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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
These cities are a genuine bargain: 1 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. San Antonio leads at an index of 79 — for better or worse — with rent at just $1,361/month — 28% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal …
These cities are a genuine bargain: 1 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. San Antonio leads at an index of 79 — for better or worse — with rent at just $1,361/month — 28% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
The #1 spot goes to San Antonio, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,361/month — saving renters $6,408 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 79, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 96. A 26% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone (more on that below).
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
#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 | SacramentoCA | 117 | $2,006 | Details |
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 — for better or worse — and homes at $247,132 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
526,384 residents · California
A closer look at Sacramento: the cost index of 117 breaks down to a Healthcare index of 103 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 117 (weakest). Median rent is $2,006/month — 6% above the national median — while household income sits at $83,753, meaning locals spend about 29% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
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 Sacramento (ranked #2) has a cost index of 117 and rent of $2,006/mo — a 38-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.