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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. Los Angeles at index 160 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. Los Angeles at index 160 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
Los Angeles earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 160 cost index sits 49 points above the national baseline, and the $80,366 median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $941,985 — $474,615 above the national median, reflecting the metro premium. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 112, while Housing trails at 160.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. And for the typical household, 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. That's not nothing.
#1 Ranked: Los Angeles, CA — cost index 160, rent $2,742/mo, income $80,366
1 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los AngelesCA | 160 | $2,742 | Details |
| 2 | El PasoTX | 84 | $1,441 | Details |
3,820,914 residents · California
Dive into Los Angeles's numbers: cost index 160 (49 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 — Healthcare is the cheapest category at 112, while Housing runs 160. 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).
678,958 residents · Texas
In plain English: What does daily life actually cost in El Paso? Start with the 29% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Housing (index 84) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 97) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $58,734 — we had to double-check this one — and homes at $231,886 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
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 160 and rent of $2,742/mo, while El Paso (ranked #2) has a cost index of 84 and rent of $1,441/mo — a 76-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.