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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Premium market, smart picks: while the market trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. And for many people, las Vegas at index 106 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
Premium market, smart picks: while the market trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. And for many people, las Vegas at index 106 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
Real talk: Dive into Las Vegas's numbers: cost index 106 — though some people might weigh that differently — (6 points below national average), rent $1,695/month, income $70,723, and a home price of $422,842. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 98, while Housing runs 116. As a major city with 660,929 residents, amenities and job markets are robust.
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. And with some exceptions, las Vegas (index 106 — we had to double-check this one — , rent $1,695); Albuquerque (index 99, rent $1,457). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
In plain English: the state-level view adds helpful context here. Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 112 — we had to double-check this one — , rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. The cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. This is an advantage that compounds over time.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. And from what we can tell, 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
#1 Ranked: Las Vegas, NV — cost index 106, rent $1,695/mo, income $70,723
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 | Las VegasNV | 106 | $1,695 | Details |
| 2 | AlbuquerqueNM | 99 | $1,457 | Details |
660,929 residents · Nevada
Why Las Vegas ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 106 on the cost index, residents save roughly 6% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,695/month while the median household pulls in $70,723/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 98, though Housing (116) lags behind. Home prices average $422,842 — $44,528 below the national median.
560,274 residents · New Mexico
Why Albuquerque ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. And as far as the data shows, at 99 on the cost index, residents save roughly 13% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,457/month while the median household pulls in $65,604/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 91, though Healthcare (102) lags behind. Home prices average $338,329 — $129,041 below 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.
Las Vegas (ranked #1) has a cost index of 106 and rent of $1,695/mo, while Albuquerque (ranked #2) has a cost index of 99 and rent of $1,457/mo — a 7-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 Las Vegas is $1,695/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $200 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Las Vegas is $422,842, which is 6.0× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. 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.