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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. Seattle leads at an index of 128 with rent at just $2,187/month — -15% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
These cities are a genuine bargain: 1 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Seattle leads at an index of 128 with rent at just $2,187/month — -15% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
Seattle comes in at #1. Rent is $2,187 a month. Household income is $121,984. The cost of living index is 128. You get the picture.
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. Seattle (index 128, rent $2,187); Memphis (index 72, rent $1,234). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Factor in the cost side, though, and the picture shifts. Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 111 — for better or worse — , rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. The cities in this ranking challenge those benchmarks. This is worth factoring into any relocation decision (which, to be fair, is a metric that favors smaller cities).
Bottom line: Seattle, WA leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. And as far as the data shows, 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: Seattle, WA — cost index 128, rent $2,187/mo, income $121,984
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
755,078 residents · Washington
Seattle earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 128 cost index sits 17 points above the national baseline, and the $121,984 — and that's before you even look at taxes — median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $848,869 — $381,499 above the national median, reflecting the metro premium. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 106, while Housing trails at 128.
618,639 residents · Tennessee
Why Memphis ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. And depending on your situation, at 72 on the cost index, residents save roughly 39% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,234/month while the median household pulls in $51,211/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 72, though Healthcare (94) lags behind. Home prices average $142,870 — $324,500 below the national median.
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.
Seattle (ranked #1) has a cost index of 128 and rent of $2,187/mo, while Memphis (ranked #2) has a cost index of 72 and rent of $1,234/mo — a 56-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 Seattle is $2,187/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $292 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Seattle is $848,869, which is 7.0× 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.