Best affordable cities to live in the us

With Western Michigan University driving the local economy, “KZoo” (as the locals call it) also is home to two exceptional nationally known microbreweries – Arcadia and Bells. So, if you like education and beer, this might be the spot to call home.

  • Overall cost of living index score: 79.2
  • Population: 261,108
  • Average household income: $58,836
  • Owner-occupied median home value: $168,500
  • Median rent: $846

14. Amarillo, Texas

"The Yellow Rose of Texas" offers the charms of state traditions like big steaks and a love of high school football, in addition to being very easy on the wallet. It’s also known as the "Helium Capital of the World" for having one of the country's most productive helium fields, not that you necessarily care about that for your home search.

  • Overall cost of living index score: 80.1
  • Population: 201,234
  • Average household income: $52,941
  • Owner-occupied median home value: $138,900
  • Median rent: $876

15. Meridian, Mississippi

Although Meridian is the seventh-largest city in the state of Mississippi, you’ll still find small-town vibes and historic charm that create a welcoming environment. The city is known for delicious southern food. Plus, there are tributes to musical talents born here, like the town’s very own Jimmie Rodgers.

  • Overall cost of living index score: 74.6
  • Population: 34,424
  • Average household income: $30,088
  • Owner-occupied median home value: $84,300
  • Median rent: $709

16. Tupelo, Mississippi

If you are looking for other affordable options in the Magnolia State, Tupelo doesn’t disappoint. As the birthplace of Elvis Presley, the town is steeped in musical history. Plus, the Natchez Trace Parkway, a scenic driving route in the state, is headquartered here.

  • Overall cost of living index score: 78
  • Population: 37,667
  • Average household income: $54,691
  • Owner-occupied median home value: $148,900
  • Median rent: $795

17. Muskogee, Oklahoma

The city of Muskogee was originally named for the Creek Tribe. Over the decades, the town has blossomed into an affordable oasis for those seeking a lower cost of living.

  • Overall cost of living index score: 71
  • Population: 36,790
  • Average household income: $38,218
  • Owner-occupied median home value: $98,800
  • Median rent: $683

18. Jackson, Mississippi

An affordable cost of living isn’t the only thing that Jackson, Mississippi, offers residents. Additionally, you’ll find ample opportunities to explore Civil War history and the roots of blues music. The city also hosts the USA International Ballet Competition every 4 years, which offers some extra spice for this robust city full of interesting activities.

  • Overall cost of living index score: 80.5
  • Population: 149,761
  • Average household income: $40,064
  • Owner-occupied median home value: $91,400
  • Median rent: $856

19. Topeka, Kansas

As the state capital of Kansas, Topeka offers a wide range of useful services to residents. Beyond the relatively low cost of living, residents can explore the Mulvane Art Museum and Gage Park, which includes 160 acres of activities, including a zoo and carousel.

  • Overall cost of living index score: 81.7
  • Population: 125,963
  • Average household income: $49,647
  • Owner-occupied median home value: $105,700
  • Median rent: $815

20. Richmond, Indiana

Richmond, or the Rose City, has been named an All America City twice, in 1987 and 2009. With four colleges and seminaries, there are many educational opportunities in this historic town. If you become a resident, expect cold winters and ample springtime weather.

  • Overall cost of living index score: 67.6
  • Population: 35,817
  • Average household income: $40,871
  • Owner-occupied median home value: $86,300
  • Median rent: $704

21. Salina, Kansas

When driving across the Sunflower State, you’ll find Salina nestled in the middle. Although primarily built around the surrounding grain industry, Saline has served as an important stopping point for Americans heading west for centuries. The town is centered around family living. Most families will find plenty of activities to enjoy together.

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Big coastal cities, such as New York and San Francisco, are known for having notoriously high rent prices and an expensive cost of living. But in their smaller Midwestern counterparts, like Indianapolis, Indiana or Toledo, Ohio, life proves much, much cheaper.

And while a lower cost of living doesn't always equate to a higher quality of life, it can make a difference for those looking to stretch their paycheck.

