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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. Kansas leads at an index of 94 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — with rent at just $1,418/month — 25% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the number…
These cities are a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Kansas leads at an index of 94 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — with rent at just $1,418/month — 25% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
The #1 spot goes to Kansas, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,418/month — saving renters $5,724 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 85, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 97. A 25% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
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. Kansas (index 94, rent $1,418); Colorado Springs (index 107, rent $1,667). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Kansas rent up 3% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Kansas has increased from $1,379 to $1,418/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
It's a strong position — but not without footnotes. Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 112, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. The cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. That's a meaningful edge in practice.
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: Kansas, MO — cost index 94, rent $1,418/mo, income $67,449
Kansas rent up 3% over the past year
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 | KansasMO | 94 | $1,418 | Details |
| 2 | Colorado SpringsCO | 107 | $1,667 | Details |
510,704 residents · Missouri
Here's the thing: Why Kansas ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 94 on the cost index, residents save roughly 18% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,418/month while the median household pulls in $67,449/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 85, though Healthcare (97) lags behind. Home prices average $245,199 — $222,171 below the national median.
488,664 residents · Colorado
Dive into Colorado Springs's numbers: cost index 107 (5 points below national average), rent $1,667/month, income $83,198, and a home price of $446,132. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 98, while Housing runs 118. With 488,664 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
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.
Kansas (ranked #1) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,418/mo, while Colorado Springs (ranked #2) has a cost index of 107 and rent of $1,667/mo — a 13-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 Kansas is $1,418/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $477 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Kansas is $245,199, 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.