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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: Philadelphia at index 101, where median rent of $1,734/month saves renters $1,932/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: Philadelphia at index 101, where median rent of $1,734/month saves renters $1,932/year versus the national median.
Philadelphia earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 101 cost index sits 10 points below the national baseline, and the $60,698 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $229,411 — $237,959 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. That tracks. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 100, while Housing trails at 101. Not flashy. Just effective.
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. It's fine. Not great, not bad. Philadelphia (index 101, rent $1,734); Baltimore (index 100, rent $1,708). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons. Below the radar, but not for long.
The math checks out.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours. Worth a deeper look.
#1 Ranked: Philadelphia, PA — cost index 101, rent $1,734/mo, income $60,698
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 | PhiladelphiaPA | 101 | $1,734 | Details |
| 2 | BaltimoreMD | 100 | $1,708 | Details |
1,550,542 residents · Pennsylvania
The #1 spot goes to Philadelphia, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,734/month — saving renters $1,932 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Healthcare is the standout at index 100, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 101. The 34% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
565,239 residents · Maryland
The #2 spot goes to Baltimore, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,708/month — though some people might weigh that differently — — saving renters $2,244 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Healthcare is the standout at index 100, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 100. The 34% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
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.
Philadelphia (ranked #1) has a cost index of 101 and rent of $1,734/mo, while Baltimore (ranked #2) has a cost index of 100 and rent of $1,708/mo — a 1-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 Philadelphia is $1,734/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $161 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Philadelphia is $229,411, which is 3.8× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. 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.