Loading
Assembling your view…
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 111. Leading the pack: Dallas at index 93, where median rent of $1,591/month saves renters $3,648/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 111. Leading the pack: Dallas at index 93, where median rent of $1,591/month saves renters $3,648/year versus the national median.
At $1,591/month for rent and a cost index of 93, Dallas is pretty much what you'd expect from a larger city in this part of the country. And as far as the data shows, income is $67,760. That tracks.
Rankings quantify the landscape. And broadly, 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: Dallas, TX — cost index 93, rent $1,591/mo, income $67,760
2 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 | DallasTX | 93 | $1,591 | Details |
| 2 | LouisvilleKY | 79 | $1,352 | Details |
1,302,868 residents · Texas
A closer look at Dallas: the cost index of 93 — we had to double-check this one — breaks down to a Housing index of 93 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 99 (weakest). Median rent is $1,591/month — 16% below the national median — while household income sits at $67,760, meaning locals spend about 28% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room (that's pre-tax, of course).
622,981 residents · Kentucky
Frankly, a closer look at Louisville: the cost index of 79 breaks down to a Housing index of 79 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 96 (weakest). Median rent is $1,352/month — 29% below the national median — while household income sits at $64,731, meaning locals spend about 25% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
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 93 and rent of $1,591/mo, while Louisville (ranked #2) has a cost index of 79 and rent of $1,352/mo — a 14-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.