WhereDoIMove?

Cheapest cities to live in the U.S. (2026)

Ranked by estimated monthly essentials for a single person — typical rent plus everyday costs including local sales tax. 20 cities qualify in the current dataset.

1
Toledo, OH

est. cost: $3,169/mo · comfortable on $56,000/yr

Salary →
2
Wichita, KS

est. cost: $3,181/mo · comfortable on $58,000/yr

Salary →
3
Tulsa, OK

est. cost: $3,193/mo · comfortable on $58,000/yr

Salary →
4
Oklahoma City, OK

est. cost: $3,227/mo · comfortable on $58,500/yr

Salary →
5
Des Moines, IA

est. cost: $3,227/mo · comfortable on $58,000/yr

Salary →
6
Fort Wayne, IN

est. cost: $3,252/mo · comfortable on $58,000/yr

Salary →
7
Cleveland, OH

est. cost: $3,263/mo · comfortable on $57,500/yr

Salary →
8
Louisville, KY

est. cost: $3,270/mo · comfortable on $59,000/yr

Salary →
9
St. Louis, MO

est. cost: $3,272/mo · comfortable on $59,000/yr

Salary →
10
El Paso, TX

est. cost: $3,279/mo · comfortable on $56,000/yr

Salary →
11
Cincinnati, OH

est. cost: $3,288/mo · comfortable on $58,000/yr

Salary →
12
Fayetteville, AR

est. cost: $3,298/mo · comfortable on $59,000/yr

Salary →
13
Omaha, NE

est. cost: $3,312/mo · comfortable on $60,500/yr

Salary →
14
Indianapolis, IN

est. cost: $3,329/mo · comfortable on $59,500/yr

Salary →
15
Lincoln, NE

est. cost: $3,337/mo · comfortable on $61,000/yr

Salary →
16
Lexington, KY

est. cost: $3,346/mo · comfortable on $60,500/yr

Salary →
17
Kansas City, MO

est. cost: $3,349/mo · comfortable on $60,500/yr

Salary →
18
Detroit, MI

est. cost: $3,354/mo · comfortable on $61,000/yr

Salary →
19
Birmingham, AL

est. cost: $3,356/mo · comfortable on $60,500/yr

Salary →
20
Milwaukee, WI

est. cost: $3,360/mo · comfortable on $61,000/yr

Salary →

Fit scores use the reference profile (single, default weights). Rankings refresh as the underlying data updates — methodology.

Rank these for your own income