Cost of Living Guides and Rankings
Cost-of-living research is one of the strongest relocation entry points. Use state guides, city guides, and the calculator below to estimate how taxes and housing change across destinations.
Open the cost of living calculator to compare state tax drag and housing tradeoffs before moving.
Cheapest States by Median Rent
| # | State | Median Rent | Income Tax | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas | $950 | 0%-3.9% | State cost guide |
| 2 | Kentucky | $950 | 5%-6% | State cost guide |
| 3 | Oklahoma | $950 | 0.25%-4.75% | State cost guide |
| 4 | West Virginia | $950 | 3%-6.5% | State cost guide |
| 5 | Indiana | $1,000 | 3.23%-3.99% | State cost guide |
| 6 | Iowa | $1,000 | 4.4% | State cost guide |
| 7 | Kansas | $1,000 | 3.1%-5.58% | State cost guide |
| 8 | Mississippi | $1,000 | 0%-5% | State cost guide |
| 9 | Missouri | $1,000 | 1.5%-5.4% | State cost guide |
| 10 | Ohio | $1,000 | 0%-4.797% | State cost guide |
| 11 | Alabama | $1,050 | 2%-5% | State cost guide |
| 12 | South Dakota | $1,050 | 0% | State cost guide |
| 13 | Nebraska | $1,100 | 2.46%-6.84% | State cost guide |
| 14 | North Dakota | $1,100 | 1.1%-2.9% | State cost guide |
| 15 | New Mexico | $1,150 | 1.7%-5.9% | State cost guide |
Highest-Rent Cities in the Current Dataset
| City | State | Median Rent | Median Home Price | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspen | Colorado | $3,500 | $1,200,000 | View city guide |
| Greenwich | Connecticut | $3,500 | $1,800,000 | View city guide |
| New York City | New York | $3,500 | $1,000,000 | View city guide |
| Palo Alto | California | $3,500 | $2,500,000 | View city guide |
| San Francisco | California | $3,500 | $1,500,000 | View city guide |
| Wailea | Hawaii | $3,500 | $1,500,000 | View city guide |
| Hoboken | New Jersey | $3,400 | $900,000 | View city guide |
| Bethesda | Maryland | $3,000 | $950,000 | View city guide |
| Sunnyvale | California | $3,000 | $1,500,000 | View city guide |
| Honolulu | Hawaii | $2,900 | $1,000,000 | View city guide |
| Los Angeles | California | $2,900 | $950,000 | View city guide |
| Boston | Massachusetts | $2,800 | $700,000 | View city guide |
| Cambridge | Massachusetts | $2,800 | $1,200,000 | View city guide |
| Irvine | California | $2,800 | $1,000,000 | View city guide |
| Jersey City | New Jersey | $2,800 | $650,000 | View city guide |