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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. Pretty standard for this type of city. Philadelphia leads at an index of 101 with rent at just $1,734/month — 8% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, source…
These cities are a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Pretty standard for this type of city. Philadelphia leads at an index of 101 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. A real contender.
Real talk: the numbers for Philadelphia are straightforward: 101 on the cost index, $1,734/month — we had to double-check this one — rent, $60,698 income. And on balance, that's about what we'd expect given the state context. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. That's a reasonable number (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
Look, 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. And for the typical household, philadelphia (index 101, rent $1,734); San Antonio (index 79, rent $1,361). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
Worth a deeper look.
It's a strong position — but not without footnotes. That's about what we'd expect given the state context. Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 111, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. The cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. In the context of rising national rents, this stability is worth noting (your mileage may vary — literally).
In plain English: 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 (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes). Not even close to the national average.
#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 | San AntonioTX | 79 | $1,361 | Details |
1,550,542 residents · Pennsylvania
Here's Philadelphia by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 101. Moving on. Rent: $1,734/month. Income: $60,698/year. Home price: $229,411. Population: 1,550,542. The strongest category is Healthcare at 100; the most expensive is Housing at 101. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $1,932 per year vs. the national median. This is quietly one of the better values out there.
1,495,295 residents · Texas
What does daily life actually cost in San Antonio? Start with the 26% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Housing (index 79) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 96) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $62,917 and homes at $247,132 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons (that's pre-tax, of course).
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 San Antonio (ranked #2) has a cost index of 79 and rent of $1,361/mo — a 22-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.