Cost of Living by City (2026)

Ranked by overall COL index across 238 U.S. cities — 100 equals the national average. Cities below 100 are more affordable; above 100 are more expensive.

Enter your income to personalize rent burden, use quick filters and regions, expand a row for groceries and utilities, and select up to three cities to open the comparison tool.

Most affordable

Phnom Penh, KH

COL 30

Most expensive

San Francisco, CA

COL 194

Cities tracked

238

major U.S. metros

I make (annual, before tax)

Adds rent burden % and affordability colors when set

Region

Quick filters

#
1	Phnom PenhKH	30	$350	—	None
2	Buenos AiresAR	30	$400	—	None
3	OaxacaMX	32	$400	—	None
4	Da NangVN	34	$350	—	None
5	MedellínCO	35	$500	—	None
6	MarrakechMA	35	$430	—	None
7	HanoiVN	37	$450	—	None
8	Cebu CityPH	37	$400	—	None
9	Ho Chi Minh CityVN	38	$500	—	None
10	NairobiKE	38	$500	—	30.0%
11	GuadalajaraMX	38	$520	—	None
12	Chiang MaiTH	39	$390	—	None
13	BogotáCO	39	$550	—	None
14	LimaPE	40	$500	—	None
15	Cape TownZA	40	$600	—	18.0%
16	CartagenaCO	40	$560	—	None
17	TbilisiGE	41	$450	—	20.0%
18	Bali (Canggu)ID	42	$700	—	None
19	PenangMY	44	$460	—	None
20	KigaliRW	44	$500	—	None
21	BelgradeRS	45	$550	—	10.0%
22	Mexico CityMX	45	$700	—	None
23	BangkokTH	45	$600	—	None
24	BucharestRO	47	$600	—	10.0%
25	Kuala LumpurMY	47	$500	—	None
26	Playa del CarmenMX	48	$800	—	None
27	SofiaBG	48	$540	—	10.0%
28	Koh SamuiTH	50	$620	—	None
29	BudapestHU	50	$700	—	15.0%
30	MauritiusMU	52	$600	—	15.0%
31	PhuketTH	52	$700	—	None
32	WarsawPL	54	$750	—	17.0%
33	ThessalonikiGR	54	$590	—	22.0%
34	São PauloBR	54	$720	—	None
35	AthensGR	55	$700	—	9.0%
36	SplitHR	55	$700	—	20.0%
37	MontevideoUY	55	$700	—	12.0%
38	KrakówPL	55	$750	—	12.0%
39	PragueCZ	55	$800	—	15.0%
40	PortoPT	56	$1,100	—	20.0%
41	RigaLV	57	$680	—	20.0%
42	Panama CityPA	58	$900	—	None
43	VilniusLT	60	$800	—	20.0%
44	TallinnEE	60	$850	—	20.0%
45	SantiagoCL	62	$800	—	None
46	LisbonPT	63	$1,400	—	20.0%
47	TaipeiTW	63	$700	—	5.0%
48	MadridES	65	$1,200	—	21.0%
49	BarcelonaES	69	$1,300	—	21.5%
50	ValenciaES	72	$980	—	24.0%
51	SeoulKR	73	$900	—	15.0%
52	BerlinDE	76	$1,300	—	19.0%
53	FlintMI	77	$880	$145K	4.1%
54	McAllenTX	78	$950	$185K	None
55	JacksonMS	79	$1,000	$180K	4.7%
56	SpringfieldMO	79	$950	$185K	4.7%
57	LaredoTX	79	$950	$185K	None
58	EvansvilleIN	80	$990	$185K	3.2%
59	TopekaKS	80	$940	$180K	5.7%
60	El PasoTX	80	$1,050	$215K	None
61	AmarilloTX	80	$950	$200K	None
62	MontgomeryAL	81	$1,050	$195K	5.0%
63	ShreveportLA	81	$1,000	$190K	4.3%
64	ToledoOH	81	$1,050	$180K	3.5%
