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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Let's be honest: these cities aren't cheap. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Boston proves it with a cost index of 205, and we've ranked all 2 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape (and that gap widens if…
Let's be honest: these cities aren't cheap. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Boston proves it with a cost index of 205, and we've ranked all 2 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
Here's the thing: Boston comes in at #1. Rent is $3,510 — whether that matters depends on your situation — a month. Household income is $94,755. The cost of living index is 205. That's about what we'd expect given the state context.
Look, Put differently: Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 111, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is. The cities in this ranking challenge those benchmarks. If you plug these numbers into any cost calculator, they hold up.
Rankings quantify the landscape. But the decision to move is personal. Use the spotlights above to zero in on 2-3 finalists, then run your actual salary through the calculator. The question isn't just "where is it cheapest?" — it's "where does my specific income buy the life I want?" Start here. Dig deeper on the linked city pages.
#1 Ranked: Boston, MA — cost index 205, rent $3,510/mo, income $94,755
1 of 2 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 | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BostonMA | 205 | $3,510 | Details |
| 2 | Colorado SpringsCO | 97 | $1,667 | Details |
653,833 residents · Massachusetts
Boston comes in at #1. Rent is $3,510 a month. Household income is $94,755. The cost of living index is 205. You get the picture.
488,664 residents · Colorado
The numbers for Colorado Springs are straightforward: 97 on the cost index, $1,667/month rent, $83,198 income. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. Fairly typical for a city this size. No gimmicks — just good numbers.
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.
Boston (ranked #1) has a cost index of 205 and rent of $3,510/mo, while Colorado Springs (ranked #2) has a cost index of 97 and rent of $1,667/mo — a 108-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 Boston is $3,510/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $1,615 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Boston is $768,702, which is 8.1× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. 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.