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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
These cities are a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. And for the typical household, mesa leads at an index of 91 with rent at just $1,554/month — 18% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal d…
These cities are a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. And for the typical household, mesa leads at an index of 91 with rent at just $1,554/month — 18% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
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.
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); Colorado Springs (index 97, rent $1,667). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
There's more to the story, though. That alone makes it worth considering. Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 111, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. The cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. In the context of rising national rents, this stability is worth noting.
Bottom line: Mesa, AZ 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: 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
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MesaAZ | 91 | $1,554 | Details |
| 2 | Colorado SpringsCO | 97 | $1,667 | Details |
511,648 residents · Arizona
Mesa earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 91 cost index sits 20 points below the national baseline, and the $78,779 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $432,764 — $34,606 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 91, while Healthcare trails at 98 (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
488,664 residents · Colorado
A closer look at Colorado Springs: the cost index of 97 breaks down to a Housing index of 97 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 99 (weakest). Median rent is $1,667/month — 12% below the national median — while household income sits at $83,198, meaning locals spend about 24% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard.
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 Colorado Springs (ranked #2) has a cost index of 97 and rent of $1,667/mo — a 6-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.