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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, these cities represent some of the best deals in America. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Phoenix at index 91, where median rent of $1,556/month saves renters $4,068/year versus the national median.
Dollar for dollar, these cities represent some of the best deals in America. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Phoenix at index 91, where median rent of $1,556/month saves renters $4,068/year versus the national median.
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 in most cases, phoenix (index 91 — though some people might weigh that differently — , rent $1,556); 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.
Real talk: Phoenix earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 91 cost index sits 20 points below the national baseline, and the $77,041 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $407,665 — $59,705 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 91, while Healthcare trails at 98. There's an argument to be made — and I think the data supports it — that the cities getting all the attention right now are exactly the wrong places to move. The spotlight drives migration, migration drives demand, demand drives costs, and eventually the value proposition disappears. Meanwhile, cities like this one keep quietly being affordable, and the people who find them early are the ones who benefit most.
If you only look at rent, it's perfect. Zoom out and it's complicated. In Phoenix, the healthcare index sits at 98 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about.
Bottom line: Phoenix, AZ 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: Phoenix, AZ — cost index 91, rent $1,556/mo, income $77,041
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 | PhoenixAZ | 91 | $1,556 | Details |
| 2 | San AntonioTX | 79 | $1,361 | Details |
1,650,070 residents · Arizona
A closer look at Phoenix: the cost index of 91 breaks down to a Housing index of 91 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 98 (weakest). Median rent is $1,556/month — 18% below the national median — while household income sits at $77,041, meaning locals spend about 24% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard.
1,495,295 residents · Texas
So, San Antonio. Cost index of 79 — not a number you see very often, by the way — , rent at $1,361/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $62,917, which is below the national median. That's more or less in line with the region.
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.
Phoenix (ranked #1) has a cost index of 91 and rent of $1,556/mo, while San Antonio (ranked #2) has a cost index of 79 and rent of $1,361/mo — a 12-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 Phoenix is $1,556/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $339 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Phoenix is $407,665, which is 5.3× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. 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.