Cheapest US Cities to Live In

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

1. 1Charleston, WV$668/mo
2. 2Green Bay, WI$730/mo
3. 3Cleveland, OH$732/mo
4. 4Detroit, MI$752/mo
5. 5Wichita, KS$761/mo
6. 6Evansville, IN$768/mo
7. 7Springfield, MO$772/mo
8. 8Fort Wayne, IN$782/mo
9. 9Las Cruces, NM$793/mo
10. 10Fargo, ND$804/mo
11. 11El Paso, TX$816/mo
12. 12Jackson, MS$816/mo
13. 13Cincinnati, OH$817/mo
14. 14Cheyenne, WY$824/mo
15. 15Bowling Green, KY$833/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).