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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Premium market, smart picks: while the market trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Philadelphia at index 98 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
Premium market, smart picks: while the market trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Philadelphia at index 98 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
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 — not a number you see very often, by the way — while the median household pulls in $60,698/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 90, though Healthcare (101) lags behind. That's more or less in line with the region. Home prices average $229,411 — $237,959 below the national median (that's pre-tax, of course).
What's equally notable: Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 112, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. The cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. For dual-income households, this multiplies into serious savings.
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
1 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 | San FranciscoCA | 181 | $3,830 | 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.
808,988 residents · California
The #2 spot goes to San Francisco, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $3,830/month — costing renters $23,220 more per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 166, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 302. The 32% 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 98 and rent of $1,734/mo, while San Francisco (ranked #2) has a cost index of 181 and rent of $3,830/mo — a 83-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.