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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The numbers are clear: 2 of 2 cities beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 111. Philadelphia stands out at 101 on the index, with rent of $1,734/month and household income of $60,698. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
The numbers are clear: 2 of 2 cities beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 111. Philadelphia stands out at 101 on the index, with rent of $1,734/month and household income of $60,698. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
What does daily life actually cost in Philadelphia? Start with the 34% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. Not the most exciting stat, but it matters. On the category level, Healthcare (index 100) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 101) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $60,698 and homes at $229,411 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
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: 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 | FresnoCA | 99 | $1,693 | 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.
545,716 residents · California
The #2 spot goes to Fresno, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,693/month — this is the part where it gets real — — saving renters $2,424 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 99, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 100. The 30% 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 Fresno (ranked #2) has a cost index of 99 and rent of $1,693/mo — a 2-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.