I live in San Francisco, which is one of the most expensive cities in America. I love it here and never really want to move. However, I do wonder what it would be like to live in a place where the cost of living is very inexpensive. Therefore, I’m curious about the least expensive cities in the US to live in. Do you have the same curiosity? Here are the top ten:
1. Huntsville, Alabama
This is a friendly place where it’s easy to get to know your neighbors. It’s also outdoorsy, has good higher education opportunities, and is ranked among the top five best places to live by US News and World Report. You might be surprised to learn that NASA has a strong history here and it’s a bit of a “nerdy” culture.
2. Fort Wayne, Indiana
This is a midsized Midwestern town. If you enjoy that kind of life, then it offers a lot at a low cost. It’s a family-friendly city. There’s been consistent growth and revitalization. However, there’s also a lot of history, here, and the city celebrates that.
3. Quad Cities, IA-IL
The quad cities are consists of Davenport-Bettendorf in Iowa and Moline-Rock Island in Illinois. Actually, technically there are five cities because Moline and East Moline are two different locations. If we count this area as one single city (even though it’s not), then it ranks third on the least expensive cities in the US to live in. Each of these cities has its own downtown area and points of interest such as casinos, river cruises, breweries, shopping, and nightlife areas. You’ll find that there’s a lot to do here and yet none of it costs very much at all.
4. Hickory, North Carolina
This is arguably one of the most beautiful of the cheapest places to live. With moderate weather and wonderful views, you can really enjoy the outdoors if you choose to live here. It’s situated just about an hour away from the bustle of Charlotte and the liberal influence of Asheville. Therfore, you have a lot of options for activity.
5. Des Moines, Iowa
This is the only state capital on this list of the top ten least expensive cities in the US to live in. In large cities, it often costs more to live in the downtown region and less to live out in the suburbs. However, it’s the opposite in this midwestern capital. If you want to live a downtown urban life, then Des Moines offers that a bit cheaper than its rural outlying areas cost.
6. Green Bay, Wisconsin
If you love football then you probably already know a lot about Green Bay! With that and the college influence of the city, this is a really interesting place to live. People who enjoy living in culturally thriving, unique communities might find this to be one of the best options among the cheapest cities to live.
7. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Similar to Green Bay, there’s a college influence here in Grand Rapids. If you love craft beer, an arts scene, and beautiful opportunities to enjoy nature, then this is a good city on the list to consider.
8. South Bend, Indiana
People often come here because it is home to the University of Notre Dame. Therefore, it has academic appeal. In recent years, there’s been a downtown revitalization that has breathed fresh life into the area. The cost of living here is low, so you can enjoy a lot of activities for just a little bit of cost.
9. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is an urban area that offers a lot of growth in terms of upcoming job opportunities across a wide range of industries. However, it also has a lot of parks and green space. Therefore, you get the best of both worlds in terms of nature and urban living.
10. Fayetteville, Arkansas
The University of Arkansas brings football, arts, and more to this area. There are also lots of opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy nature in moderate weather.
More of The Least Expensive Cities in the US to Live In
The information above comes from the US News and World Report on Most Affordable Places to Live in the U.S. in 2021-2022. However, there are different metrics that other sources use to figure out the least expensive cities in the US to live in. So, here are the top ten on two other lists:
American Home Shield List
AHS lists the top seven least expensive cities in the US to live in during 2022 as:
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Wichita Falls, Texas
- Tampa, Florida
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Clarksdale, Mississippi
- Norman, Oklahoma
Additionally, they provide information on the least expensive cities in the three most expensive states in the country:
- Hilo is the cheapest city if you want to live in Hawaii.
- If you want to live in California, then your cheapest option is Fresno.
- And if you want to live in New York, then your cheapest city is Buffalo.
CNBC List
CNBC reports that the 2022 ten least expensive cities in the US to live are:
- Sioux, South Dakota
- Reno, Nevada
- Provo, Utah
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Huntsville, Alabama
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Ogden, Utah
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Spartanburg, South Carolina
Finding the Best Place to Live
As you can see, different criteria can lead us to rank lists differently. In fact, there is very little crossover on any of these lists. Huntsville, Alabama is the only one that shows up on two different lists. However, cities close to one another in various states do show up on different lists. Therefore, if you’re looking seriously to move to one of the least expensive cities in the US, then your best bet might be to look at the cost of living in each state first. After all, if you find one of the cheapest states to live in, then you can explore the best cities for you within that state.
As for me, I love San Francisco too much to move right now. However, when I review my budget, I do keep this cost of living in mind!
Read More:
- 3 Cities You Should Consider Moving to For Cheaper Housing
- What City Has the Lowest Property Taxes in Georgia?
- How to Retire Well in Texas
Come back to what you love! Dollardig.com is the most reliable cash-back site on the web. Just sign up, click, shop, and get full cashback!
Kathryn Vercillo is a professional writer who loves to live a balanced life. She appreciates a good work-life balance. She enjoys balance in her relationships and has worked hard to learn how to balance her finances to allow for a balanced life overall. Although she’s only blonde some of the time, she’s always striving for total balance. She’s excited to share what she’s learned with you and to discover more together along the way.
Comments