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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. That's about what we'd expect given the state context. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Fort Worth at index 91, where median rent of $1,554/month saves renters $4,092/year versus …
Dollar for dollar, these cities represent some of the best deals in America. That's about what we'd expect given the state context. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Fort Worth at index 91, where median rent of $1,554/month saves renters $4,092/year versus the national median.
Here's the thing: at $1,554/month for rent and a cost index of 91, Fort Worth is pretty much what you'd expect from a larger city in this part of the country. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is. Income is $76,602. Fairly typical for a city this size.
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. Fort Worth (index 91, rent $1,554); Las Vegas (index 99, rent $1,695). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Solidly above average.
Put it this way: and here's what ties it all together: Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 111, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. And as far as the data shows, the cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. This stands out as genuinely impressive (your mileage may vary — literally).
Real talk: Bottom line: Fort Worth, 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.
#1 Ranked: Fort Worth, TX — cost index 91, rent $1,554/mo, income $76,602
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 | Fort WorthTX | 91 | $1,554 | Details |
| 2 | Las VegasNV | 99 | $1,695 | Details |
978,468 residents · Texas
The #1 spot goes to Fort Worth, and the breakdown explains why. And more often than not, renters here pay $1,554/month — saving renters $4,092 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 91, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 98. At a 24% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
660,929 residents · Nevada
Why Las Vegas ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. At 99 on the cost index, residents save roughly 12% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,695/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — while the median household pulls in $70,723/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 99, though Healthcare (100) lags behind. Home prices average $422,842 — $44,528 below the national median.
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.
Fort Worth (ranked #1) has a cost index of 91 and rent of $1,554/mo, while Las Vegas (ranked #2) has a cost index of 99 and rent of $1,695/mo — a 8-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 Fort Worth is $1,554/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $341 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Fort Worth is $295,822, 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.