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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Nobody expects rock-bottom prices here — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. New York (index 216, rent $3,706/mo) carves out real savings within a high-cost market. We analyzed 2 cities to find where your money goes furthest in 2026.
Nobody expects rock-bottom prices here — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. New York (index 216, rent $3,706/mo) carves out real savings within a high-cost market. We analyzed 2 cities to find where your money goes furthest in 2026.
New York earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 216 cost index sits 105 points above the national baseline, and the $79,713 median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $812,534 — $345,164 above the national median, reflecting the metro premium. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 123, while Housing trails at 216.
Bottom line: New York, 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, NY — cost index 216, rent $3,706/mo, income $79,713
New York rent up 4% over the past year
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 | New YorkNY | 216 | $3,706 | Details |
| 2 | RaleighNC | 92 | $1,567 | Details |
8,258,035 residents · New York
New York earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And as far as the data shows, the 216 cost index sits 105 points above the national baseline, and the $79,713 median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $812,534 — $345,164 above the national median, reflecting the metro premium. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 123, while Housing trails at 216.
482,295 residents · North Carolina
Raleigh is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,567/month — for better or worse — , which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 92. Income sits at $82,424. That tracks.
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 (ranked #1) has a cost index of 216 and rent of $3,706/mo, while Raleigh (ranked #2) has a cost index of 92 and rent of $1,567/mo — a 124-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 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 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.