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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Premium market, smart picks: while the market trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Nashville at index 103 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
Premium market, smart picks: while the market trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Nashville at index 103 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
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. Nashville (index 103, rent $1,772); Sacramento (index 117, rent $2,006). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
Why Nashville ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. It's fine. Not great, not bad. At 103 on the cost index, residents save roughly 8% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,772/month while the median household pulls in $75,197/year. The Healthcare category is particularly strong at 101, though Housing (103) lags behind. Home prices average $429,861 — $37,509 below the national median.
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: Nashville, TN — cost index 103, rent $1,772/mo, income $75,197
1 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 | NashvilleTN | 103 | $1,772 | Details |
| 2 | SacramentoCA | 117 | $2,006 | Details |
687,788 residents · Tennessee
The #1 spot goes to Nashville, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,772/month — we had to double-check this one — — saving renters $1,476 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Healthcare is the standout at index 101, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 103. A 28% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
526,384 residents · California
Sacramento earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 117 cost index sits 6 points above the national baseline, and the $83,753 — though some people might weigh that differently — median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $472,863 — $5,493 above the national median, reflecting the metro premium. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 103, while Housing trails at 117.
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.
Nashville (ranked #1) has a cost index of 103 and rent of $1,772/mo, while Sacramento (ranked #2) has a cost index of 117 and rent of $2,006/mo — a 14-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 Nashville is $1,772/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $123 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Nashville is $429,861, which is 5.7× 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.