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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
These cities are a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. And from what we can tell, dallas leads at an index of 99 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — with rent at just $1,591/month — 16% less than the $1,895 national …
These cities are a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. And from what we can tell, dallas leads at an index of 99 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — with rent at just $1,591/month — 16% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
Here's Dallas by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 99. Rent: $1,591/month — though some people might weigh that differently — . Income: $67,760/year. That's about what we'd expect given the state context. Home price: $305,523. Population: 1,302,868. The strongest category is Utilities at 91; the most expensive is Healthcare at 102. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $3,648 per year vs. the national median. If you're a planner, this number should anchor your spreadsheet.
Flip the lens, and you get a different read: 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.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
#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 | Oklahoma CityOK | 89 | $1,255 | Details |
1,302,868 residents · Texas
At $1,591/month for rent and a cost index of 99, Dallas is pretty much what you'd expect from a larger city in this part of the country. Income is $67,760. That tracks (that's pre-tax, of course). An outlier in the best sense.
702,767 residents · Oklahoma
Frankly, What does daily life actually cost in Oklahoma City? Start with the 23% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Housing (index 73) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 92) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $66,702 and homes at $203,329 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
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 Oklahoma City (ranked #2) has a cost index of 89 and rent of $1,255/mo — a 10-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.