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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Premium market, smart picks: while the market trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Dallas at index 99 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
Premium market, smart picks: while the market trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Dallas at index 99 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
Why Dallas ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 99 on the cost index, residents save roughly 13% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,591/month while the median household pulls in $67,760/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 91, though Healthcare (102) lags behind. Home prices average $305,523 — $161,847 below the national median (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes). Worth a deeper look.
Contrast this with: For context: the typical American city has a cost index of 112, pays $1,895/month in rent, and earns $80,367 per household. The top-ranked cities here tell a dramatically different story — one that's worth exploring city by city.
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.
#1 Ranked: Dallas, TX — cost index 99, rent $1,591/mo, income $67,760
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 | DallasTX | 99 | $1,591 | Details |
| 2 | CharlotteNC | 105 | $1,705 | Details |
1,302,868 residents · Texas
What does daily life actually cost in Dallas? Start with the 28% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Utilities (index 91) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 102) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $67,760 and homes at $305,523 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
911,311 residents · North Carolina
Why Charlotte ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. At 105 on the cost index, residents save roughly 7% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,705/month while the median household pulls in $78,438/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 97, though Housing (113) lags behind. Home prices average $393,846 — $73,524 below the national median.
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.
Dallas (ranked #1) has a cost index of 99 and rent of $1,591/mo, while Charlotte (ranked #2) has a cost index of 105 and rent of $1,705/mo — a 6-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 Dallas is $1,591/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $304 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Dallas is $305,523, which is 4.5× 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.