Niche, a company that researches and compiles information on places to live, released its list of the US cities with the lowest cost of living in 2022.

The ranking focused primarily on the ratio of home values to income, median property taxes, median home values, median rent, and ratios of monthly housing cost to income for each place. It also took into account the price of gas, the price of groceries, and the ratio of the median rent to income into consideration. You can read a full breakdown of the methodology here.

Many of the top 25 cities fell within the Midwest and the South, with a city in Indiana earning the top spot.

Emmie Martin contributed to an earlier version of this article.

25. Jackson, Mississippi

Jackson, Mississippi.Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Population: 163,778

Median rent: $856

Median home value: $91,400

Percentage of people who rent their home: 51%

Percentage of people who own their home: 49%

24. Odessa, Texas

Odessa, Texas.DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Population: 122,630 

Median rent: $1,104

Median home value: $159,700

Percentage of people who rent their home: 39%

Percentage of people who own their home: 61%

23. Lansing, Michigan

Lansing, Michigan downtown buildings.Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Population: 117,488

Median rent: $847

Median home value: $87,700

Percentage of people who rent their home: 48%

Percentage of people who own their home: 52%

22. Kansas City, Kansas

Kansas City, KansasGetty Images

Population: 153,014

Median rent: $882

Median home value: $101,300

Percentage of people who rent their home: 43%

Percentage of people who own their home: 57%

21. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Andrea Evangelo-Giamou / EyeEm

Population: 301,286

Median rent: $984

Median home value: $134,800

Percentage of people who rent their home: 53%

Percentage of people who own their home: 47%

20. Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham, Alabama.SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images

Population: 210,928

Median rent: $870

Median home value: $97,500

Percentage of people who rent their home: 54%

Percentage of people who own their home: 46%

19. McAllen, Texas

McAllen, Texas.Denis Tangney Jr/Getty Images

Population: 142,557

Median rent: $829

Median home value: $131,500

Percentage of people who rent their home: 41%

Percentage of people who own their home: 59%

18. Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Cedar Rapids, Iowa.DenisTangneyJr/iStock/Getty Images

Population: 133,125

Median rent: $791

Median home value: $144,500

Percentage of people who rent their home: 30%

Percentage of people who own their home: 70%

17. Wichita, Kansas

Wichita, Kansas.Getty Images

Population: 390,566

Median rent: $821

Median home value: $138,100

Percentage of people who rent their home: 42%

Percentage of people who own their home: 58%

16. Montgomery, Alabama

Montgomery, Alabama.Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Population: 199,054

Median rent: $905

Median home value: $121,100

Percentage of people who rent their home: 46%

Percentage of people who own their home: 54%

15. Abilene, Texas

Abilene, Texas.Grace Museum

Population: 124,691

Median rent: $918

Median home value: $131,300

Percentage of people who rent their home: 46%

Percentage of people who own their home: 54%

14. Amarillo, Texas

Amarillo, Texas.Gimas/Shutterstock

Population: 199,225

Median rent: $876

Median home value: $138,900

Percentage of people who rent their home: 41%

Percentage of people who own their home: 59%

13. Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio.Yuanshuai Si/Getty Images

Population: 383,331

Median rent: $735

Median home value: $73,400

Percentage of people who rent their home: 58%

Percentage of people who own their home: 42%

12. Topeka, Kansas

Topeka, Kansas.Henryk Sadura/shutterstock

Population: 125,819

Median rent: $815

Median home value: $105,700

Percentage of people who rent their home: 41%

Percentage of people who own their home: 59%

11. Erie, Pennsylvania

Erie, Pennsylvania.Getty Images

Population: 96,616

Median rent: $725

Median home value: $90,500

Percentage of people who rent their home: 48%

Percentage of people who own their home: 52%

10. Akron, Ohio

Akron, Ohio.Shutterstock

Population: 197,375

Median rent: $795

Median home value: $83,500

Percentage of people who rent their home: 50%

Percentage of people who own their home: 50%

9. Beaumont, Texas

Texas road sign.Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Population: 117,321

