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Lowest cost of living

The most affordable metros by BEA's official price level.

Top 50 of 300 metros, ranked by our published formula.

Cost of living is the single biggest lever most people can pull on their finances, and it's largely fixed the day you sign a lease. This ranking uses BEA Regional Price Parities, which compare the overall price level of goods and services across metros against a US average of 100, so a value of 90 means prices run about 10 percent below the national norm. For renters, retirees on a fixed income, and remote workers whose pay won't change with their zip code, a lower number translates almost directly into more room in the monthly budget.

The list ranks metros from cheapest to most expensive on an apples-to-apples basis, but cheapness is an average across housing, utilities, and services, and housing usually drives most of the spread. The honest caveat: a low overall price level says nothing about whether the local job market pays enough, so a bargain city with weak wages may not be a bargain for your career. Pair this with our income and job-market rankings before deciding.

  1. 1
    Alexandria, LA
    Cost of living: 85.7 (US=100)
    31
    Livability
  2. 2
    Auburn, AL
    Cost of living: 87.9 (US=100)
    55
    Livability
  3. 3
    Beaumont, TX
    Cost of living: 90.0 (US=100)
    28
    Livability
  4. 4
    Brownsville, TX
    Cost of living: 86.0 (US=100)
    27
    Livability
  5. 5
    Canton, OH
    Cost of living: 89.4 (US=100)
    46
    Livability
  6. 6
    Cedar Rapids, IA
    Cost of living: 89.0 (US=100)
    61
    Livability
  7. 7
    Charleston, WV
    Cost of living: 88.7 (US=100)
    34
    Livability
  8. 8
    Columbia, MO
    Cost of living: 89.4 (US=100)
    74
    Livability
  9. 9
    Columbus, GA
    Cost of living: 89.3 (US=100)
    31
    Livability
  10. 10
    Dalton, GA
    Cost of living: 89.8 (US=100)
    34
    Livability
  11. 11
    Davenport, IA
    Cost of living: 89.1 (US=100)
    56
    Livability
  12. 12
    Decatur, AL
    Cost of living: 87.2 (US=100)
    41
    Livability
  13. 13
    Dothan, AL
    Cost of living: 83.8 (US=100)
    34
    Livability
  14. 14
    Duluth, MN
    Cost of living: 88.8 (US=100)
    50
    Livability
  15. 15
    El Paso, TX
    Cost of living: 89.9 (US=100)
    29
    Livability
  16. 16
    Florence, AL
    Cost of living: 84.8 (US=100)
    47
    Livability
  17. 17
    Florence, SC
    Cost of living: 86.8 (US=100)
    23
    Livability
  18. 18
    Fort Smith, AR
    Cost of living: 85.9 (US=100)
    35
    Livability
  19. 19
    Greenville, NC
    Cost of living: 88.4 (US=100)
    29
    Livability
  20. 20
    Gulfport, MS
    Cost of living: 90.0 (US=100)
    36
    Livability
  21. 21
    Hattiesburg, MS
    Cost of living: 87.6 (US=100)
    37
    Livability
  22. 22
    Hickory, NC
    Cost of living: 88.5 (US=100)
    38
    Livability
  23. 23
    Houma, LA
    Cost of living: 85.1 (US=100)
    38
    Livability
  24. 24
    Huntington, WV
    Cost of living: 88.4 (US=100)
    35
    Livability
  25. 25
    Jackson, MS
    Cost of living: 89.0 (US=100)
    39
    Livability
  26. 26
    Jackson, TN
    Cost of living: 85.5 (US=100)
    42
    Livability
  27. 27
    Jefferson City, MO
    Cost of living: 88.0 (US=100)
    59
    Livability
  28. 28
    Johnson City, TN
    Cost of living: 87.9 (US=100)
    38
    Livability
  29. 29
    Joplin, MO
    Cost of living: 85.7 (US=100)
    38
    Livability
  30. 30
    Kingsport, TN
    Cost of living: 86.4 (US=100)
    39
    Livability
  31. 31
    Lafayette, LA
    Cost of living: 87.2 (US=100)
    33
    Livability
  32. 32
    Lake Charles, LA
    Cost of living: 85.9 (US=100)
    34
    Livability
  33. 33
    Laredo, TX
    Cost of living: 87.0 (US=100)
    37
    Livability
  34. 34
    Little Rock, AR
    Cost of living: 89.4 (US=100)
    51
    Livability
  35. 35
    Longview, TX
    Cost of living: 89.5 (US=100)
    37
    Livability
  36. 36
    Lynchburg, VA
    Cost of living: 89.4 (US=100)
    44
    Livability
  37. 37
    Macon, GA
    Cost of living: 88.5 (US=100)
    21
    Livability
  38. 38
    McAllen, TX
    Cost of living: 85.9 (US=100)
    22
    Livability
  39. 39
    Mobile, AL
    Cost of living: 88.1 (US=100)
    30
    Livability
  40. 40
    Monroe, LA
    Cost of living: 83.6 (US=100)
    32
    Livability
  41. 41
    Montgomery, AL
    Cost of living: 89.7 (US=100)
    47
    Livability
  42. 42
    Rapid City, SD
    Cost of living: 89.2 (US=100)
    65
    Livability
  43. 43
    Rocky Mount, NC
    Cost of living: 88.0 (US=100)
    18
    Livability
  44. 44
    Shreveport, LA
    Cost of living: 84.8 (US=100)
    28
    Livability
  45. 45
    Springfield, MO
    Cost of living: 88.6 (US=100)
    52
    Livability
  46. 46
    St. Cloud, MN
    Cost of living: 87.6 (US=100)
    56
    Livability
  47. 47
    Terre Haute, IN
    Cost of living: 87.8 (US=100)
    32
    Livability
  48. 48
    Texarkana, TX
    Cost of living: 84.0 (US=100)
    30
    Livability
  49. 49
    Topeka, KS
    Cost of living: 88.8 (US=100)
    56
    Livability
  50. 50
    Tulsa, OK
    Cost of living: 89.2 (US=100)
    48
    Livability

Common questions

What exactly is a Regional Price Parity?
It's a BEA index that measures how expensive a metro is compared to the national average, which is set at 100. A reading of 95 means the area is roughly 5 percent cheaper than the US as a whole; our methodology page explains how the index is built.
Does low cost of living mean low salaries too?
Often, but not always. Wages and prices tend to move together, so many affordable metros also have lower pay, which is why low cost matters most if your income is portable or fixed. Check the highest-income and best-value rankings to see where the two diverge.
Is housing included in this number?
Yes. The index blends housing, utilities, and other goods and services, and housing is typically the largest component and the biggest reason metros differ. If your housing situation is unusual, such as owning outright, your personal cost picture may look different from the index.