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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. San Francisco at index 224 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. San Francisco at index 224 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
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. San Francisco (index 224 — we had to double-check this one — , rent $3,830); Baltimore (index 100, rent $1,708). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
San Francisco earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 224 cost index sits 113 points above the national baseline, and the $141,446 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $1,299,230 — $831,860 above the national median, reflecting the metro premium. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 125, while Housing trails at 224.
Here's where the story takes a turn: San Francisco rent up 13% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked San Francisco has increased from $3,395 to $3,830/mo over the past 12 months — a 13% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
Rankings quantify the landscape. But the decision to move is personal. Use the spotlights above to zero in on 2-3 finalists, then run your actual salary through the calculator. The question isn't just "where is it cheapest?" — it's "where does my specific income buy the life I want?" Start here. Dig deeper on the linked city pages.
#1 Ranked: San Francisco, CA — cost index 224, rent $3,830/mo, income $141,446
San Francisco rent up 13% over the past year
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 FranciscoCA | 224 | $3,830 | Details |
| 2 | BaltimoreMD | 100 | $1,708 | Details |
808,988 residents · California
The #1 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, Healthcare is the standout at index 125, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 224. The 32% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
565,239 residents · Maryland
Here's Baltimore by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 100. Fairly typical for a city this size. Rent: $1,708/month. Income: $59,623/year. Home price: $187,545. Population: 565,239. The strongest category is Healthcare at 100; the most expensive is Healthcare at 100. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $2,244 per year vs. the national median. For anyone running the numbers, this is where it clicks.
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 Francisco (ranked #1) has a cost index of 224 and rent of $3,830/mo, while Baltimore (ranked #2) has a cost index of 100 and rent of $1,708/mo — a 124-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 Francisco is $3,830/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $1,935 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in San Francisco is $1,299,230, which is 9.2× 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.