Sep 5, 2026

7 Best and Most Affordable Southern College Towns in America in 2026

You may not realize it, but you can afford to live comfortably at any age in certain college towns across the Southern region of the United States. A recent MoneyLion study revealed there are seven college towns scattered throughout the South where residents spend less than $40,000 annually to cover their total cost of living.

We found these towns by utilizing BestCollegeReviews and CollegeTransitions. All Southern towns with a total annual cost of living under $40,000 were included in this article. Notably, Troy, Alabama is the cheapest at $34,957 per year.

See for Yourself: 4 Best Florida Cities With Home Values Under $350K

Learn More: 13 Subtly Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money — That You Should Do, Too

Keep reading to see which seven Southern college towns are the most affordable and best in America, in order of highest to lowest total cost of living annually. Also, don’t forget to explore America’s 20 best college towns.

1. Jacksonville, North Carolina

Population ages 20 to 24 (%): 39.7%
Average monthly rent: $1,367
Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,958
Total monthly cost of living: $3,326
Total annual cost of living: $39,906

2. Lynchburg, Virginia

Population ages 20 to 24 (%): 24.5%
Average monthly rent: $1,288
Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,908
Total monthly cost of living: $3,196
Total annual cost of living: $38,353

3. Radford, Virginia

Population ages 20 to 24 (%): 42.8%
Average monthly rent: $1,198
Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,955
Total monthly cost of living: $3,153
Total annual cost of living: $37,841

4. Clemson, South Carolina

Population ages 20 to 24 (%): 41.1%
Average monthly rent: $1,065
Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,966
Total monthly cost of living: $3,030
Total annual cost of living: $36,366

5. Ruston, Louisiana

Population ages 20 to 24 (%): 37.7%
Average monthly rent: $1,072
Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,949
Total monthly cost of living: $3,021
Total annual cost of living: $36,256

6. Morehead, Kentucky

Population ages 20 to 24 (%): 50%
Average monthly rent: $1,013
Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,909
Total monthly cost of living: $2,921
Total annual cost of living: $35,054

7. Troy, Alabama

Population ages 20 to 24 (%): 34.5%
Average monthly rent: $980
Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,933
Total monthly cost of living: $2,913
Total annual cost of living: $34,957

Methodology: For this study, MoneyLion analyzed college towns across America to find the best places to live and the cost to live in each place. Locations were selected using BestCollegeReviews and CollegeTransitions. Locations were also selected by identifying the highest percent of population using the U.S. Census ACS. Locations with a total population under 5,000 were removed for this study. For each location the cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling's BestPlaces and by using the national average expenditure cost for all households, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for all consumer units, the average expenditure cost can be calculated for each location. The average rental cost was sourced from Zillow Observed Rental Index and by adding the expenditure costs the total cost of living was calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes and included determining the best places to live. The cities were sorted by their livability index with ties being determined by the highest overall cost of living. All data was up to date as of January 8th, 2026.

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.

More From MoneyLion:

Written by

Heather Taylor

Edited by

Ashleigh Ray