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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The headline grabber here isn't what you'd think. 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.
The headline grabber here isn't what you'd think. 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.
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: Kansas at index 94, where median rent of $1,418/month saves renters $5,724/year versus the national median.
Kansas comes in at #1. Rent is $1,418 a month. Household income is $67,449. The cost of living index is 94. That's about what we'd expect given the state context (a figure that keeps climbing, by the way).
Stepping back, 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 difference you notice every single month.
Bottom line: Kansas, MO 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. Honestly, this is the kind of city that makes you wonder why more people aren't paying attention. The numbers are right there — rent that doesn't eat your paycheck, costs that actually leave room for a life. And yet it barely shows up in the national conversation about affordable places to live. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe that's what keeps it affordable.
#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
510,704 residents · Missouri
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.
483,335 residents · Nebraska
The #2 spot goes to Omaha, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,403/month — saving renters $5,904 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 88, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 99. At a 23% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
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 Omaha (ranked #2) has a cost index of 96 and rent of $1,403/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 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.