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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Look, 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: Houston at index 90, where median rent of $1,542/month saves renters $4,236/year versus the national median.
Look, 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: Houston at index 90, where median rent of $1,542/month saves renters $4,236/year versus the national median.
Dive into Houston's numbers: cost index 90 (21 points below national average), rent $1,542/month, income $62,894, and a home price of $261,976. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 90, while Healthcare runs 98. As a major city with 2,314,157 residents, amenities and job markets are robust (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
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 90, rent $1,542); 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.
The state-level view adds helpful context here. 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. This is the type of edge you don't see advertised.
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.
#1 Ranked: Houston, TX — cost index 90, rent $1,542/mo, income $62,894
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
2,314,157 residents · Texas
What does daily life actually cost in Houston? Start with the 29% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. And roughly speaking, on the category level, Housing (index 90) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 98) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $62,894 and homes at $261,976 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
545,716 residents · California
Fresno is one of the cheaper options here. And for the typical household, no major red flags in that number. Rent is $1,693/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 99. Income sits at $66,804. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is.
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 90 and rent of $1,542/mo, while Fresno (ranked #2) has a cost index of 99 and rent of $1,693/mo — a 9-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.