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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. And most of the time, 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Jacksonville at index 92, where median rent of $1,576/month saves renters $3,828/year versus the national median (not adjust…
Dollar for dollar, these cities represent some of the best deals in America. And most of the time, 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Jacksonville at index 92, where median rent of $1,576/month saves renters $3,828/year versus the national median (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
A closer look at Jacksonville: the cost index of 92 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — breaks down to a Housing index of 92 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 98 (weakest). And roughly speaking, median rent is $1,576/month — 17% below the national median — while household income sits at $66,981, meaning locals spend about 28% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room (that's pre-tax, of course).
The way we see it, 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. Jacksonville (index 92, rent $1,576); Austin (index 89, rent $1,531). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons (your mileage may vary — literally).
The broader context shifts things: Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 111, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is. The cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. That's a strong position by any measure.
Bottom line: Jacksonville, FL 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: Jacksonville, FL — cost index 92, rent $1,576/mo, income $66,981
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 | JacksonvilleFL | 92 | $1,576 | Details |
| 2 | AustinTX | 89 | $1,531 | Details |
985,843 residents · Florida
Why Jacksonville ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 92 on the cost index, residents save roughly 19% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,576/month while the median household pulls in $66,981/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 92, though Healthcare (98) lags behind. Home prices average $282,367 — $185,003 below the national median.
979,882 residents · Texas
Why Austin ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. At 89 on the cost index, residents save roughly 22% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,531/month while the median household pulls in $91,461/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 89, though Healthcare (98) lags behind. Home prices average $500,627 — $33,257 above the national median.
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.
Jacksonville (ranked #1) has a cost index of 92 and rent of $1,576/mo, while Austin (ranked #2) has a cost index of 89 and rent of $1,531/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 Jacksonville is $1,576/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $319 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Jacksonville is $282,367, 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.