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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Let's be honest: these cities aren't cheap. And in most cases, but within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Los Angeles proves it with a cost index of 147, and we've ranked all 2 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape…
Let's be honest: these cities aren't cheap. And in most cases, but within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Los Angeles proves it with a cost index of 147, and we've ranked all 2 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape.
Dive into Los Angeles's numbers: cost index 147 (35 points above national average), rent $2,742/month, income $80,366, and a home price of $941,985. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 135, while Housing runs 217. As a major city with 3,820,914 residents, amenities and job markets are robust (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
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. That tracks. Los Angeles (index 147, rent $2,742); Columbus (index 94, rent $1,415). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
No gimmicks — just good numbers.
Perhaps more importantly, Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 112, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. And on balance, the cities in this ranking challenge those benchmarks. For families with student loans, that cost gap is a second income.
Frankly, Bottom line: Los Angeles, CA 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: Los Angeles, CA — cost index 147, rent $2,742/mo, income $80,366
1 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 | Los AngelesCA | 147 | $2,742 | Details |
| 2 | ColumbusOH | 94 | $1,415 | Details |
3,820,914 residents · California
What does daily life actually cost in Los Angeles? Start with the 41% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Utilities (index 135) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 217) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $80,366 and homes at $941,985 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
913,175 residents · Ohio
Columbus earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 94 cost index sits 18 points below the national baseline, and the $65,327 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $243,005 — $224,365 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 84, while Healthcare trails at 96.
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.
Los Angeles (ranked #1) has a cost index of 147 and rent of $2,742/mo, while Columbus (ranked #2) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,415/mo — a 53-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 Los Angeles is $2,742/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $847 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Los Angeles is $941,985, which is 11.7× 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.