The Low Cost of Living in These 30 Cities Might Surprise You
The steep cost of living in the United States has been an increasing source of stress for many Americans in recent years, with dizzying housing, grocery and gas prices weighing heavily on consumers' wallets. In 2026, inflation and overall costs are still problems, but there may be a shortcut for those who want big-city living without staggering big-city prices.
Recently, MoneyLion launched a study to find which cities in the U.S. don’t run the risk of destroying your wallet. To do so, MoneyLion analyzed data from the Federal Reserve, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau and more to find locations with low home values and costs of living. From that study, 30 cities were found -- many of which might surprise you -- and ranked from least expensive to most.
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Key Findings
The Lone Star State dominates the list: Of the 30 cities listed, six are from the state of Texas -- more than any other state present.
But the Buckeye State tops it: Texas may have the most cities listed, but two cities from Ohio top the overall list: Cleveland and Akron, both with monthly costs of living under $2,600.
The Motor City has the cheapest housing: While Detroit is ranked fifth on the list, its housing is cheaper than any other city in the ranking. The average home value there is just $128,216.
1. Cleveland
Median household income: $40,801
Average home value: $109,720
Average monthly cost of living: $2,459
2. Akron, Ohio
Median household income: $48,076
Average home value: $129,910
Average monthly cost of living: $2,520
3. Toledo, Ohio
Median household income: $49,724
Average home value: $123,173
Average monthly cost of living: $2,523
4. Shreveport, Louisiana
Median household income: $48,699
Average home value: $132,201
Average monthly cost of living: $2,607
5. Detroit
Median household income: $39,938
Average home value: $72,726
Average monthly cost of living: $2,691
6. Memphis, Tennessee
Median household income: $51,736
Average home value: $140,310
Average monthly cost of living: $2,710
7. Birmingham, Alabama
Median household income: $46,051
Average home value: $128,216
Average monthly cost of living: $2,742
8. Montgomery, Alabama
Median household income: $56,811
Average home value: $145,563
Average monthly cost of living: $2,793
9. Columbus, Georgia
Median household income: $58,073
Average home value: $167,250
Average monthly cost of living: $2,824
10. Augusta, Georgia
Median household income: $55,485
Average home value: $169,840
Average monthly cost of living: $2,855
11. Brownsville, Texas
Median household income: $52,130
Average home value: $192,829
Average monthly cost of living: $2,897
12. St. Louis
Median household income: $56,160
Average home value: $176,335
Average monthly cost of living: $2,910
13. Des Moines, Iowa
Median household income: $65,932
Average home value: $203,757
Average monthly cost of living: $2,974
14. Amarillo, Texas
Median household income: $65,912
Average home value: $201,261
Average monthly cost of living: $3,004
15. Little Rock, Arkansas
Median household income: $63,003
Average home value: $212,119
Average monthly cost of living: $3,009
16. Wichita, Kansas
Median household income: $64,620
Average home value: $196,400
Average monthly cost of living: $3,022
17. Lubbock, Texas
Median household income: $60,895
Average home value: $205,747
Average monthly cost of living: $3,032
18. Mobile, Alabama
Median household income: $53,558
Average home value: $188,965
Average monthly cost of living: $3,035
19. Laredo, Texas
Median household income: $63,915
Average home value: $218,356
Average monthly cost of living: $3,106
20. Fort Wayne, Indiana
Median household income: $61,422
Average home value: $234,159
Average monthly cost of living: $3,109
21. Corpus Christi, Texas
Median household income: $67,394
Average home value: $219,585
Average monthly cost of living: $3,111
22. Baltimore
Median household income: $62,177
Average home value: $182,946
Average monthly cost of living: $3,114
23. Oklahoma City
Median household income: $68,656
Average home value: $204,747
Average monthly cost of living: $3,120
24. Tulsa, Oklahoma
Median household income: $59,838
Average home value: $216,371
Average monthly cost of living: $3,135
25. Indianapolis
Median household income: $66,219
Average home value: $227,028
Average monthly cost of living: $3,157
26. Fayetteville, North Carolina
Median household income: $58,407
Average home value: $222,230
Average monthly cost of living: $3,163
27. El Paso, Texas
Median household income: $59,745
Average home value: $230,803
Average monthly cost of living: $3,163
28. Milwaukee
Median household income: $54,234
Average home value: $213,345
Average monthly cost of living: $3,164
29. Cincinnati
Median household income: $52,909
Average home value: $245,904
Average monthly cost of living: $3,275
30. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Median household income: $59,268
Average home value: $262,557
Average monthly cost of living: $3,284
Methodology: For this study, MoneyLion analyzed the largest 150 cities by population according to the U.S. Census 2024 five-year American Community Survey (ACS). For each city, median household income also was sourced from the U.S. Census 2024 five-year ACS. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces, and using the national average expenditure costs for all households, the average expenditure cost was calculated for each city. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for January 2026. Average mortgage for each city was calculated assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the total cost of living was calculated. Using the 50/30/20 finance rule that states that needs should not exceed 50% of median household income, the total cost of living was doubled to find the minimum household income needed to live in each city. The cities were sorted to show the cheapest cost of living first, representing places with a low cost of living. All data is up to date as of Feb. 19, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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