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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.
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.
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 — make of that what you will — , rent $1,734); Raleigh (index 92, rent $1,567). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
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.
#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 | RaleighNC | 92 | $1,567 | Details |
1,550,542 residents · Pennsylvania
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.
482,295 residents · North Carolina
Dive into Raleigh's numbers: cost index 92 (19 points below national average), rent $1,567/month, income $82,424, and a home price of $428,831. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 92, while Healthcare runs 98. With 482,295 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
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 Raleigh (ranked #2) has a cost index of 92 and rent of $1,567/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.