65	Fort WayneIN	81	$1,000	$200K	3.2%
66	SpringfieldIL	81	$1,000	$165K	5.0%
67	LubbockTX	81	$1,000	$210K	None
68	TulsaOK	81	$1,050	$215K	4.8%
69	MobileAL	82	$1,100	$210K	5.0%
70	Little RockAR	82	$1,100	$215K	4.4%
71	South BendIN	82	$1,050	$195K	3.2%
72	RockfordIL	82	$1,050	$175K	5.0%
73	WichitaKS	82	$1,000	$200K	5.7%
74	Las CrucesNM	82	$1,000	$215K	4.9%
75	MemphisTN	83	$1,100	$200K	None
76	ScrantonPA	83	$1,050	$165K	3.1%
77	ColumbusGA	83	$1,100	$205K	5.5%
78	Kansas CityKS	83	$1,050	$220K	5.7%
79	DaytonOH	83	$1,100	$200K	3.5%
80	PeoriaIL	83	$1,050	$175K	5.0%
81	Corpus ChristiTX	83	$1,100	$230K	None
82	WacoTX	83	$1,000	$210K	None
83	KilleenTX	83	$1,050	$215K	None
84	EriePA	84	$1,100	$180K	3.1%
85	FayettevilleNC	84	$1,200	$230K	4.5%
86	BirminghamAL	84	$1,200	$225K	5.0%
87	AkronOH	84	$1,200	$205K	3.5%
88	AmsterdamNL	85	$1,800	—	31.0%
89	AugustaGA	85	$1,200	$220K	5.5%
90	LafayetteLA	85	$1,100	$220K	4.3%
91	ClevelandOH	85	$1,250	$215K	3.5%
92	LansingMI	85	$1,200	$220K	4.1%
93	Cedar RapidsIA	85	$1,100	$225K	5.7%
94	TokyoJP	86	$1,200	—	20.0%
95	Oklahoma CityOK	86	$1,100	$225K	4.8%
96	ChattanoogaTN	86	$1,250	$275K	None
97	FayettevilleAR	86	$1,300	$280K	4.4%
98	Green BayWI	86	$1,250	$225K	7.7%
99	LincolnNE	86	$1,150	$245K	5.8%
100	DubaiAE	87	$2,200	—	None
101	San AntonioTX	87	$1,100	$260K	None
102	DetroitMI	87	$1,200	$200K	4.1%
103	LakelandFL	87	$1,450	$285K	None
104	Winston-SalemNC	87	$1,300	$260K	4.5%
105	ColumbiaSC	87	$1,250	$260K	6.2%
106	KnoxvilleTN	87	$1,300	$290K	None
107	Baton RougeLA	87	$1,200	$240K	4.3%
108	RoanokeVA	87	$1,200	$240K	5.8%
109	St. LouisMO	87	$1,300	$230K	4.7%
110	CincinnatiOH	87	$1,300	$235K	3.5%
111	DuluthMN	87	$1,200	$230K	9.9%
112	OmahaNE	87	$1,200	$260K	5.8%
113	Des MoinesIA	87	$1,200	$255K	5.7%
114	BismarckND	87	$1,150	$260K	2.5%
115	Idaho FallsID	87	$1,100	$310K	5.8%
116	SyracuseNY	88	$1,200	$195K	6.9%
117	TallahasseeFL	88	$1,350	$260K	None
118	GainesvilleFL	88	$1,300	$280K	None
119	PensacolaFL	88	$1,300	$270K	None
120	GreensboroNC	88	$1,300	$265K	4.5%
121	GreenvilleSC	88	$1,300	$280K	6.2%
122	HuntsvilleAL	88	$1,300	$280K	5.0%
123	ColumbiaMO	88	$1,250	$255K	4.7%
124	LouisvilleKY	88	$1,300	$250K	4.0%
125	Sioux FallsSD	88	$1,250	$265K	None
126	CheyenneWY	88	$1,150	$330K	None
127	Rapid CitySD	88	$1,200	$285K	None
128	IndianapolisIN	89	$1,200	$260K	3.2%
129	AlbuquerqueNM	89	$1,100	$280K	4.9%
130	RochesterNY	89	$1,300	$205K	6.9%
131	LexingtonKY	89	$1,350	$270K	4.0%
132	Grand RapidsMI	89	$1,400	$280K	4.1%
133	MilwaukeeWI	89	$1,350	$260K	7.7%
134	FargoND	89	$1,250	$270K	2.5%
135	BillingsMT	89	$1,200	$320K	6.8%
