Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
These cities are a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Philadelphia leads at an index of 98 — for better or worse — with rent at just $1,734/month — 8% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal …
These cities are a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Philadelphia leads at an index of 98 — for better or worse — with rent at just $1,734/month — 8% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
Here's Philadelphia by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 98. Rent: $1,734/month. Income: $60,698/year. Home price: $229,411. Population: 1,550,542. The strongest category is Utilities at 90; the most expensive is Healthcare at 101. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $1,932 per year vs. the national median. For dual-income households, this multiplies into serious savings. Can we talk about how broken the conversation around affordability is? A city gets labeled 'cheap' and suddenly everyone assumes there's a catch — bad schools, no jobs, nothing to do. But look at the income numbers here. Look at the cost categories. This isn't a budget consolation prize. It's a genuine alternative to the coastal rat race, and the data makes that case more convincingly than any think piece (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
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 98, rent $1,734/mo, income $60,698
2 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 | PhiladelphiaPA | 98 | $1,734 | Details |
| 2 | Oklahoma CityOK | 89 | $1,255 | Details |
1,550,542 residents · Pennsylvania
Why Philadelphia ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 98 on the cost index, residents save roughly 14% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,734/month while the median household pulls in $60,698/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 90, though Healthcare (101) lags behind. Home prices average $229,411 — $237,959 below the national median.
702,767 residents · Oklahoma
Why Oklahoma City ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. At 89 on the cost index, residents save roughly 23% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,255/month while the median household pulls in $66,702/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 73, though Healthcare (92) lags behind. Home prices average $203,329 — $264,041 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.
Philadelphia (ranked #1) has a cost index of 98 and rent of $1,734/mo, while Oklahoma City (ranked #2) has a cost index of 89 and rent of $1,255/mo — a 9-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.