Which city is affordable in USA?

The cheapest city in the U.S. changes slightly by report, but consistently includes places like Hickory, NC, Brownsville, TX, Fort Wayne, IN, and Dayton, OH, with cities in the Midwest and South often dominating affordability lists due to lower housing costs and overall expenses. For major cities, Wichita, KS, and Oklahoma City, OK, often rank as most affordable, while Detroit and Cleveland are frequently cited as budget-friendly large metro areas.

What is the most affordable city to live in the US?

The most affordable U.S. cities often feature low housing costs, with places like Toledo (OH), Memphis (TN), Wichita (KS), and Pittsburgh (PA) frequently cited for cheap homes, while cities such as Oklahoma City (OK), Wichita Falls (TX), and Fort Wayne (IN) are noted for low overall living expenses. Key affordable areas also include Sioux Falls (SD), Springfield (IL), and Green Bay (WI), offering strong value, especially in housing and daily expenses. 

Which city in the USA is the cheapest?

• Albuquerque, New Mexico. Albuquerque is a destination for everyone. ...
• Indianapolis, Indiana. Indianapolis, or Indy as locals affectionately call it, is one of the cheapest places to live in the US. ...
• Athens, Georgia. ...
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ...
• Salt Lake City, Utah. ...
• Kansas City, Missouri. ...
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ...
• St.

What US city has cheap rent?

While there are lots of small towns with super-cheap rent, the most affordable big city in the U.S. is Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It boasts an average rent price of $839 per month. Three of the top 10 most affordable cities are in the Midwest, including Tulsa, OK; St. Louis, MO; and Columbus, OH.

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

There's no single #1 best place; it depends on what you value, but recent studies highlight Johns Creek, GA (U.S. News 2025-26 for overall quality/value), Naperville, IL (Forbes 2025 for affordability/family), and Fremont, CA (happiest city) as top contenders, alongside states like Massachusetts for quality of life, with mid-sized metros like Green Bay, WI, and Raleigh, NC, also praised for balance. 

The Only Affordable Cities Left In America: A Complete List

What city in America has the best quality of life?

The best U.S. cities for quality of life vary by ranking, but Brookline, MA, often tops lists for blending small-town feel with big-city access, while Columbia, MD, excels for women's opportunities, and Chicago is noted as a top big city for overall livability, despite some drawbacks. Other top contenders include Alexandria, VA, Bellevue, WA, Chapel Hill, NC, and cities in the < !nav>Research Triangle (NC) / NC/VA/MD area for strong education, healthcare, and amenities. 

What is the safest place to live in the USA?

The "safest" place depends on metrics, but Warwick, Rhode Island, Overland Park, Kansas, and Burlington, Vermont consistently rank high in recent 2025 analyses by WalletHub for overall safety, considering crime, natural disasters, and financial stability. Other top contenders include Johns Creek, Georgia, praised for low crime rates, and cities like Centreville, VA, and Newton, MA, also appear on various lists for safety.
 

What state has a low cost of living?

States with a low cost of living consistently include Mississippi, West Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Alabama, often topping lists due to very affordable housing, lower utility/grocery costs, and lower overall expenses compared to the national average. These states offer significant savings on essentials like housing, making money stretch further, though quality of life factors vary. 

How to find a cheap place to live?

1. 10: Look in Other Neighborhoods/Cities. ...
2. 9: Know Your Budget. ...
3. 8: Use Networking. ...
4. 7: Apply for Section 8. ...
5. 6: Find a Roommate You Can Trust. ...
6. 5: Go Through a Local Affordable Housing Authority. ...
7. 4: Use a Referral Service or Broker. ...
8. 3: Negotiate with the Landlord.

Which state has cheap apartments?

For cheap apartments, focus on the Midwest and Southeast, with West Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Alabama, Kentucky, and South Dakota consistently ranking as top states for affordability, offering rents well below the national average and low overall living costs. Other budget-friendly options include Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Tennessee, featuring lower rent prices and higher rental availability.
 

What major city is affordable?

Searching for an affordable place to live in the U.S. that also offers excellent culture? Memphis is a great option! This second-largest city in Tennessee has a cost of living 18% lower than the Tennessee average and 38% lower than the national average—making it one of the most affordable cities to live in 2024.

What are the 10 most affordable states?

