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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. Houston leads at an index of 90 with rent at just $1,542/month — 19% 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. Houston leads at an index of 90 with rent at just $1,542/month — 19% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
In plain English: So, Houston. Cost index of 90, rent at $1,542/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $62,894, which is below the national median. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is.
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
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HoustonTX | 90 | $1,542 | Details |
| 2 | JacksonvilleFL | 92 | $1,576 | Details |
2,314,157 residents · Texas
Why Houston ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 90 on the cost index, residents save roughly 21% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,542/month while the median household pulls in $62,894/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 90, though Healthcare (98) lags behind. Home prices average $261,976 — $205,394 below the national median.
985,843 residents · Florida
Jacksonville earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 92 cost index sits 19 points below the national baseline, and the $66,981 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $282,367 — $185,003 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 92, while Healthcare trails at 98 (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.
Houston (ranked #1) has a cost index of 90 and rent of $1,542/mo, while Jacksonville (ranked #2) has a cost index of 92 and rent of $1,576/mo — a 2-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.