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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
After analyzing hundreds of cities, one thing stands out: $2,820/mo — worth pausing on — 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. This is where the math gets real for actual people.
#1 Ranked: Evansville, IN — cost index 85, rent $1,010/mo, income $52,251
$2,820/mo rent gap across the ranking
170 of 286 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K gross income
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 | 16% | 85 | Details |
| 2 | ToledoOH | $1,060 | 17% | 83 | Details |
| 3 | FargoND | $1,096 | 18% | 92 | Details |
| 4 | WichitaKS | $1,125 | 18% | 87 | Details |
| 5 | AkronOH | $1,134 | 18% | 84 | Details |
| 6 | Des MoinesIA | $1,141 | 18% | 88 | Details |
| 7 | RockfordIL | $1,151 | 18% | 86 | Details |
| 8 | Cedar RapidsIA | $1,158 | 19% | 88 | Details |
| 9 | Fort WayneIN | $1,160 | 19% | 90 | Details |
| 10 | TopekaKS | $1,169 | 19% | 87 | Details |
| 11 | ShreveportLA | $1,170 | 19% | 85 | Details |
| 12 | Little RockAR | $1,171 | 19% | 89 | Details |
| 13 | DaytonOH | $1,186 | 19% | 85 | Details |
| 14 | TulsaOK | $1,207 | 19% | 89 | Details |
| 15 | MaconGA | $1,207 | 19% | 87 | Details |
| 16 | SpringfieldMO | $1,209 | 19% | 90 | Details |
| 17 | MemphisTN | $1,234 | 20% | 86 | Details |
| 18 | AmarilloTX | $1,245 | 20% | 89 | Details |
| 19 | OklahomaOK | $1,255 | 20% | 89 | Details |
| 20 | MobileAL | $1,264 | 20% | 89 | Details |
| 21 | Sioux FallsSD | $1,265 | 20% | 95 | Details |
| 22 | McallenTX | $1,272 | 20% | 91 | Details |
| 23 | BeaumontTX | $1,275 | 20% | 88 | Details |
| 24 | LafayetteLA | $1,279 | 20% | 90 | Details |
| 25 | KilleenTX | $1,280 | 20% | 90 | Details |
After analyzing hundreds of cities, one thing stands out: $2,820/mo — worth pausing on — 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. This is where the math gets real for actual people.
The gap is staggering: 96 points separate #1 Evansville (index 85) from #286 San Francisco (index 181). That spread means your housing, groceries, and daily expenses can cost 53% more depending on which city you choose. Here are all 286 cities, ranked with 2026 data (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
Evansville earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 85 cost index sits 27 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 63, while Healthcare trails at 88.
The other side of the coin: For context: the typical American city has a cost index of 112, pays $1,895/month in rent, and earns $80,367 per household. And generally speaking, the top-ranked cities here tell a dramatically different story — one that's worth exploring city by city.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
115,332 residents · Indiana
Put it this way: 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.
265,304 residents · Ohio
The #2 spot goes to Toledo, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,060/month — for better or worse — — saving renters $10,020 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 57, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 85. A 27% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
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.
396,119 residents · Kansas
Why Wichita ranks #4: the numbers tell a clear story. At 87 on the cost index, residents save roughly 25% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,125/month while the median household pulls in $63,072/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 68, though Healthcare (90) lags behind. Home prices average $198,074 — $269,296 below the national median.
188,701 residents · Ohio
Here's Akron by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). And for the typical household, cost index: 84. Rent: $1,134/month. Income: $48,544/year. Home price: $134,376. Population: 188,701. The strongest category is Housing at 61; the most expensive is Healthcare at 87. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $9,132 per year vs. the national median. This is worth factoring into any relocation decision (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Evansville, IN | 3.05% | 7% | 0.78% | $55,422 |
2Toledo, OH | 3.5% | 7.24% | 1.36% | $55,085 |
3Fargo, ND | 1.95% | 7.04% | 0.94% | $56,247 |
4Wichita, KS | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $53,435 |
5Akron, OH | 3.5% | 7.24% | 1.36% | $55,085 |
6Des Moines, IA | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $53,435 |
7Rockford, IL | 4.95% | 8.83% | 1.73% | $53,997 |
8Cedar Rapids, IA | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $53,435 |
9Fort Wayne, IN | 3.05% | 7% | 0.78% | $55,422 |
10Topeka, KS | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $53,435 |
We calculate what percentage of a $75K 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 $75K salary in Evansville, rent would consume about 16% 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 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.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 3.05% state income tax, estimated take-home on $75K in Evansville is approximately $55,422/year ($4,619/month). After median rent of $1,010/month, you'd have roughly $43,302/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.