The average cost of living in the US is approximately $5,253 a month or $63,036 a year. How affordable
a city is depends on a range of factors, including the price of housing, utilities, groceries,
and more.
If you’re considering a move, you’ll need to look at all of these components. You’ll
also have to consider the kind of lifestyle you want because cheaper doesn’t always
mean better.
Like and subscribe to ViewCation for more tips on how to decide where to live and where
to visit. Watch our video to learn about more of the cheapest places to live in the United
States.
Cheapest Places to Live in Mississippi
The average cost of living in Mississippi is $48,567.
The average rent in Biloxi is $690 per month, the gas prices are $3.02, and the unemployment
rate is 3.1%. It’s a safe and livable city with sandy beaches, fresh seafood, and thriving
casino industry.
The average rent in Gulfport is $637 a month, gas prices are $3.020, and the unemployment
rate is 5.5%. It thrives thanks to its seaside attractions. It also has more available housing
than Biloxi.
The cost of living in Hattiesburg is 16.3% below the national average. Housing is 36%
below the average with home values of $145,300. The unemployment rate is 5.4% It’s a smaller
city but has several universities and museums to keep things interesting.
Cheapest Places to Live in Indiana
The average cost of living in Indiana is $52,038.
The average rent in Gary is $685 per month, the gas prices are $3.248, and the unemployment
rate is 4.9%. It’s also a short commute to the larger city of Chicago.
The average rent in Terre Haute is $557 per month, gas prices are $3.248 per gallon, and
the unemployment rate is 4.2%. It’s a river town nicknamed the Crossroads of America.
It has several universities and a mix of students and professionals.
The cost of living in Fort Wayne is 14% below the national average. The average house price
is $103,100, and rent is $681 per month. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. Wages are high
while the cost of living is low, and there’s an expected 38.6% increase in jobs in the
next 10 years. Healthcare, insurance, and manufacturing are a few of the strongest job
markets.
The cost of living in Kokomo is 16.9% below the national average. Home prices of $284,691
are 28% cheaper than the average. You’ll also save on transportation and groceries.
The unemployment rate is 6.8% but peaked at 31% in 2020, and the poverty rate of 11.9%
matches the US average.
Cheapest Places to Live in Ohio
The average cost of living in Ohio is $52,013.
The average rent in Toledo is $679 per month, gas prices are $3.118, and the unemployment
rate is 5.5%. It’s a safe and friendly city right along the beautiful Lake Erie that also
offers museums and cultural sights to enjoy.
The average rent in Euclid is $678 per month with gas prices of $3.118 and an unemployment
rate of 3.7%. It’s a suburb of Toledo that still lets you have waterfront property along
Lake Erie and quick access to unique attractions and businesses.
The average monthly rent in Medina is $672 per month with gas prices of $3.118 and an
unemployment rate of 3.7%. It’s another suburb with a modern, active vibe that’s
perfect for young professionals.
The average monthly rent in Ashland is $640, gas prices are $3.118, and the unemployment
rate is 5.6%. It’s a smaller Cleveland suburb with a friendly atmosphere.
The average rent in Youngstown is $615 a month, the gas prices are $3.118, and the unemployment
rate is 6.7%. The city thrived during the steel days of America. It sits between Cleveland
and Pittsburgh and has a lower cost of living than both of them.
The average rent in Elyria is $582 a month, gas prices are $3.118, and the unemployment
rate is 5,6%. It’s a suburb of Cleavland located along the Black River that’s safe
and family-friendly.
Cheapest Places to Live in Oklahoma
The average cost of living in Oklahoma is $52,805
The average rent in Midwest City is $66 per month with gas prices of $3.050 and an unemployment
rate of 3.6%. You’ll have easy access to Oklahoma City without the high prices and
urban sprawl.
The cost of living in Oklahoma City is 12% below the national average. Housing is 23%
below the national average, with home prices at $142,700, and rent at $793 a month. The
unemployment rate is 3.7%. It has plenty of manufacturing and energy jobs and unique attractions.
Cheapest Places to Live in Tennessee
The average cost of living in Tennessee is $50,152. It also doesn’t charge a state
income tax.
The average rent in Johnson City is $662 per month with gas prices of $3.105 and an unemployment
rate of 4.1%. It has big-city amenities such as industry and entertainment buildings but
also offers natural wonders thanks to the Appalachian Mountains.
The cost of living in Nashville is 4% below the national average. Home prices are $174,600
with rent at $902 a month. The unemployment rate is 4.3%, and it offers plenty of employment
options.
The cost of living in Knoxville is 16.4% below the national average. Home values are $186,900
and the unemployment rate is 3.5%. Costs for everything from food to transportation are
lower in the city that originally served as the capital of Tennessee.
The cost of living in Memphis is 14.6-19% below the national average with an unemployment
rate of 6.1-7.2%. Real estate prices are up to $50,000 below average as well.
