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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, these cities represent some of the best deals in America. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Memphis at index 86, where median rent of $1,234/month saves renters $7,932/year versus the national median.
Dollar for dollar, these cities represent some of the best deals in America. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Memphis at index 86, where median rent of $1,234/month saves renters $7,932/year versus the national median.
A closer look at Memphis: the cost index of 86 breaks down to a Housing index of 66 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 89 (weakest). Median rent is $1,234/month — 35% below the national median — while household income sits at $51,211, meaning locals spend about 29% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room. Not flashy. Just effective.
Bottom line: Memphis, TN 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: Memphis, TN — cost index 86, rent $1,234/mo, income $51,211
2 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
618,639 residents · Tennessee
Memphis earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 86 cost index sits 26 points below the national baseline, and the $51,211 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $142,870 — $324,500 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 66, while Healthcare trails at 89.
510,704 residents · Missouri
The #2 spot goes to Kansas, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,418/month — saving renters $5,724 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 85, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 97. A 25% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
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.
Memphis (ranked #1) has a cost index of 86 and rent of $1,234/mo, while Kansas (ranked #2) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,418/mo — a 8-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 Memphis is $1,234/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $661 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Memphis is $142,870, which is 2.8× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. 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.