Cheapest US Cities to Live In

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

1. 1El Paso, TX$816/mo
2. 2Milwaukee, WI$849/mo
3. 3Louisville, KY$877/mo
4. 4Oklahoma City, OK$882/mo
5. 5Albuquerque, NM$889/mo
6. 6Tucson, AZ$891/mo
7. 7Memphis, TN$948/mo
8. 8Indianapolis, IN$963/mo
9. 9Omaha, NE$984/mo
10. 10Bakersfield, CA$1,007/mo
11. 11New Orleans, LA$1,019/mo
12. 12Kansas City, MO$1,031/mo
13. 13Fresno, CA$1,042/mo
14. 14Corpus Christi, TX$1,044/mo
15. 15Columbus, OH$1,059/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).