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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. Washington at index 125 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — is the standout — offering meaningful savings without lea…
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. Washington at index 125 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — 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. Washington (index 125, rent $2,406); Kansas (index 94, rent $1,418). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Dive into Washington's numbers: cost index 125 (13 points above national average), rent $2,406/month, income $106,287, and a home price of $574,016. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 115, while Housing runs 162. As a major city with 678,972 residents, amenities and job markets are robust.
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: Washington, DC — cost index 125, rent $2,406/mo, income $106,287
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 | WashingtonDC | 125 | $2,406 | Details |
| 2 | KansasMO | 94 | $1,418 | Details |
678,972 residents · District of Columbia
At $2,406/month for rent and a cost index of 125, Washington is pretty much what you'd expect from a larger city in this part of the country. Income is $106,287. Moving on.
510,704 residents · Missouri
Kansas earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 94 cost index sits 18 points below the national baseline, and the $67,449 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $245,199 — $222,171 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 85, while Healthcare trails at 97.
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.
Washington (ranked #1) has a cost index of 125 and rent of $2,406/mo, while Kansas (ranked #2) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,418/mo — a 31-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 Washington is $2,406/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $511 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Washington is $574,016, which is 5.4× 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.