The cost of living in Jackson is 15.5%-20.9% below the national average. Housing is 40%
cheaper with home values averaging $121,400. The unemployment rate is 4.4%-5.4%. It’s
a regional trade center with plenty of employment opportunities.
Cheapest Places to Live in Arkansas The average cost of living in Arkansas is
$49,970.
The cost of living in Conway is 14.6% below the national average. The average rent is
$660 per month with gas prices of $3.93 and an unemployment rate of 3.4%. It’s a suburb
of Little Rock that’s just as popular as the larger city.
The average rent in Fayettville is $640 a month, gas prices are $3.093, and the unemployment
rate is 2.8%. It took 5th place on the best places to live in the 2021 U.S. News & World
Report. It’s full of young professionals and surrounded by the beautiful Ozark Mountains.
Cheapest Places to Live in Texas The average cost of living in Texas is $53,201.
The average rent in Killeen is $595 per month, gas prices are $3.039, and the unemployment
rate is 4.3%.
Killeen has been ranked as one of the best places to live in Texas. It’s a military
town next to Fort Hood that also offers great colleges and museums.
The average rent in Brownsville is $585, gas prices are $3.039, and the unemployment rate
is 7%. It’s right next to the Gulf of Mexico, giving it warm weather and easy access to
beaches.
The cost of living in Dallas is 2% below the national average. Home prices sit at $142,600,
and rent is $888 a month. The unemployment rate is 4.6%.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area was recently ranked as one of the top labor markets in the US,
so you won’t struggle to find a job. You also won’t have to look far for interesting
attractions such as the city’s World Aquarium, Zoo, and Museum of Art.
The cost of living in Amarillo is18.3% below the national average. Housing costs are 39%
cheaper at approximately $156,300. The unemployment rate is 3.6% You’ll notice several specific
savings, such as 35% cheaper optometrist visits, 28% cheaper dry cleaning, and 15% cheaper
washer repairs.
The cost of living in San Antonio is 12% below the national average. The average home price
is $121,100, and rent is $882 a month. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. You’ll save on
healthcare, utilities, groceries, and housing. There are also opportunities for jobs in science
and technology.
The cost of living in Harlingen is 22.7% below the national average. Home values are $89,000,
the average rent is $702 a month, and the unemployment rate is 7.9%. Groceries and gasoline
are cheaper than almost anywhere else, but 25.6% of residents live below the poverty
line.
The cost of living in Mcallen is 22.3% below the national average. Housing costs are 29%
cheaper with home values averaging at $93,400. Healthcare is 29% cheaper and groceries are
15% cheaper. The unemployment rate is 8.0%. Utilities are a bit more expensive because
of sweltering temperatures, and the poverty rate is 27.3%.
Cheapest Places to Live in Oklahoma
The average cost of living in Oklahoma is $52,805.
The average monthly rent in Lawton is $550, one of the lowest in the US. Gas prices are
$3.050, and the unemployment rate is 4.2%. It’s close enough to Oklahoma City but also
provides natural escapes such as Lake Lawtonka.
The cost of living in Tusla is 13% below the national average. Home prices are $126,200
and rent is $757 a month.
Tusla is the 2nd-largest city in Oklahoma. It offers several job opportunities and is
even paying workers $10,000 to move to the city and work remotely.
Cheapest Places to Live in Alabama
The cost of living in Hunstville is 4% below the national average. House prices are $51,441,
while rent is $750 per month. The city charges slightly above the average cost of living
for the state but still ranks among the U.S. News & World Report’s most affordable cities.
Housing and transportation costs are low, and there are plenty of job and entertainment
opportunities.
The cost of living in Mobile is 13.9% below average. Housing is 35% below the average
with home values are $139,000. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.
Mobile was founded in 1702 by the French as a colony and retains its diverse culture.
It’s also a port city with shipping jobs as well as opportunities in healthcare, tech,
and engineering.
The cost of living in Anniston is 17.7% below the national average. Housing is 40% cheaper
with home value averages at $12,600, and the unemployment rate is 4.1%. It holds a Guinness
World Record as one of the 10 cheapest US cities to live in. The only thing you won’t
save on is utilities; they cost 24% more than average.
The cost of living in Florence is 15.2% below the national average. Housing is 32% lower
with home values averaging $145,00 and rent at $626 a month. The unemployment rate is
3.5%. Cheapest Cities in Iowa
The cost of living in Des Moines is 13% below the national average. Home values are $119,800,
and the average monthly rent is $775. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. Costs for housing,
utilities, transportation, and groceries are all low, there are plenty of universities,
and you can also enjoy the Iowa State Fair or Downton Farmer’s Market.
The cost of living in Waterloo or Cedar is 14.9% below the national average. Housing
is 21.5% cheaper with home values of $158,500. The unemployment rate is 4%.
