What US city has the lowest cost of living?

Among major cities, Houston, Memphis, and Oklahoma City rank lowest, near or below the national average. Smaller cities in Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Kansas rank lower still.

Where does a $100,000 salary go furthest?

In low-cost metros like Houston or Memphis, where housing costs roughly a third of coastal prices. The same salary covers a house payment there and a small apartment in San Francisco.

Cost of Living by City: Where Your Salary Goes Furthest

The same paycheck is a different life in different zip codes. Here is where salaries stretch and where they snap.

San Francisco, New York, and Honolulu top the most-expensive lists, while Houston, Memphis, and Oklahoma City rank among the cheapest major cities. Mid-size cities like Raleigh and Columbus pair reasonable costs with strong job markets. See exactly what your salary is worth elsewhere with the free cost of living calculator.

The most and least expensive major cities

San Francisco, New York, San Jose, and Honolulu consistently rank as the most expensive US cities, with overall indices 70 to 90 percent above the national average. Housing does nearly all the damage.

Houston, Memphis, Oklahoma City, and Cleveland rank among the cheapest major cities, near or below the national average. A $100,000 salary in Houston buys roughly what $175,000 buys in New York.

Mid-size cities with big-city pay

The sweet spot is a mid-size city with a strong job market and moderate costs: Raleigh, Columbus, Nashville, and Austin pair growing salaries with housing far below coastal prices.

Remote workers get the best of both worlds by earning a big-city salary while living in a low-cost city, which is why relocation interest in affordable metros keeps climbing.

How to pick a city on a budget

Start with the housing index, not the overall score. A city with cheap housing and average everything else beats a city with average housing and cheap groceries every time.

Then check the job market and taxes. A cheap city with no jobs in your field is not cheap for you, and state income tax differences of 5 to 10 percent move the needle on take-home pay.