The 10 most affordable states consistently include those in the South and Midwest, with Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Missouri, Iowa, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Kansas, often appearing at the top of affordability lists due to low housing, utility, and grocery costs, though rankings vary slightly by source. These states offer a low cost of living, making them attractive for retirees, families, and single earners seeking budget-friendly living. 

How to live cheaply in the US?

The cheapest way to live in the U.S. involves relocating to affordable states (Midwest/South) like West Virginia, Mississippi, or Texas, embracing minimalist living (roommates, tiny homes, RVs), drastically cutting food/transport costs (cooking at home, public transit), and maximizing savings through frugal habits (DIY, secondhand), with Brownsville, TX, or cities in Ohio/Indiana often cited as budget-friendly spots. 

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 found in the Midwest and South, with West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Ohio, Indiana, and Alabama frequently topping lists for low median home prices and high affordability ratios, though specific cities like Pittsburgh, PA, and Toledo, OH, offer particularly low entry points. Factors like lower property taxes, rural settings, and a slower job market contribute to these low costs, but it's essential to balance affordability with local income opportunities. 

What is the best city to move to in 2025?

The "best" city depends on priorities, but for global livability, Copenhagen, Denmark, topped EIU's 2025 index for stability, education, and infrastructure, with Vienna and Zurich close behind; for US cities, various lists highlight Folsom, CA, for California, Johns Creek, GA, or League City, TX, for overall US, while Cape Town, South Africa, is noted for its vibe and culture by Time Out. 

Which US cities have the best weather?

California is known for having some of the best weather, with large cities like San Diego and Santa Barbara having little rainfall along with warm weather between 60 and 85 degrees.

What is the safest, cheapest place to live?

10 of the cheapest and safest places to live in the world

• Albania.
• Portugal.
• Costa Rica.
• Panama.
• Mexico.
• Thailand.
• Malaysia.
• Vietnam.

What salary do I need to afford $1500 rent?

How much should I make to Afford $1500 Rent? Let's say you've got your eye on a cool place that costs $1,500 a month. You want to stick to the 30% rule, so let's do the math: $1,500 / 0.30 = $5,000. That's your target monthly income.

Is it better to rent or buy?

It's better to rent for flexibility, lower upfront costs, and less responsibility for maintenance, while buying builds equity and offers stability but requires significant capital, long-term commitment (5+ years is often recommended), and responsibility for all upkeep, taxes, and fees, making the best choice highly personal, depending on your finances, lifestyle, and location. 

Where is rent the cheapest in the US?

Rent is cheapest in states like West Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Kansas, often found in the Midwest and South, with cities like Wichita (KS), Toledo (OH), Oklahoma City (OK), and Cedar Rapids (IA) offering some of the lowest averages, especially for smaller apartments, driven by lower demand and ample land for development. 

Which state is worth moving to?

The study found the best states to move to are Utah, New Hampshire, Idaho and Virginia. According to the list, worst states to move to are California, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oregon.

Which states have no state income tax?

As of 2025, there are nine states that don't collect any state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.

What are the top 3 safest states?

The top 3 safest states consistently ranking high in 2025 reports are Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, followed closely by Maine, with these Northeast states leading due to low crime, good economic factors, and overall personal security, according to analyses from WalletHub and other sources. 

What is the #1 crime city in America?

Memphis, Tennessee, consistently ranks as the city with the highest violent crime rate per capita in the U.S. for cities over 100,000 people, followed by cities like Detroit, Baltimore, and St. Louis, according to 2024 data, though some reports show improvements in Memphis's overall crime, citing high rates of theft and violent crime like carjackings as ongoing issues. Rankings can vary slightly by source and the specific crimes included, but Memphis appears at the top for overall violent crime.
 

Which city has the lowest crime rate?

There isn't one single city with the absolute lowest crime rate, as it depends on population size and metrics, but Irvine, CA, Virginia Beach, VA, Gilbert, AZ, and Plano, TX, consistently rank as very safe large cities (250k+ pop), while smaller cities like Weston, FL, and mid-sized ones like Frisco, TX, often lead lists for low violent crime. Rankings vary, with studies highlighting different safe cities like San Jose, CA, or Warwick, RI, depending on whether they focus on large metro areas or overall safety including factors like natural disasters.