What is the most affordable big city in the US?

The cheapest big cities to live in the U.S. consistently feature Midwest and Southern locations, with Detroit, Michigan, often topping lists for overall affordability, while cities like Oklahoma City, Memphis, and Akron, Ohio, are frequently cited for low rent and housing costs, offering a significantly lower cost of living than coastal metropolises.

What major city is one of the most affordable?

A similar analysis found that at today's mortgage rates, Pittsburgh is the nation's most affordable city, followed by Detroit and St. Louis, in allowing households to realistically spend no more than 30 percent of their paycheck on their mortgage.

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

The cheapest and safest places to live in the U.S. often balance low crime rates with a low cost of living, with recent reports highlighting cities in Ohio (like New Philadelphia), Georgia (Roswell, Johns Creek), Texas (Mission, Eagle Pass, Brownsville), Michigan (Bay City, Grand Rapids), and Illinois (Decatur, Springfield) as strong contenders, often featuring affordable housing and good quality of life. Specific standout locations include New Philadelphia, OH for its excellent combination of low crime and housing costs, and Brownsville, TX, for extremely low living expenses and diverse jobs. 

What is the #1 best city to live in America?

There's no single "number one" city, as it depends on what you value, but New York City often tops "best big city" lists for culture/livability (by Resonance 2025), while Brookline, MA is cited for quality of life, and smaller cities like Naperville, IL, Green Bay, WI, or Fremont, CA rank high for overall happiness, affordability, or small-town feel in other reports. Major reports often favor diverse factors like job markets, affordability, culture, and safety. 

What's the safest big city in America?

Key Findings. San Jose is the safest major city. San Jose ranked among the top 10 for every safety metric considered. Relative to its adult population, San Jose had the third fewest violent crimes (5,185 total) and fifth fewest property crimes (25,715).

20 Most Affordable Big Cities in the U.S.

Where in the U.S. is rent cheap?

The cheapest rent in America is typically found in cities like Wichita, Kansas; Toledo, Ohio; Akron, Ohio; Shreveport, Louisiana; and El Paso, Texas, with median 1-bedroom rents often below $800-$900, and in states such as Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Arkansas. These locations offer significantly lower costs compared to national averages, driven by strong job markets in sectors like healthcare, aviation, and manufacturing, alongside abundant outdoor activities, says ApartmentAdvisor.com and Apartments.com. 

What is the cheapest but best state to live in?

Below is a detailed breakdown of the ten most affordable states to live in 2025:

• Arkansas. Arkansas continues to be one of the most affordable states in the U.S., especially for those looking to buy property. ...
• Mississippi. ...
• Oklahoma. ...
• New Mexico. ...
• Missouri. ...
• Tennessee. ...
• Michigan. ...
• Texas.

Where can Americans afford to live alone in 2025?

These are the U.S. cities where Americans can actually afford to live on a single person's income—and the ones out-of-budget for singletons

• Budget-friendly options came down to these locations. ...
• 1) Wichita, Kansas. ...
• 2) Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ...
• 3) Lincoln, Nebraska. ...
• 4) Des Moines, Iowa. ...
• 5) Akron, Ohio.

Where can I live that is warm and cheap?

Best affordable warm states with soaring home prices

• Texas. Texas is ideal for millennials and Gen Z buyers who want affordable housing, strong job opportunities, and a good quality of life without the sky-high prices of coastal cities. ...
• Florida. ...
• Arizona. ...
• Georgia. ...
• South Carolina.

Which city is not expensive?

10 Cheapest Cities in India to Raise Your Child

• Jaipur. Popularly known as the Pink City, Jaipur blends cultural richness with modern infrastructure, making it a growing family hub. ...
• Kolkata. ...
• Ahmedabad. ...
• Kochi. ...
• Indore. ...
• Coimbatore. ...
• Pune. ...
• Udaipur.

What US city is selling homes for $1?

Yes, some US cities, notably Louisville, KY and Baltimore, MD, sell vacant, blighted homes for $1 through land bank programs, aiming to revitalize neighborhoods by requiring buyers to renovate the properties, but these come with significant repair commitments, often costing tens of thousands of dollars, and aren't for the faint-hearted.
 

Where can you live on $1200 a month?

5 Best Countries Where You Can Live on $1,200 a Month

• Albania. If Mediterranean living without the high price tag is what you're seeking, check out Albania. ...
• Cambodia. Cambodia, located in Southeast Asia, is another country where expats can live on a limited budget. ...
• Peru. ...
• Colombia. ...
• Vietnam.

Where is the cheapest place to start a new life?

