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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. Philadelphia (index 101, rent $1,734/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. Philadelphia (index 101, rent $1,734/mo) carves out real savings within a high-cost market. We analyzed 2 cities to find where your money goes furthest in 2026.
In plain English: Why Philadelphia ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 101 on the cost index, residents save roughly 10% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,734/month while the median household pulls in $60,698/year. The Healthcare category is particularly strong at 100, though Housing (101) lags behind. Home prices average $229,411 — $237,959 below the national median.
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. Philadelphia (index 101, rent $1,734); Denver (index 106, rent $1,818). You get the picture. Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Bottom line: Philadelphia, PA 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: 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 | DenverCO | 106 | $1,818 | Details |
1,550,542 residents · Pennsylvania
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. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 100, while Housing trails at 101.
716,577 residents · Colorado
Dive into Denver's numbers: cost index 106 (5 points below national average), rent $1,818/month, income $91,681, and a home price of $530,920. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Healthcare is the cheapest category at 101, while Housing runs 106. As a major city with 716,577 residents, amenities and job markets are robust.
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 Denver (ranked #2) has a cost index of 106 and rent of $1,818/mo — a 5-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.