136	NorfolkVA	90	$1,400	$290K	5.8%
137	BuffaloNY	90	$1,250	$220K	6.9%
138	HarrisburgPA	90	$1,250	$230K	3.1%
139	AucklandNZ	90	$1,700	—	17.5%
140	Kansas CityMO	91	$1,200	$280K	5.4%
141	ColumbusOH	91	$1,250	$270K	3.0%
142	Fort WorthTX	91	$1,400	$310K	None
143	SpokaneWA	91	$1,400	$330K	None
144	PittsburghPA	92	$1,350	$220K	3.1%
145	AlbanyNY	92	$1,400	$270K	6.9%
146	AllentownPA	92	$1,400	$270K	3.1%
147	ConcordNC	92	$1,500	$320K	4.5%
148	SavannahGA	92	$1,500	$310K	5.5%
149	TucsonAZ	93	$1,250	$300K	2.5%
150	Virginia BeachVA	93	$1,550	$310K	5.8%
151	JacksonvilleFL	93	$1,650	$320K	None
152	WilmingtonNC	93	$1,550	$340K	4.5%
153	MidlandTX	93	$1,200	$290K	None
154	GlendaleAZ	93	$1,300	$360K	2.5%
155	OgdenUT	93	$1,250	$380K	4.7%
156	RochesterMN	94	$1,400	$290K	9.9%
157	HoustonTX	95	$1,350	$280K	None
158	New OrleansLA	95	$1,400	$280K	4.3%
159	Colorado SpringsCO	95	$1,500	$400K	4.4%
160	Cape CoralFL	96	$1,750	$370K	None
161	MesaAZ	96	$1,400	$380K	2.5%
162	St. GeorgeUT	96	$1,300	$440K	4.7%
163	CharlestonSC	97	$1,900	$430K	6.2%
164	MadisonWI	97	$1,650	$360K	7.7%
165	St. PaulMN	97	$1,500	$310K	9.9%
166	MissoulaMT	97	$1,300	$430K	6.8%
167	SalemOR	97	$1,450	$380K	9.9%
168	BakersfieldCA	97	$1,300	$330K	9.3%
169	RichmondVA	98	$1,600	$330K	5.8%
170	SpringfieldMA	98	$1,450	$260K	5.0%
171	CarmelIN	98	$1,450	$380K	3.2%
172	DallasTX	99	$1,500	$330K	None
173	Fort CollinsCO	99	$1,700	$520K	4.4%
174	ChandlerAZ	99	$1,450	$410K	2.5%
175	ProvoUT	99	$1,400	$480K	4.7%
176	Santa FeNM	99	$1,550	$480K	4.9%
177	FresnoCA	99	$1,450	$360K	9.3%
178	PhoenixAZ	100	$1,500	$380K	2.5%
179	CharlotteNC	100	$1,700	$350K	4.5%
180	NapervilleIL	100	$1,650	$430K	5.0%
181	HendersonNV	100	$1,600	$420K	None
182	StocktonCA	100	$1,500	$390K	9.3%
183	AnchorageAK	100	$1,800	$400K	None
184	RaleighNC	101	$1,700	$380K	4.5%
185	RenoNV	101	$1,650	$440K	None
186	OrlandoFL	102	$1,900	$370K	None
187	DurhamNC	102	$1,750	$390K	4.5%
188	FlagstaffAZ	102	$1,650	$500K	2.5%
189	TempeAZ	103	$1,600	$430K	2.5%
190	TampaFL	104	$2,000	$380K	None
191	BoiseID	105	$1,600	$410K	5.8%
192	TrentonNJ	105	$1,700	$310K	9.0%
193	Ann ArborMI	105	$1,750	$400K	4.1%
194	Las VegasNV	106	$1,600	$380K	None
195	MinneapolisMN	106	$1,700	$320K	9.9%
196	ChicagoIL	107	$1,900	$360K	4.9%
197	PhiladelphiaPA	107	$2,000	$290K	3.1%
198	Salt Lake CityUT	107	$1,700	$480K	4.7%
199	HartfordCT	107	$1,700	$310K	7.0%
200	EugeneOR	107	$1,650	$430K	9.9%
201	ProvidenceRI	108	$1,800	$370K	6.0%
202	WorcesterMA	108	$1,750	$380K	5.0%
203	SarasotaFL	108	$2,000	$480K	None
204	AtlantaGA	110	$1,900	$380K	5.5%
