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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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