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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. El Paso leads at an index of 84 with rent at just $1,441/month — 24% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
These cities are a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. El Paso leads at an index of 84 with rent at just $1,441/month — 24% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
So, El Paso. Cost index of 84, rent at $1,441/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $58,734, which is below the national median. That alone makes it worth considering.
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. And as a general rule, el Paso (index 84, rent $1,441); Fresno (index 99, rent $1,693). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Not even close to the national average.
Bottom line: El Paso, TX leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. That's more or less in line with the region. 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.
#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
Real talk: El Paso earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 84 cost index sits 27 points below the national baseline, and the $58,734 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $231,886 — $235,484 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 84, while Healthcare trails at 97 (that's pre-tax, of course).
545,716 residents · California
The way we see it, What does daily life actually cost in Fresno? Start with the 30% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. Nothing too surprising there. On the category level, Housing (index 99) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 100) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $66,804 and homes at $386,426 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons (though the trend is moving in the right direction). Quietly competitive.
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 Fresno (ranked #2) has a cost index of 99 and rent of $1,693/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 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.