Median rent: $868

Median home value: $123,700

Percentage of people who rent their home: 45%

Percentage of people who own their home: 55%

8. Buffalo, New York

Buffalo, New YorkWalter Bibikow/Getty Images

Population: 255,805

Median rent: $801

Median home value: $101,000

Percentage of people who rent their home: 58%

Percentage of people who own their home: 42%

7. Evansville, Indiana

Evansville, Indiana.Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Population: 118,414

Median rent: $797

Median home value: $98,600

Percentage of people who rent their home: 45%

Percentage of people who own their home: 55%

6. Toledo, Ohio

Toledo, Ohio.Michael Shake/Shutterstock

Population: 275,116

Median rent: $737

Median home value: $83,600

Percentage of people who rent their home: 49%

Percentage of people who own their home: 51%

5. Dayton, Ohio

Dayton, Ohio.David Harmantas/Shutterstock

Population: 140,444

Median rent: $724

Median home value: $69,400

Percentage of people who rent their home: 53%

Percentage of people who own their home: 47%

4. South Bend, Indiana

South Bend, Indiana.Chuck W Walker/Shutterstock

Population: 102,686

Median rent: $814

Median home value: $88,600

Percentage of people who rent their home: 42%

Percentage of people who own their home: 58%

3. Brownsville, Texas

Brownsville, Texas.Shutterstock

Population: 182,230

Median rent: $754

Median home value: $92,400

Percentage of people who rent their home: 40%

Percentage of people who own their home: 60%

2. Wichita Falls, Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas.DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Population: 104,657

Median rent: $828

Median home value: $104,800

Percentage of people who rent their home: 43%

Percentage of people who own their home: 57%

  •  

1. Fort Wayne, Indiana

Fort Wayne, Indiana.Deb Perry / Getty Images

Population: 268,378

Median rent: $777

Median home value: $121,600

Percentage of people who rent their home: 37%

Percentage of people who own their home: 63%

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Erin McDowell

Reporter, Editorial Partnerships

Erin McDowell is a reporter on the Insider Inc. distribution team. She covers food, lifestyle, entertainment, retail, careers, and more for Insider, Business Insider, and Insider Inc.'s partners, including MSN.com and Yahoo. She graduated from Elon University in January 2019, where she studied strategic communications and digital art. She has written for V Magazine, Milk.XYZ, OUT.com, Brides Magazine, and more. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and can be found on LinkedIn.  Please send all inquiries, comments, or tips to [email protected].

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Erin Snodgrass

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Erin Snodgrass is a reporter for Insider. Before joining Insider, Erin was an intern with InvestigateTV and Česká televize. She graduated from Loyola University New Orleans in 2020. Her work has also been published in The Olympian and on Nola.com.  She can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter as @erinsnod. 

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Where is the cheapest and nicest place to live in USA?

Lake Side Park in Fort Wayne, Indiana, named the most affordable city to live in America. In its report, Niche also ranked the cheapest places to live in the U.S. At the top of the list was Fort Wayne, Indiana, which also took the top spot in three previous years: 2021, 2019 and 2018.

What city in U.S. has lowest cost of living?

The 10 most affordable cities in the US.
McAllen, TX. Rent: $1,037. Transportation: $267. ... .
Tulsa, OK. Rent: $1,121. Transportation: $272. ... .
Knoxville, TN. Rent: $1,290. Transportation: $248. ... .
Oklahoma City, OK. Rent: $1,349. ... .
Buffalo, NY. Rent: $1,466. ... .
Albuquerque, NM. Rent: $1,530. ... .
Cincinnati, OH. Rent: $1,518. ... .
El Paso, TX. Rent: $1,502..

Where is the cheapest and safest place to live in USA?

Augusta, a small city near Georgia's border with South Carolina, is one of the cheapest and safest places to live in the USA. It has a low crime rate and a low cost of living, making it perfect for those looking to live comfortably and save money.

Where is the nicest most affordable place to live?

Above you'll see that Sioux Falls, SD is the big winner in 2022, with the best total score and the top ranking among all US cities. Reno, NV, Provo, UT, Madison, WI, and Huntsville, AL round out the top five.