytonOH | $1,186 | 18% | 69 | Details |
| 14 | TulsaOK | $1,207 | 18% | 70 | Details |
| 15 | MaconGA | $1,207 | 18% | 70 | Details |
| 16 | SpringfieldMO | $1,209 | 18% | 71 | Details |
| 17 | MemphisTN | $1,234 | 19% | 72 | Details |
| 18 | AmarilloTX | $1,245 | 19% | 73 | Details |
| 19 | OklahomaOK | $1,255 | 19% | 73 | Details |
| 20 | MobileAL | $1,264 | 19% | 74 | Details |
| 21 | Sioux FallsSD | $1,265 | 19% | 74 | Details |
| 22 | McallenTX | $1,272 | 19% | 74 | Details |
| 23 | BeaumontTX | $1,275 | 19% | 74 | Details |
| 24 | LafayetteLA | $1,279 | 19% | 75 | Details |
| 25 | KilleenTX | $1,280 | 19% | 75 | Details |
115,332 residents · Indiana
Evansville earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 59 cost index sits 52 points below the national baseline, and the $52,251 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $194,790 — $272,580 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 59, while Healthcare trails at 92.
265,304 residents · Ohio
Here's Toledo by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 62. Rent: $1,060/month. Income: $47,532/year. Home price: $126,270. Population: 265,304. The strongest category is Housing at 62; the most expensive is Healthcare at 92. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $10,020 per year vs. the national median. Even in a down market, this kind of cost structure protects household budgets.
133,188 residents · North Dakota
The #3 spot goes to Fargo, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,096/month — saving renters $9,588 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 64, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 93. At a 20% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
396,119 residents · Kansas
A closer look at Wichita: the cost index of 66 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — breaks down to a Housing index of 66 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 93 (weakest). Median rent is $1,125/month — 41% below the national median — while household income sits at $63,072, meaning locals spend about 21% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
188,701 residents · Ohio
The #5 spot goes to Akron, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,134/month — saving renters $9,132 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. A 28% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone. One to watch.
| 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.