Loading
Assembling your view…
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. New York City at index 156 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. New York City at index 156 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
Here's New York City by the numbers — and there's a lot to like. Cost index: 156. Rent: $3,706/month. Income: $79,713/year. Home price: $812,534. Population: 8,258,035. The strongest category is Utilities at 144; the most expensive is Housing at 241. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are costing renters $21,732 more per year vs. the national median. For anyone running the numbers, this is where it clicks.
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. New York City (index 156, rent $3,706); Kansas (index 94, rent $1,418). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Bottom line: New York City, NY 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: New York City, NY — cost index 156, rent $3,706/mo, income $79,713
1 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
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York CityNY | 156 | $3,706 | Details |
| 2 | KansasMO | 94 | $1,418 | Details |
8,258,035 residents · New York
Dive into New York City's numbers: cost index 156 (44 points above national average), rent $3,706/month, income $79,713, and a home price of $812,534. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 144, while Housing runs 241. As a major city with 8,258,035 residents, amenities and job markets are robust.
510,704 residents · Missouri
Why Kansas ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. At 94 on the cost index, residents save roughly 18% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,418/month while the median household pulls in $67,449/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 85, though Healthcare (97) lags behind. Home prices average $245,199 — $222,171 below the national median.
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.
New York City (ranked #1) has a cost index of 156 and rent of $3,706/mo, while Kansas (ranked #2) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,418/mo — a 62-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 New York City is $3,706/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $1,811 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in New York City is $812,534, which is 10.2× 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.