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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, these cities represent some of the best deals in America. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 112 — we had to double-check this one — . Leading the pack: Columbus at index 94, where median rent of $1,415/month saves renters $5,760/year versus the national median.
Dollar for dollar, these cities represent some of the best deals in America. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 112 — we had to double-check this one — . Leading the pack: Columbus at index 94, where median rent of $1,415/month saves renters $5,760/year versus the national median.
Columbus is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,415/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 94. Income sits at $65,327. That's a reasonable number.
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. And from what we can tell, columbus (index 94, rent $1,415); Colorado Springs (index 107, rent $1,667). Take it or leave it — the data is what it is. Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Frankly, Still, the overall picture holds: Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 112, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. And as a general rule, the cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. If you've ever felt priced out, the numbers here offer a different path.
In plain English: Bottom line: Columbus, OH 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: Columbus, OH — cost index 94, rent $1,415/mo, income $65,327
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ColumbusOH | 94 | $1,415 | Details |
| 2 | Colorado SpringsCO | 107 | $1,667 | Details |
913,175 residents · Ohio
Dive into Columbus's numbers: cost index 94 (18 points below national average), rent $1,415/month, income $65,327, and a home price of $243,005. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 84, while Healthcare runs 96. As a major city with 913,175 residents, amenities and job markets are robust.
488,664 residents · Colorado
Here's Colorado Springs by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 107. Rent: $1,667/month — for better or worse — . Income: $83,198/year. Home price: $446,132. Population: 488,664. The strongest category is Utilities at 98; the most expensive is Housing at 118. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $2,736 per year vs. the national median. This is the kind of number that should get your attention.
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.
Columbus (ranked #1) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,415/mo, while Colorado Springs (ranked #2) has a cost index of 107 and rent of $1,667/mo — a 13-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 Columbus is $1,415/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $480 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Columbus is $243,005, 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.