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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 111. Leading the pack: Mesa at index 91, where median rent of $1,554/month saves renters $4,092/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 111. Leading the pack: Mesa at index 91, where median rent of $1,554/month saves renters $4,092/year versus the national median.
The numbers for Mesa are straightforward: 91 on the cost index, $1,554/month rent, $78,779 income. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. Not the most exciting stat, but it matters.
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. Mesa (index 91 — we had to double-check this one — , rent $1,554); Atlanta (index 110, rent $1,888). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Real talk: the other side of the coin: The national baseline: 111 cost index, $1,895/month — we had to double-check this one — rent, $80,367 household income. That's the yardstick. The cities ranked here blow past it — starting with Mesa at just 91 on the index.
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 (that's pre-tax, of course).
#1 Ranked: Mesa, AZ — cost index 91, rent $1,554/mo, income $78,779
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
511,648 residents · Arizona
Dive into Mesa's numbers: cost index 91 (20 points below national average), rent $1,554/month, income $78,779, and a home price of $432,764. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 91, while Healthcare runs 98. As a major city with 511,648 residents, amenities and job markets are robust (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
510,823 residents · Georgia
What does daily life actually cost in Atlanta? Start with the 28% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Healthcare (index 102) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 110) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $81,938 — for better or worse — and homes at $381,549 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons. That's not nothing.
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.
Mesa (ranked #1) has a cost index of 91 and rent of $1,554/mo, while Atlanta (ranked #2) has a cost index of 110 and rent of $1,888/mo — a 19-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 Mesa is $1,554/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $341 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Mesa is $432,764, which is 5.5× 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.