Most Affordable Places to Live in the U.S. in 2025-2026

• Decatur, IL.
• Enid, OK.
• Springfield, IL.
• Mission, TX.
• Bay City, MI.
• Eagle Pass, TX.

What are the cheapest states to retire in?

The Most Affordable U.S. States to Retire in 2025

• Seniorly study emphasizes key affordable states for retirees: Pennsylvania, Iowa, Tennessee, Nevada, Texas.
• Motley Fool survey ranks Tennessee, Kansas, South Dakota as top three for overall cost of living.

Where is the cheapest place in the US to buy a house?

The cheapest places to buy a house in the U.S. are generally in the Midwest and South, with West Virginia consistently topping lists for lowest median home prices, followed by states like Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Ohio, and Indiana. Specific affordable cities often cited include Toledo (OH), Detroit (MI), Memphis (TN), and Wichita (KS), offering significantly lower housing costs compared to the national average, but it's crucial to balance low prices with local income levels and job markets. 

Where can I retire on $2000 a month in the United states?

You can retire on $2,000 a month in affordable U.S. cities, especially in the **Midwest and <</a>>South, by choosing locations with lower costs for housing, groceries, and healthcare, like Fort Wayne (IN), Knoxville (TN), El Paso (TX), or Cleveland suburbs (OH) . Focus on cities in states like Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Texas, Tennessee, and North Carolina, where a lower cost of living makes a budget of $2k/month feasible, often with access to good amenities and healthcare. 

What state is everyone moving to in 2025?

According to Atlas, the top inbound states for 2025 were:

Idaho. North Carolina. Hawaii. Washington, D.C.

Where is the cheapest but safest place to live in the US?

The cheapest and safest places to live in the U.S. often balance low crime rates with a low cost of living, with recent reports highlighting cities in Ohio (like New Philadelphia), Georgia (Roswell, Johns Creek), Texas (Mission, Eagle Pass, Brownsville), Michigan (Bay City, Grand Rapids), and Illinois (Decatur, Springfield) as strong contenders, often featuring affordable housing and good quality of life. Specific standout locations include New Philadelphia, OH for its excellent combination of low crime and housing costs, and Brownsville, TX, for extremely low living expenses and diverse jobs. 

What is the happiest state to live in?

Hawaii consistently ranks as the happiest state in the U.S., praised for high life satisfaction, low financial anxiety, good health, and low depression rates, often followed by states like Maryland and Nebraska in recent analyses by WalletHub. These rankings consider emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community factors, with Hawaii scoring high on metrics like life expectancy, low unemployment, and high levels of activity. 

Where am I supposed to live if I can't afford rent?

If you can't afford rent, explore government assistance like Section 8 vouchers or public housing via HUD.gov, contact 211 for local help, consider shared housing, find work-exchange roles (caretaker, farmhand), or look into alternatives like tiny homes, RVs, or hostels. Focus on low-cost strategies like finding a roommate, renting a room, or live-in caretaking to significantly reduce expenses. 

Which state is most unaffordable?

California and Hawaii consistently rank as the most unaffordable states due to extremely high housing costs, but Montana, Idaho, and states like Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York also appear at the top of lists, driven by overall high cost of living, utilities, and other essential bills, with California often leading in monthly household expenses. 

Can I afford $1000 rent making $20 an hour?

You can likely afford $1000 rent on $20/hour, but it will be tight and depends heavily on your location, other expenses (like car, insurance, debt), and if you work full-time (40 hrs/wk), as it pushes the 30% rule for housing costs to the limit, leaving less for savings and essentials. Aim to keep all housing costs (rent, utilities, insurance) under $960-$1000 (30% of gross income) for comfort, so a $1000 rent alone might work if you're frugal or have roommates, but it leaves little buffer. 

What is the #1 best place to live in the US?

There's no single "#1 best place," as it depends on your priorities, but Johns Creek, Georgia topped U.S. News & World Report's 2025-2026 rankings for its strong job market, desirability, and quality of life, followed by cities like Carmel, Indiana, Pearland, Texas, and Fishers, Indiana. Other top contenders often cited for affordability, safety, or outdoor access include Cary, North Carolina, Boulder, Colorado, and Fargo, North Dakota, highlighting that the "best" spot varies greatly by individual needs. 

What state has the cheapest luxury apartments?

For the most locations with luxury apartments at below-average prices, Texas is the top state, followed by Colorado and North Carolina, with cities like Austin, San Antonio, and Atlanta offering many such ZIP codes, while Seattle provides the biggest savings in specific areas for high-end units. While general cheap rent is found in states like Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Arkansas, Texas leads for luxury deals.