Los Angeles
Rent$2,600/mo
Pay target$105,000
Score 62/100
Cost of living · U.S. cities
Which US city is cheapest to live in?
See rent, food, bills, and pay targets before you move.
Type a city or state, then press Enter.
Try:
Moving? Start with rent. It is often the biggest bill each month.
We also list food, power, and car costs. Tax is not in the core stack.
Comfort pay is gross pay before tax. Add debt and kids on top.
Index 100 is the US norm. A higher index means you need more pay or tighter spending.
Pick a state if you know the state but not the city. Pick a pair if you debate two places.
Your lease quote beats our defaults. Use tools after you pick a city.
City pairs
Rent gap and pay gap in one click.
NYC vs Chicago
Rent gap+$1,550/mo
Pay gap+$38,000
Lower rentChicago
Austin vs Denver
Rent gap$-200/mo
Pay gap-$6,000
Lower rentAustin slightly
Dallas vs Atlanta
Rent gap$-100/mo
Pay gap-$2,000
Lower rentRough tie; Dallas slightly lower on many lists
Seattle vs Phoenix
Rent gap+$550/mo
Pay gap+$19,000
Lower rentPhoenix
Browse by state
State medians and links to each metro.
Popular cities
Rent, pay target, and score. Use filters to narrow the list.
San Diego
Rent$2,550/mo
Pay target$102,000
Score 64/100
San Francisco
Rent$3,200/mo
Pay target$125,000
Score 58/100
Dallas
Rent$1,550/mo
Pay target$76,000
Score 72/100
Houston
Rent$1,400/mo
Pay target$70,000
Score 74/100
Austin
Rent$1,750/mo
Pay target$82,000
Score 70/100
Miami
Rent$2,200/mo
Pay target$88,000
Score 65/100
Tampa
Rent$1,650/mo
Pay target$74,000
Score 73/100
Orlando
Rent$1,600/mo
Pay target$72,000
Score 74/100
New York City
Rent$3,400/mo
Pay target$120,000
Score 55/100
Chicago
Rent$1,850/mo
Pay target$82,000
Score 68/100
Seattle
Rent$2,200/mo
Pay target$95,000
Score 66/100
Denver
Rent$1,950/mo
Pay target$88,000
Score 69/100
Atlanta
Rent$1,650/mo
Pay target$78,000
Score 71/100
Phoenix
Rent$1,650/mo
Pay target$76,000
Score 73/100
Monthly breakdown
See how one city stacks up to the US norm.
U.S. average
Selected city
Cost of living by lifestyle
Monthly spending and gross pay targets for Austin, TX (example). Assumes a single renter; add childcare, debt, and extra savings on top.
Lifestyle tiers span $2,072/mo (basic) to $5,606/mo (affluent). The highlighted tier is our default comfortable plan with room to save.
Monthly mix at the comfortable tier
How a $3,041/mo budget splits before tax ($85,000 gross target). Open the comfortable salary guide for household and rent vs own options.
Housing
56%
Transportation
11%
Food
13%
Savings
10%
Lifestyle spending
10%
Pay you may need
Start here, then open a city page for local numbers.
Single person
Often $65k to $120k in gross pay. High-rent coasts sit at the top.
Salary guide →Couple
Two incomes help. Shared rent cuts cost per person.
Cost to live as a couple →Family of 4
Add child care after rent. $90k to $220k gross is common on city pages.
Family of 4 budget →Remote work
Compare net pay by state. No income tax can beat a higher gross in some moves.
Net pay by state →Sample budgets
How costs feel for real homes.
Young professional in Austin
Salary: $95k gross
Rent burden: Moderate — 1BR near $1,750/mo
Edge: No state income tax
Family in San Diego
Salary needed: ~$220k gross (family line)
Rent burden: High on coastal zips
Remote worker in Dallas
Salary: $85k from coastal employer
Affordability advantage: Strong vs NYC/SF
Key ideas
What to weigh when you compare cities or job offers.
Housing drives the gap
Rent is usually the biggest line. A small rent gap beats a small grocery gap.
Hidden city costs
Parking, HOA, insurance, and move-in fees sit outside median rent.
Tax changes take-home
Same gross pay can net very different amounts by state.
Remote work moves
Check tax rules if you earn in one state and live in another.
Related tools
Go from comparison to a concrete housing or salary plan.
Rent vs buy calculatorBreak-even year and net cost
How much house can I afford28/36 rule by location
Rent affordabilityCap rent on take-home pay
Monthly expenses guideBudget buckets and benchmarks
Comfortable salary (California)State take-home and targets
Comfortable salary (Texas)No state income tax framing
How we score cities
- Rent, food, power, and commute in plain monthly dollars — index 100 = U.S. norm.
- Comfort salary is gross pay before tax; add childcare and debt on top.
- Compare net pay by state when you weigh job offers — tax can beat a small rent gap.
- Your lease quote beats our defaults; use tools after you pick a city.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheapest here?
Houston and many inland metros rank low on rent. Your job and tax still matter.
How much salary for NYC?
Many singles plan for $120k+ gross on a median 1BR stack.
Is Texas cheaper than California?
Often lower rent and no state income tax. Run both city pages.
What matters most when moving?
Housing, then tax, then childcare if you have kids.
How do I compare two cities?
Use a pair card or open two city pages. Compare net pay.
Next steps
Pick a city, test housing, or map the pay you need.