Cheapest Places to Live in Michigan
The cost of living in Flint, Michigan is $53,281. The average rent is $684 per month with gas
prices of $3.285 and an unemployment rate of 5.7%. It’s still facing a water crisis,
but there are several reasons to give it a chance.
Flint is a diverse city with several universities. It’s also the 4th-largest in Michigan and
one of the safest. You’ll have a quick commute of only about an hour to larger cities such
as Detroit and Lansing.
The cost of living in Kalamazoo is 22.9% below the national average. It’s the cheapest
city in the US, but that’s in part because over 26% of its residents are below the poverty
line. The unemployment rate is 4.6%, but medical employers such as Pfizer are offering jobs.
Cheapest Places to Live in Illinois The cost of living in Illinois is $53,654.
The average rent in Springfield is $637 per month, gas prices are $3.074, and the unemployment
rate is 3.3%. The job market is growing, and natural attractions such as the Ozarks and
the Mark Twain Natural Forest are bringing in residents and visitors.
The cost of living in Kentucky is $51,925.
The average rent in Henderson is $640 per month, gas prices are $3,084, and the unemployment
rate is 3.3%. The city used to be a train town along the Ohio River that welcomed several
presidents. It now serves as a quiet, small city.
The cost of living in Decatur, Illinois is 14.2% below the national average. Housing
costs are 30% lower than average with home values at $105,500. Doctors' appointments
are 13% cheaper, and a gallon of milk is even 20% less expensive.
Other Affordable US Cities
The cost of living in both Decanter and Hartsell, Georgia is 13.4% below the national average.
Housing is 34% cheaper. Home values sit at $142,900 and rent is 43% than average. The
unemployment rate is 2.6%
Decatur is one of the busiest ports on the Tennessee River, has a NASA flight center,
and is also a tourist destination. These sectors provide plenty of jobs. Hartsell relies on
tourism for its money but is also an affordable option.
The cost of living in Buffalo, New York is 17% below the national average and 50% less
than New York City. The average home value is $72,600 and the monthly rent is $710. The
unemployment rate is 5.8%. You’ll save on housing and healthcare, and the job market
is growing.
The cost of living in Kansas City, Kansas is 8% below the national average. Home values
are $135,900 and rent is $826 per month. It’s a safe city with a growing job market and
low housing, healthcare, and transportation costs.
The cost of living in Omaha, Nebraska is 9% below the national average. The average home
value is $139,800 and rent is $819 a month. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. It’s the
largest city in Nebraska and offers plenty of job and education opportunities.
The cost of living in Tampa, Florida is 1% below the national average. Average home values
are $172,100 with rent at $983 a month. The unemployment rate is 6.2% There’s no state
income tax, and you’ll enjoy beautiful weather and easy access to everything you could want
in a city.
The cost of living in Lynchburg, Virginia is 13.5% below the national average. Home
values are $174,00.
The unemployment rate is 4%. The city’s largest employer is Liberty University, but
there are plenty of other job opportunities as well. Utilities are above the average cost
while housing, groceries, and transportation are below. All of these factors keep the CIty
of the Seven Hills at the top of Gallup's well-being index.
The cost of living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina is 13.6% below the national average.
Housing costs are 30% lower. Average home values are $164,800 and rent is $766 a month,
and gas is 11% cheaper. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.
Winston-Salem offers 6 colleges, 75 parks, 33, wineries, and more. Its large healthcare
sector means you’ll have easy access to doctors and specialists, though costs are
22.2% higher than average.
The cost of living in Lake Charles, Louisiana is 13.9% below the national average. Housing
is 14% below average with home values at $164,700. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. Utilities are
26% cheaper.
Lake Charles has job opportunities in a range of industries. The poverty rate is 20.4%,
which is 10% higher than the average for the state and 12.3% higher than the US average.
The cost of living in Texarkana, Arkansas, or Texarkana, Texas, is 15.7% below the national
average. Housing costs are ⅓ cheaper. Home values are $117,200 and rent at $943 a month.
Doctors’ visits and groceries are also more affordable.
The cost of living in Augusta, South Carolina is 16% below the national average. Housing
costs are 30% cheaper with home values averaging at $161,800. Utilities and transportation
are 15% cheaper, and groceries are 10% less. The unemployment rate is 3.5%, and the city
has plenty of cybersecurity, medicine, and biotechnology jobs thanks to the presence
of Augusta University.
The cost of living in Joplin, Missouri is 17.3% below the national average. Housing
is 25% cheaper, with home values at $127,800. The city bounced back after the costliest
tornado in US history in 2011. It now offers cheap groceries, healthcare, and transportation,
but utility costs are slightly above average.
Have you settled down in one of the cheapest places to live in the United States? Let us
know in the comments below. Like and subscribe to ViewCation for more on how to travel well
for less money.