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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. Fairly typical for a city this size. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Chicago proves it with a cost index of 134, and we've ranked all 2 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expen…
Let's be honest: these cities aren't cheap. Fairly typical for a city this size. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Chicago proves it with a cost index of 134, and we've ranked all 2 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape.
This shifts the equation entirely. Chicago rent up 5% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Chicago has increased from $2,179 — we had to double-check this one — to $2,292/mo over the past 12 months — a 5% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time. That's a difference you notice every single month.
Chicago earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 134 cost index sits 23 points above the national baseline, and the $75,134 median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $312,457 — $154,913 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 107, while Housing trails at 134.
The ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Chicago (index 134, rent $2,292); Sacramento (index 117, rent $2,006). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Now zoom in on the cost categories. Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 111, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. The cities in this ranking challenge those benchmarks. This stands out as genuinely impressive.
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: Chicago, IL — cost index 134, rent $2,292/mo, income $75,134
Chicago rent up 5% over the past year
0 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 | ChicagoIL | 134 | $2,292 | Details |
| 2 | SacramentoCA | 117 | $2,006 | Details |
2,664,452 residents · Illinois
Chicago earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 134 cost index sits 23 points above the national baseline, and the $75,134 median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $312,457 — $154,913 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 107, while Housing trails at 134.
526,384 residents · California
Why Sacramento ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. And with some exceptions, at 117 on the cost index, residents spend roughly 6% more than the typical American. Rent sits at $2,006/month while the median household pulls in $83,753/year. The Healthcare category is particularly strong at 103, though Housing (117) lags behind. Home prices average $472,863 — $5,493 above the national median (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
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.
Chicago (ranked #1) has a cost index of 134 and rent of $2,292/mo, while Sacramento (ranked #2) has a cost index of 117 and rent of $2,006/mo — a 17-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 Chicago is $2,292/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $397 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Chicago is $312,457, which is 4.2× 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.