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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 111. Leading the pack: Indianapolis at index 79, 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 111. Leading the pack: Indianapolis at index 79, where median rent of $1,356/month saves renters $6,468/year versus 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. Indianapolis (index 79 — make of that what you will — , rent $1,356); Milwaukee (index 82, rent $1,398). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Indianapolis is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,356/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 79. Income sits at $62,995. It's fine. Not great, not bad (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
It checks most boxes — but the healthcare costs are the asterisk. And on balance, in Indianapolis, the healthcare index sits at 96 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. And on balance, 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 79, rent $1,356/mo, income $62,995
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 | IndianapolisIN | 79 | $1,356 | Details |
| 2 | MilwaukeeWI | 82 | $1,398 | Details |
879,293 residents · Indiana
Indianapolis earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 79 cost index sits 32 points below the national baseline, and the $62,995 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $226,528 — $240,842 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 79, while Healthcare trails at 96.
561,385 residents · Wisconsin
Milwaukee is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,398/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 82. Income sits at $51,888. It lines up with what you'd expect (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
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 79 and rent of $1,356/mo, while Milwaukee (ranked #2) has a cost index of 82 and rent of $1,398/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 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.