Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Here's the data point that separates the good from the great: $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. For freelancers and gig workers with variable income, this cushion is eve…
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EvansvilleIN | $1,010 | 12% | 59 | Details |
| 2 | ToledoOH | $1,060 | 13% | 62 | Details |
| 3 | FargoND | $1,096 | 13% | 64 | Details |
| 4 | WichitaKS | $1,125 | 14% | 66 | Details |
| 5 | AkronOH | $1,134 | 14% | 66 | Details |
| 6 | Des MoinesIA | $1,141 | 14% | 67 | Details |
| 7 | RockfordIL | $1,151 | 14% | 67 | Details |
| 8 | Cedar RapidsIA | $1,158 | 14% | 68 | Details |
| 9 | Fort WayneIN | $1,160 | 14% | 68 | Details |
| 10 | TopekaKS | $1,169 | 14% | 68 | Details |
| 11 | ShreveportLA | $1,170 | 14% | 68 | Details |
| 12 | Little RockAR | $1,171 | 14% | 68 | Details |
| 13 | DaytonOH | $1,186 | 14% | 69 | Details |
| 14 | TulsaOK | $1,207 | 14% | 70 | Details |
| 15 | MaconGA | $1,207 | 14% | 70 | Details |
| 16 | SpringfieldMO | $1,209 | 15% | 71 | Details |
| 17 | MemphisTN | $1,234 | 15% | 72 | Details |
| 18 | AmarilloTX | $1,245 | 15% | 73 | Details |
| 19 | OklahomaOK | $1,255 | 15% | 73 | Details |
| 20 | MobileAL | $1,264 | 15% | 74 | Details |
| 21 | Sioux FallsSD | $1,265 | 15% | 74 | Details |
| 22 | McallenTX | $1,272 | 15% | 74 | Details |
| 23 | BeaumontTX | $1,275 | 15% | 74 | Details |
| 24 | LafayetteLA | $1,279 | 15% | 75 | Details |
| 25 | KilleenTX | $1,280 | 15% | 75 | Details |
#1 Ranked: Evansville, IN — cost index 59, rent $1,010/mo, income $52,251
$2,820/mo rent gap across the ranking
232 of 286 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Here's the data point that separates the good from the great: $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. For freelancers and gig workers with variable income, this cushion is everything.
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.
In plain English: What does daily life actually cost in Evansville? Start with the 23% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Housing (index 59) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 92) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $52,251 and homes at $194,790 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
Factor in the cost side, though, and the picture shifts. The national baseline: 111 cost index, $1,895/month — we had to double-check this one — rent, $80,367 household income. That's the yardstick. The cities ranked here blow past it — starting with Evansville at just 59 on the index.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Evansville, IN | 3.05% | 7% | 0.78% | $72,247 |
2Toledo, OH | 3.5% | 7.24% | 1.36% | $71,797 |
3Fargo, ND | 1.95% | 7.04% | 0.94% | $73,347 |
4Wichita, KS | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $69,597 |
5Akron, OH | 3.5% | 7.24% | 1.36% | $71,797 |
6Des Moines, IA | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $69,597 |
7Rockford, IL | 4.95% | 8.83% | 1.73% | $70,347 |
8Cedar Rapids, IA | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $69,597 |
9Fort Wayne, IN | 3.05% | 7% | 0.78% | $72,247 |
10Topeka, KS | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $69,597 |
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.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 232 cities (81%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
10 of the 10 top-ranked cities are in the Midwest. Rust Belt affordability and steady incomes keep these cities competitive.
115,332 residents · Indiana
A closer look at Evansville: the cost index of 59 breaks down to a Housing index of 59 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 92 (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 (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
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. This alone could tip the scales.
133,188 residents · North Dakota
Here's Fargo by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 64. Rent: $1,096/month. Income: $66,029/year. Home price: $312,872. Population: 133,188. The strongest category is Housing at 64; the most expensive is Healthcare at 93. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $9,588 per year vs. the national median. That kind of value just doesn't show up in expensive metros. No gimmicks — just good numbers.
396,119 residents · Kansas
Why Wichita ranks #4: the numbers tell a clear story. And in most cases, at 66 on the cost index, residents save roughly 45% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,125/month — we had to double-check this one — while the median household pulls in $63,072/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 66, though Healthcare (93) lags behind. Home prices average $198,074 — $269,296 below the national median.
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. On the category level, Housing (index 66) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 93) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $48,544 and homes at $134,376 round out a profile that ranks #5 for clear reasons.
We calculate what percentage of a $100K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Yes. On a $100K salary in Evansville, rent would consume about 12% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
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.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 3.05% state income tax, estimated take-home on $100K in Evansville is approximately $72,247/year ($6,021/month). After median rent of $1,010/month, you'd have roughly $60,127/year for all other expenses.
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.