The 10 Most Affordable Cities in America (2026)
Ranked by cost index: the average of renting, buying, goods, and services compared to the national average (100). Every number comes from Census ACS 2024 and BEA Regional Price Parities 2023.
Rent: $908/mo · Homes: $122,600 · Income: $50,562
Up to 3.5% · Sales tax: 7.25%
Rent: $1,101/mo · Homes: $110,200 · Income: $44,516
5% flat · Sales tax: 8.0%
Rent: $964/mo · Homes: $182,100 · Income: $50,291
3% flat · Sales tax: 9.45%
Rent: $961/mo · Homes: $109,600 · Income: $43,383
Up to 3.5% · Sales tax: 8.0%
Rent: $1,042/mo · Homes: $117,500 · Income: $45,846
Up to 3.5% · Sales tax: 7.25%
Rent: $1,051/mo · Homes: $219,900 · Income: $61,436
3% flat · Sales tax: 7.0%
Rent: $989/mo · Homes: $212,900 · Income: $65,855
Up to 5.7% · Sales tax: 7.5%
Rent: $1,136/mo · Homes: $200,000 · Income: $55,307
Up to 5% · Sales tax: 10.0%
Rent: $1,007/mo · Homes: $207,900 · Income: $54,414
Up to 4.8% · Sales tax: 8.1%
Rent: $1,091/mo · Homes: $95,900 · Income: $39,209
4.25% flat · Sales tax: 6.0%
Sources: Rent and home prices from Census ACS 2024. Goods and services from BEA Regional Price Parities 2023. Tax rates from Tax Foundation. Cost index is the simple average of renting, buying, goods, and services indices.