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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 112. Leading the pack: Houston at index 97, where median rent of $1,542/month saves renters $4,236/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 112. Leading the pack: Houston at index 97, where median rent of $1,542/month saves renters $4,236/year versus the national median.
Here's Houston by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 97. Rent: $1,542/month. Income: $62,894/year. Home price: $261,976. Population: 2,314,157. The strongest category is Utilities at 89; the most expensive is Healthcare at 100. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $4,236 per year vs. the national median. That level of affordability is getting rarer every year (though the trend is moving in the right direction).
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. Houston (index 97, rent $1,542); Columbus (index 94, rent $1,415). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Worth a deeper look.
Flip the lens, and you get a different read: Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 112, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. The cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. Not many cities can claim this.
Bottom line: Houston, 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 (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
#1 Ranked: Houston, TX — cost index 97, rent $1,542/mo, income $62,894
2 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 | HoustonTX | 97 | $1,542 | Details |
| 2 | ColumbusOH | 94 | $1,415 | Details |
2,314,157 residents · Texas
Why Houston ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. And most of the time, at 97 on the cost index, residents save roughly 15% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,542/month while the median household pulls in $62,894/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 89, though Healthcare (100) lags behind. Home prices average $261,976 — $205,394 below the national median (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
913,175 residents · Ohio
What does daily life actually cost in Columbus? Start with the 26% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. And broadly, on the category level, Housing (index 84) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 96) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $65,327 and homes at $243,005 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
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.
Houston (ranked #1) has a cost index of 97 and rent of $1,542/mo, while Columbus (ranked #2) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,415/mo — a 3-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 Houston is $1,542/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $353 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Houston is $261,976, which is 4.2× 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.