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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.
Dallas earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 99 cost index sits 13 points below the national baseline, and the $67,760 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $305,523 — $161,847 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 91, while Healthcare trails at 102.
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. Dallas (index 99, rent $1,591); Sacramento (index 114, rent $2,006). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
What you won't find on most comparison sites: The national baseline: 112 cost index, $1,895/month rent, $80,367 household income. That's the yardstick. The cities ranked here blow past it — starting with Dallas at just 99 on the index.
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
1 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 | SacramentoCA | 114 | $2,006 | Details |
1,302,868 residents · Texas
Dallas earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 99 cost index sits 13 points below the national baseline, and the $67,760 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $305,523 — $161,847 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 91, while Healthcare trails at 102 (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
526,384 residents · California
Dive into Sacramento's numbers: cost index 114 (2 points above national average), rent $2,006/month, income $83,753, and a home price of $472,863. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 105, while Housing runs 134. As a major city with 526,384 residents, amenities and job markets are robust.
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 Sacramento (ranked #2) has a cost index of 114 and rent of $2,006/mo — a 15-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.