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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 Jose at index 177 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 Jose at index 177 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
The #1 spot goes to San Jose, and the breakdown explains why. And from what we can tell, renters here pay $3,222/month — costing renters $15,924 more per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 163, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 293. A 27% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
Bottom line: San Jose, CA 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 Jose, CA — cost index 177, rent $3,222/mo, income $141,565
San Jose rent up 3% over the past year
1 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San JoseCA | 177 | $3,222 | Details |
| 2 | Oklahoma CityOK | 89 | $1,255 | Details |
969,655 residents · California
Here's San Jose by the numbers — and there's a lot to like. Cost index: 177. Rent: $3,222/month. Income: $141,565/year. Home price: $1,435,993. Population: 969,655. The strongest category is Utilities at 163; the most expensive is Housing at 293. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are costing renters $15,924 more per year vs. the national median. For anyone relocating from a high-cost market, this will feel like a raise.
702,767 residents · Oklahoma
Here's Oklahoma City by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). And for the typical household, cost index: 89. Rent: $1,255/month. Income: $66,702/year. Home price: $203,329. Population: 702,767. The strongest category is Housing at 73; the most expensive is Healthcare at 92. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $7,680 per year vs. the national median. The data here speaks for itself.
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 Jose (ranked #1) has a cost index of 177 and rent of $3,222/mo, while Oklahoma City (ranked #2) has a cost index of 89 and rent of $1,255/mo — a 88-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 Jose is $3,222/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $1,327 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in San Jose is $1,435,993, which is 10.1× 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.