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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Nobody expects rock-bottom prices here — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. San Antonio (index 79, rent $1,361/mo) carves out real savings within a high-cost market. We analyzed 2 cities to find where your money goes furthest in 2026.
Nobody expects rock-bottom prices here — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. San Antonio (index 79, rent $1,361/mo) carves out real savings within a high-cost market. We analyzed 2 cities to find where your money goes furthest in 2026.
San Antonio earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 79 cost index sits 32 points below the national baseline, and the $62,917 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $247,132 — $220,238 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 79, while Healthcare trails at 96.
Bottom line: San Antonio, TX 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: San Antonio, TX — cost index 79, rent $1,361/mo, income $62,917
1 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 | San AntonioTX | 79 | $1,361 | Details |
| 2 | MiamiFL | 173 | $2,964 | Details |
1,495,295 residents · Texas
At $1,361/month for rent and a cost index of 79, San Antonio is pretty much what you'd expect from a larger city in this part of the country. Income is $62,917. That tracks. One to watch.
455,924 residents · Florida
Miami earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 173 cost index sits 62 points above the national baseline, and the $59,390 median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $573,963 — $106,593 above the national median, reflecting the local market dynamics. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 115, while Housing trails at 173.
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.
San Antonio (ranked #1) has a cost index of 79 and rent of $1,361/mo, while Miami (ranked #2) has a cost index of 173 and rent of $2,964/mo — a 94-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 San Antonio is $1,361/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $534 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in San Antonio is $247,132, which is 3.9× 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.