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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: Jacksonville at index 98, where median rent of $1,576/month saves renters $3,828/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: Jacksonville at index 98, where median rent of $1,576/month saves renters $3,828/year versus the national median.
Why Jacksonville ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. That's about what we'd expect given the state context. At 98 on the cost index, residents save roughly 14% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,576/month while the median household pulls in $66,981/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 90, though Healthcare (101) lags behind. Home prices average $282,367 — $185,003 below the national median (we double-checked this one).
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 98, rent $1,576); Oklahoma City (index 89, rent $1,255). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
The same data, viewed through a different lens: Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 112 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — , rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. And as far as the data shows, the cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. That level of affordability is getting rarer every year.
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 98, rent $1,576/mo, income $66,981
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 | JacksonvilleFL | 98 | $1,576 | Details |
| 2 | Oklahoma CityOK | 89 | $1,255 | Details |
985,843 residents · Florida
A closer look at Jacksonville: the cost index of 98 — make of that what you will — breaks down to a Utilities index of 90 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 101 (weakest). 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 about what we'd expect given the state context. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
702,767 residents · Oklahoma
Here's Oklahoma City by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 89. Rent: $1,255/month. Income: $66,702/year. Home price: $203,329. Population: 702,767. The strongest category is Housing at 73; the most expensive is Healthcare at 92. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $7,680 per year vs. the national median. That's a margin of safety most budgets don't have.
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 98 and rent of $1,576/mo, while Oklahoma City (ranked #2) has a cost index of 89 and rent of $1,255/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 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.