Stretch Your Paycheck Without Shrinking Your Skyline

Big-city living doesn’t always mean big spending. We analyzed major U.S. cities with populations of at least 200,000, using data from doxoINSIGHTS, the U.S. Census Bureau, and housing-cost indexes to find where your dollar goes the furthest.

Each city’s Affordability Score reflects four weighted factors:
Average monthly household bill spend
Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI; 100 = U.S. average)
Percent of household income used for bills
Housing burden (ratio of housing costs to income)

Lower bills, lighter income burdens, and accessible housing boosted a city’s score. Here are the 25 most affordable big cities in America—ranked from least to most affordable (any guesses on number 1?).

25: Lincoln, Nebraska (Affordability Score: 65)

Average monthly household bill spend: $2,041

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 96

Percent of household income used for bills: 37%

Housing burden: Manageable with steady income growth

Lincoln offers a stable economy, affordable rents, and Midwest calm without breaking the bank.

Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons

24: Lubbock, Texas (Affordability Score: 67)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,998

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 94

Percent of household income used for bills: 36%

Housing burden: One of the lowest among Texas metros

Low housing costs and affordable utilities make Lubbock a quiet affordability winner.

user:Redraiderengineer, Wikimedia Commons

23: Wichita, Kansas (Affordability Score: 69)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,981

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 93

Percent of household income used for bills: 38%

Housing burden: Among the best in the Midwest

Wichita balances low costs with strong community vibes—an underrated gem.

Quintin Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons

22: Fort Wayne, Indiana (Affordability Score: 70)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,963

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 92

Percent of household income used for bills: 34%

Housing burden: Consistently low compared to national average

Fort Wayne’s affordability and small-city charm make it a comfortable Midwest pick.

Monster Wedge, Wikimedia Commons

21: Omaha, Nebraska (Affordability Score: 71)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,959

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 92

Percent of household income used for bills: 37%

Housing burden: Low, with strong job market

Omaha offers affordability without sacrificing opportunity or culture.

Ron Reiring, Wikimedia Commons

20: Columbus, Georgia (Affordability Score: 72)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,954

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 91

Percent of household income used for bills: 39%

Housing burden: Among the lightest in the Southeast

Columbus pairs Southern hospitality with one of the friendliest price tags in Georgia.

Brightbillmedia, Wikimedia Commons

19: Des Moines, Iowa (Affordability Score: 73)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,951

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 91

Percent of household income used for bills: 35%

Housing burden: Low compared to other capitals

Des Moines mixes small-city ease with capital-city perks at reasonable costs.

Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant), Wikimedia Commons

18: Louisville, Kentucky (Affordability Score: 74)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,936

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 91

Percent of household income used for bills: 34%

Housing burden: Manageable for both renters and homeowners

Louisville offers big-city amenities with distinctly affordable Southern living.

Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, Wikimedia Commons

17: Springfield, Missouri (Affordability Score: 75)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,932

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 90

Percent of household income used for bills: 37%

Housing burden: Notably low for a metro area

Springfield’s affordability continues to attract remote workers seeking savings.

Diedrichb, Wikimedia Commons

16: Memphis, Tennessee (Affordability Score: 76)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,912

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 90

Percent of household income used for bills: 43%

Housing burden: Moderate, but property values remain accessible

Despite lower incomes, Memphis’s cost of living keeps it a bargain among big cities.

Thomas R Machnitzki, Wikimedia Commons

15: Corpus Christi, Texas (Affordability Score: 77)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,901

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 89

Percent of household income used for bills: 39%

Housing burden: Below average for coastal metros

Coastal life on a budget? Corpus Christi makes it possible.

Quintin Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons

14: El Paso, Texas (Affordability Score: 78)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,784

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 84

Percent of household income used for bills: 38%

Housing burden: Among the lowest in Texas

El Paso blends low bills and accessible housing with a welcoming community vibe.

Zereshk, Wikimedia Commons

13: Tulsa, Oklahoma (Affordability Score: 79)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,756

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 82

Percent of household income used for bills: 37%

Housing burden: Among the most affordable of all major metros

Tulsa’s affordability is drawing transplants from pricier cities nationwide.

Nils Huenerfuerst, Wikimedia Commons

12: Huntsville, Alabama (Affordability Score: 80)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,739

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 81

Percent of household income used for bills: 34%

Housing burden: Manageable even with recent growth

Huntsville proves that high-tech jobs and low costs can coexist beautifully.

No machine-readable author provided. Anivron assumed (based on copyright claims)., Wikimedia Commons

11: Knoxville, Tennessee (Affordability Score: 81)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,731

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 81

Percent of household income used for bills: 35%

Housing burden: Light for a thriving metro

Knoxville’s low costs and quality of life make it one of Tennessee’s best-kept secrets.

Will Fisher, Wikimedia Commons

10: Toledo, Ohio (Affordability Score: 82)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,682

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 79

Percent of household income used for bills: 34%

Housing burden: Exceptionally low

Toledo’s balance of low expenses and small-city charm keeps it highly livable.

MrJacon000, Wikimedia Commons

9: Akron, Ohio (Affordability Score: 83)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,701

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 80

Percent of household income used for bills: 33%

Housing burden: Consistently light

Akron offers affordability and community with easy access to major job markets.

Sleepydre, Wikimedia Commons

8: Evansville, Indiana (Affordability Score: 84)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,694

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 79

Percent of household income used for bills: 36%

Housing burden: Well below national average

Evansville’s costs remain impressively low, offering true Midwestern value.

WeaponizingArchitecture, Wikimedia Commons

7: Peoria, Illinois (Affordability Score: 85)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,682

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 79

Percent of household income used for bills: 34%

Housing burden: Manageable with steady income levels

Peoria gives residents the perks of a sizable metro without big-city prices.

Bohao Zhao, Wikimedia Commons

6: Rockford, Illinois (Affordability Score: 86)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,677

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 78

Percent of household income used for bills: 35%

Housing burden: Among the lowest in the Midwest

Rockford’s mix of low bills and stable housing puts it squarely in the affordability spotlight.

Alexbaumgarner, Wikimedia Commons

5: Montgomery, Alabama (Affordability Score: 87)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,668

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 78

Percent of household income used for bills: 33%

Housing burden: Exceptionally favorable

Montgomery delivers Southern charm and urban amenities without the sticker shock.

Carol M. Highsmith, Wikimedia Commons

4: Jackson, Mississippi (Affordability Score: 88)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,664

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 77

Percent of household income used for bills: 36%

Housing burden: One of the lowest nationwide

Jackson’s low costs make it one of the most affordable big cities in the South.

chmeredith from Jackson, MS, USA, Wikimedia Commons

3: Mobile, Alabama (Affordability Score: 89)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,659

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 77

Percent of household income used for bills: 34%

Housing burden: Extremely favorable

Mobile proves you can live by the coast without paying coastal prices.

Altairisfar, Wikimedia Commons

2: Cleveland, Ohio (Affordability Score: 90)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,735

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 82

Percent of household income used for bills: 41%

Housing burden: Very favorable relative to national averages

Cleveland offers an unbeatable blend of affordability, culture, and revitalization.

Harrison Keely, Wikimedia Commons

1: Dayton, Ohio (Affordability Score: 91)

Average monthly household bill spend: $1,673

Cost-of-Bills Index (COBI): 78

Percent of household income used for bills: 32%

Housing burden: Among the lowest in the U.S.

Dayton takes the top spot for keeping living costs low and quality of life high—a true affordability champion.

PrettyFlyForaGemini, Wikimedia Commons

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Sources:  1, 2, 3