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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 111. Leading the pack: El Paso at index 84, where median rent of $1,441/month saves renters $5,448/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: El Paso at index 84, where median rent of $1,441/month saves renters $5,448/year versus the national median.
Look, What does daily life actually cost in El Paso? Start with the 29% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. And roughly speaking, on the category level, Housing (index 84) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 97) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $58,734 and homes at $231,886 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
In plain English: 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. El Paso (index 84 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — , rent $1,441); Atlanta (index 110, rent $1,888). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons. One to watch.
With that foundation in place: Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 111, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. The cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. That's an underrated factor in the decision.
Bottom line: El Paso, TX 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 (that's pre-tax, of course).
#1 Ranked: El Paso, TX — cost index 84, rent $1,441/mo, income $58,734
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
678,958 residents · Texas
At $1,441/month for rent and a cost index of 84, El Paso is pretty much what you'd expect from a larger city in this part of the country. Income is $58,734. It lines up with what you'd expect.
510,823 residents · Georgia
Here's Atlanta by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 110. Rent: $1,888/month. Income: $81,938/year. Home price: $381,549. Population: 510,823. The strongest category is Healthcare at 102; the most expensive is Housing at 110. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $84 per year vs. the national median. The practical impact: more room for childcare, savings, or just breathing 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.
El Paso (ranked #1) has a cost index of 84 and rent of $1,441/mo, while Atlanta (ranked #2) has a cost index of 110 and rent of $1,888/mo — a 26-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 El Paso is $1,441/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $454 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in El Paso is $231,886, which is 3.9× 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.