205	BaltimoreMD	110	$1,900	$300K	4.8%
206	New HavenCT	110	$1,800	$340K	7.0%
207	MelbourneAU	110	$1,600	—	45.0%
208	NashvilleTN	112	$1,800	$420K	None
209	BridgeportCT	112	$1,850	$360K	7.0%
210	BendOR	112	$1,900	$580K	9.9%
211	TacomaWA	114	$1,900	$500K	None
212	West Palm BeachFL	117	$2,400	$500K	None
213	ScottsdaleAZ	117	$2,000	$650K	2.5%
214	RiversideCA	117	$1,750	$520K	9.3%
215	Tel AvivIL	118	$1,650	—	50.0%
216	Fort LauderdaleFL	120	$2,600	$520K	None
217	AustinTX	122	$1,800	$480K	None
218	DenverCO	122	$2,000	$530K	4.4%
219	MiamiFL	123	$2,500	$620K	None
220	PortlandOR	125	$1,900	$490K	9.9%
221	SingaporeSG	125	$2,200	—	22.0%
222	SacramentoCA	127	$2,000	$480K	9.3%
223	BoulderCO	132	$2,300	$800K	4.4%
224	Santa RosaCA	140	$2,200	$680K	9.3%
225	San DiegoCA	148	$2,600	$850K	9.3%
226	BellevueWA	148	$2,700	$900K	None
227	Long BeachCA	148	$2,400	$720K	9.3%
228	AnaheimCA	148	$2,400	$730K	9.3%
229	SeattleWA	150	$2,400	$750K	None
230	WashingtonDC	153	$3,100	$650K	5.8%
231	IrvineCA	158	$2,800	$950K	9.3%
232	BostonMA	162	$3,000	$700K	5.0%
233	OaklandCA	162	$2,700	$800K	9.3%
234	Los AngelesCA	173	$2,800	$850K	9.3%
235	HonoluluHI	186	$3,200	$750K	11.0%
236	New YorkNY	187	$3,500	$750K	6.9%
237	San JoseCA	189	$3,000	$1.4M	9.3%
238	San FranciscoCA	194	$3,600	$1.2M	9.3%

COL index sourced from Numbeo, Zillow, and BLS data · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only

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Best affordable cities with no state income tax

Metros with a cost-of-living index below 90 and no state income tax on wages (per our dataset). Always confirm current tax rules for your situation.

Cheapest cities for remote workers

Lower COL (<93), reported internet pricing, and walk scores of 48+ — a practical shortlist for location-flexible work.

Most expensive cities — are they worth it?

The ten highest COL indices in our data. Higher median household income can offset costs — compare the income column to your expectations.

City	COL index	Median HH income	Income ÷ COL	Explore
San FranciscoCA	194	$130,000	$670	Details
San JoseCA	189	$125,000	$661	Details
New YorkNY	187	$78,000	$417	Details
HonoluluHI	186	$82,000	$441	Details
Los AngelesCA	173	$71,000	$410	Details
BostonMA	162	$90,000	$556	Details
OaklandCA	162	$85,000	$525	Details
IrvineCA	158	$98,000	$620	Details
WashingtonDC	153	$100,000	$654	Details
SeattleWA	150	$97,000	$647	Details

“Income per COL point” (rough): median household income ÷ COL index — higher suggests more spending power relative to local costs (illustrative only).