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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: Indianapolis at index 92, where median rent of $1,356/month saves renters $6,468/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: Indianapolis at index 92, where median rent of $1,356/month saves renters $6,468/year versus the national median.
So, Indianapolis. Cost index of 92, rent at $1,356/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $62,995, which is below the national median. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is.
Zooming out, For context: the typical American city has a cost index of 112, pays $1,895/month in rent, and earns $80,367 per household. The top-ranked cities here tell a dramatically different story — one that's worth exploring city by city.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
#1 Ranked: Indianapolis, IN — cost index 92, rent $1,356/mo, income $62,995
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 | IndianapolisIN | 92 | $1,356 | Details |
| 2 | KansasMO | 94 | $1,418 | Details |
879,293 residents · Indiana
Here's Indianapolis by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 92. Rent: $1,356/month. Income: $62,995/year. Home price: $226,528. Population: 879,293. The strongest category is Housing at 80; the most expensive is Healthcare at 95. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $6,468 per year vs. the national median. Financially, that's significant.
510,704 residents · Missouri
Kansas is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,418/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 94. Income sits at $67,449. That tracks.
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.
Indianapolis (ranked #1) has a cost index of 92 and rent of $1,356/mo, while Kansas (ranked #2) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,418/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 Indianapolis is $1,356/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $539 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Indianapolis is $226,528, which is 3.6× 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.