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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.
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 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.
The cost index flatters it. The housing costs tell a different story. In San Francisco, the housing index sits at 224 — above average and worth factoring in.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
#1 Ranked: San Francisco, CA — cost index 224, rent $3,830/mo, income $141,446
San Francisco rent up 13% over the past year
0 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 | MiamiFL | 173 | $2,964 | 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.
455,924 residents · Florida
Dive into Miami's numbers: cost index 173 (62 points above national average), rent $2,964/month, income $59,390, and a home price of $573,963. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Healthcare is the cheapest category at 115, while Housing runs 173. With 455,924 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
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 Miami (ranked #2) has a cost index of 173 and rent of $2,964/mo — a 51-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.