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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Nobody expects rock-bottom prices here — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. Los Angeles (index 147, 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 (not adjusted for inflation, but still telli…
Nobody expects rock-bottom prices here — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. Los Angeles (index 147, 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 (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
A closer look at Los Angeles: the cost index of 147 — a detail that tends to get overlooked — breaks down to a Utilities index of 135 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 217 (weakest). And for many people, median rent is $2,742/month — 45% above the national median — while household income sits at $80,366, meaning locals spend about 41% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.
The broader context shifts things: 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 most of the time, the cities in this ranking challenge those benchmarks. This alone could tip the scales (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. 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.
#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 | Oklahoma CityOK | 89 | $1,255 | Details |
3,820,914 residents · California
Look, Los Angeles earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And in most cases, the 147 cost index sits 35 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, Utilities leads the way at 135, while Housing trails at 217.
702,767 residents · Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,255/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 89. Income sits at $66,702. Moving on.
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 Oklahoma City (ranked #2) has a cost index of 89 and rent of $1,255/mo — a 58-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.