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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The numbers are clear: 2 of 2 cities beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 111. Louisville stands out at 79 on the index, with rent of $1,352/month and household income of $64,731. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data (though the trend is moving in the right direction).
The numbers are clear: 2 of 2 cities beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 111. Louisville stands out at 79 on the index, with rent of $1,352/month and household income of $64,731. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data (though the trend is moving in the right direction).
Louisville earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And most of the time, the 79 cost index sits 32 points below the national baseline, and the $64,731 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $259,139 — $208,231 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 79, while Healthcare trails at 96.
Look, 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. Louisville (index 79, rent $1,352); Omaha (index 82, rent $1,403). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
What's equally notable: Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 111, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. It's fine. Not great, not bad. The cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. Run the numbers annually, and it's like getting a bonus you didn't negotiate. One to watch.
Bottom line: Louisville, KY 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: Louisville, KY — cost index 79, rent $1,352/mo, income $64,731
2 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 | LouisvilleKY | 79 | $1,352 | Details |
| 2 | OmahaNE | 82 | $1,403 | Details |
622,981 residents · Kentucky
Here's Louisville by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 79. Rent: $1,352/month. Income: $64,731/year. Home price: $259,139. Population: 622,981. The strongest category is Housing at 79; the most expensive is Healthcare at 96. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $6,516 per year vs. the national median. That could be a concern depending on your priorities.
483,335 residents · Nebraska
The #2 spot goes to Omaha, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,403/month — saving renters $5,904 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 82, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 96. At a 23% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
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.
Louisville (ranked #1) has a cost index of 79 and rent of $1,352/mo, while Omaha (ranked #2) has a cost index of 82 and rent of $1,403/mo — a 3-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 Louisville is $1,352/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $543 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Louisville is $259,139, which is 4.0× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. 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.