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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 more often than not, fort Worth leads at an index of 91 with rent at just $1,554/month — 18% less than the $1,895 national median. That tracks. Here are the numbers, sourced f…
These cities are a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. And more often than not, fort Worth leads at an index of 91 with rent at just $1,554/month — 18% less than the $1,895 national median. That tracks. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
Why Fort Worth ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 91 on the cost index, residents save roughly 20% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,554/month — and yes, that's adjusted for the region — while the median household pulls in $76,602/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 91, though Healthcare (98) lags behind. Home prices average $295,822 — $171,548 below the national median.
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); Raleigh (index 92, rent $1,567). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Worth noting: 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 not something you see often in the data.
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 | RaleighNC | 92 | $1,567 | Details |
978,468 residents · Texas
The #1 spot goes to Fort Worth, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,554/month — we had to double-check this one — — 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.
482,295 residents · North Carolina
At $1,567/month for rent and a cost index of 92, Raleigh is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. Income is $82,424. That's more or less in line with the region (that's pre-tax, of course).
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 Raleigh (ranked #2) has a cost index of 92 and rent of $1,567/mo — a 1-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.