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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. And generally speaking, 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: San Antonio at index 79, where median rent of $1,361/month saves renters $6,408/year versus the national median (that's pr…
Dollar for dollar, these cities represent some of the best deals in America. And generally speaking, 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: San Antonio at index 79, where median rent of $1,361/month saves renters $6,408/year versus the national median (that's pre-tax, of course).
Here's San Antonio by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 79. Rent: $1,361/month. Income: $62,917/year. Home price: $247,132. Population: 1,495,295. The strongest category is Housing at 79; the most expensive is Healthcare at 96. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $6,408 per year vs. the national median. If two cities have the same income, this cost gap is the tiebreaker.
Now, the part that complicates the narrative: 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. For anyone running the numbers, this is where it clicks.
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
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 | San AntonioTX | 79 | $1,361 | Details |
| 2 | RaleighNC | 92 | $1,567 | Details |
1,495,295 residents · Texas
The numbers for San Antonio are straightforward: 79 on the cost index, $1,361/month rent, $62,917 income. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. Fairly typical for a city this size. An outlier in the best sense.
482,295 residents · North Carolina
In plain English: What does daily life actually cost in Raleigh? Start with the 23% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Housing (index 92) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 98) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $82,424 and homes at $428,831 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
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 Raleigh (ranked #2) has a cost index of 92 and rent of $1,567/mo — a 13-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.