The 10 cheapest places to live in the US

The best cities for jobs, housing affordability, quality of life, and career opportunities are not all located in the same region. Cities with high-paying job opportunities might be outside your preferred climate or cost of living area. Even if you’re willing to relocate for the right job, you might have friends or family that need you close by.

Thinking about moving to another city? Here are the cheapest places to live in the U.S. To help you narrow down your search, we compiled data on 182 different cities and ranked them based on cost of living, housing costs, and amenities like restaurants and parks per capita. Check out these 10 places and see if any of them might be a great new home for you!

10. Lakeland, FL

Lakeland, FL, is a city that sits in the middle of Florida’s citrus belt. Visitors to this city can take in world-class art at the Polk Museum of Art, visit the Civil War-era Historic Inverness, or take a walk through the tree-lined campus of the University of South Florida.

The average cost of living in Lakeland is approximately 10% cheaper than the national average, and the average salary for workers in the city is just over $40,000 per year. Lakeland is a safe city, with a crime index of 41, and the average home price is $161,500.

Despite being close to the Gulf Coast, Lakeland has a subtropical climate, has a high average relative humidity, and a very high average number of cloudy days per year. Lakeland has a strong arts and cultural scene, with a high number of museums, public libraries, and professional sports teams (including the Lakeland Tropics, a soccer team).

9 McAllen, TX

McAllen, Texas, is located just south of the Rio Grande and sits in the center of one of America’s richest agricultural regions. There are a number of great parks in the city, including the Hidalgo Park, the McAllen Botanical Garden, and the Ed Whitacre Wildlife Sanctuary.

The average cost of living in McAllen is about 7% cheaper than the national average, and the average annual salary is just under $40,000. McAllen has a crime index of 47, which is on par with the national average. McAllen’s average home price is $153,500.

Because McAllen is close to the Mexican border, there are a number of great restaurants that specialize in authentic Latin American cuisine, including Mango’s Tropical Café and Cantina, The Original Mexican Restaurant, and El Sombrero. McAllen is also close to the Rio Grande Valley, which serves as a hub for ecotourism in the area.

8. akron, OH

Akron, Ohio, is a city that is largely defined by its industrial heritage. Akron is home to the Goodyear Blimp, Stan Hywus, Akron Children’s Hospital, and the Akron Global Business Accelerator. The average cost of living in Akron is about 7% cheaper than the national average, and the average salary for workers in the city is just over $39,000 per year.

Akron’s average home price is $131,000. Akron has a crime index of 35, which is significantly lower than the national average. Akron is a very walkable city, and has a high number of restaurants and bars per capita. The city is also home to the Akron-Canton Regional Airport, which has non-stop flights to 10 major cities, including New York City and Chicago.

7. Boise, ID

Boise, Idaho, is a large city that is surrounded by a number of amazing outdoor spaces. The city is home to the Boise Art Museum, the Morrison Nature Center, the Boise Philharmonic, and the Boise State University campus. The average cost of living in Boise is 14% cheaper than the national average, and the average salary for workers in the city is just under ,000 per year.

The average home price in Boise is $221,000. Boise has a crime index of 33, which is significantly lower than the national average. Boise also has an excellent climate year-round, with an average number of cloudy days per year at just 95. There are a number of excellent parks in Boise, including the Julia F. Wallace Wildflower Garden and Arboretum, the Bogus Basin Recreation Area, and the Ann and Wendell Salmon Riverbank Park.

6. El Paso, TX

El Paso, Texas, sits at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. The city is home to a number of incredible outdoor spaces, including the El Paso Nature Center, the El Paso Museum of Art, and the Border Climbing and Hiking Trail. The average cost of living in El Paso is 7% cheaper than the national average, and the average annual salary is just under $40,000 per year.

El Paso has a crime index of 46, which is slightly above the national average. El Paso’s average home price is $144,000. El Paso has a subtropical desert climate, with an average number of cloudy days per year of 155. El Paso’s economy was traditionally dominated by the military and agriculture.

Now, the city has become a hub for healthcare and trade with Mexico, and is home to a number of major companies, including United Airlines, J.C. Penny, and Border Health.

5. Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas, Nevada, is one of the most recognizable cities in America. The city is home to a number of major attractions, including the Las Vegas Strip, the Hoover Dam, and the Ethel M Botanical Cactus Gardens. The average cost of living in Las Vegas is about 19% cheaper than the national average.

The average annual salary in Las Vegas is just under $40,000 per year. The average home price in Las Vegas is $264,000. Las Vegas has a crime index of 45. Las Vegas has an arid climate, with an average number of cloudy days per year of 149 and very low annual precipitation. The city is also incredibly sunny, with an average yearly number of sunny days per year at 266.

4. Reno, NV

Reno, Nevada, sits at the foothills of the Sierra Mountains. The city is home to a number of incredible outdoor spaces, including the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, the National Automobile Museum, and the Great Basin National Park. The average cost of living in Reno is about 10% cheaper than the national average.

The average annual salary in Reno is $45,000. Reno has a very low crime index of 29, which is significantly lower than the national average. The average home price in Reno is $295,000. Reno has a desert climate, with an average yearly number of cloudy days per year of 147 and an average yearly number of sunny days per year of just 103.

3. Tucson, AZ

Tucson, Arizona, is located in the Sonoran Desert. The town is home to a number of incredible outdoor spaces, including the Saguaro National Park, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and the Canyon de Tucson, which is a canyon that has been cut off from the rest of the river system by the Rio Grande. The average cost of living in Tucson is about 16% cheaper than the national average.

The average annual salary in Tucson is $43,000. Tucson has a crime index of 33, which is significantly lower than the national average. Tucson’s average home price is $238,000. Tucson has a desert climate, with an average yearly number of cloudy days per year of 130 and an average yearly number of sunny days per year of just 187.

2. Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis, Indiana, is a large city that has a very small-town feel. The city is home to a number of incredible museums, including the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, and the Indianapolis Zoo.

Indianapolis has a cost of living that is 10% cheaper than the national average. The average annual salary in Indianapolis is $43,000. Indianapolis has a crime index of 30, which is significantly lower than the national average. The average home price in Indianapolis is $120,000.

Indianapolis has a humid subtropical climate, with an average yearly number of cloudy days per year of 104 and an average yearly number of sunny days per year of 211.

1. Atlanta, GA

Atlanta, Georgia, is a bustling city that is full of culture. The city is home to a number of incredible outdoor spaces, including