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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Frankly, Nobody expects rock-bottom prices here — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. Los Angeles (index 160, rent $2,742/mo) carves out real savings within a high-cost market. We analyzed 2 cities to find where your money goes furthest in 2026.
Frankly, Nobody expects rock-bottom prices here — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. Los Angeles (index 160, rent $2,742/mo) carves out real savings within a high-cost market. We analyzed 2 cities to find where your money goes furthest in 2026.
Look, Los Angeles comes in at #1. Rent is $2,742 a month. Household income is $80,366. The cost of living index is 160. Standard stuff, really.
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. Los Angeles (index 160, rent $2,742); Indianapolis (index 79, rent $1,356). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
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 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 | IndianapolisIN | 79 | $1,356 | Details |
3,820,914 residents · California
So, Los Angeles. Cost index of 160, rent at $2,742/month. It's higher than the national average. Median income is $80,366, which is below the national median. That tracks.
879,293 residents · Indiana
So, Indianapolis. Cost index of 79, rent at $1,356/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $62,995, which is below the national median. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is.
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 Indianapolis (ranked #2) has a cost index of 79 and rent of $1,356/mo — a 81-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.