Cheapest US Cities to Live In

The cheapest of the large US cities we track, ranked by one-bedroom rent.

1. 1Aberdeen, SD$576/mo
2. 2Fort Smith, AR$603/mo
3. 3Charleston, WV$668/mo
4. 4Cedar Rapids, IA$716/mo
5. 5Laramie, WY$728/mo
6. 6Green Bay, WI$730/mo
7. 7Cleveland, OH$732/mo
8. 8Lewiston, ME$749/mo
9. 9Detroit, MI$752/mo
10. 10Topeka, KS$758/mo
11. 11Huntington, WV$758/mo
12. 12Wichita, KS$761/mo
13. 13Grand Forks, ND$761/mo
14. 14Casper, WY$764/mo
15. 15Evansville, IN$768/mo

Ranked by median one-bedroom apartment rent (US Census ACS), lowest first.

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).