Sunday, July 14, 2019

The Most Affordable U.S. Cities to Live In

Fed Up With NYC & San Francisco? We Don't Blame You

It goes without saying that the cost of living in the U.S. has never been higher – if you live in a city like LA or New York City, you’re probably no stranger to paying upwards of $3,000 for your apartment, and while politicians are doing their best to ensure all Americans receive a livable wage, in the meantime, it can be tough to cover day-to-day expenses, especially when living in an expensive, big city.
If you’re able to pick up and move to a new city – if you work remotely or you’re in an industry that you could pick up wherever you are, it can be tempting to leave the big, expensive city life for a more affordable cost of living elsewhere. In fact, freeing up that extra income can help you get ahead and plan for the future, even if that means eventually moving back to your city of choice.
RELATED: How to Ask for a Raise (and Actually Get It)
According to U.S. News & World Report, and GOBankingRates, these are the metropolises that are the most affordable in terms of real estate, median annual salary and percentage of income spent on living expenses. According to various reports, citizens can live comfortably while making $50,000 per year. Here, the most affordable metros in the U.S. – from unapologetic big cities to cities with a more small town feel.

Louisville, Kentucky


Louisville, KentuckyGettyImages
With a median annual salary of $45,100, Louisville residents reportedly spend 21.1% of their household income on living expenses. This means that they’re able to dedicate more of their income on classic Kentucky activities or travel to big city neighbors like Nashville or Cincinnati. Incidentally, Louisville was also ranked 64th on the list of Best Places 2019 according to U.S. News & World Report.

Buffalo, New York


Buffalo, New YorkGettyImages
Sick of life in the city but not ready to totally abandon New York? Head upstate to Buffalo. Tucked along the Canadian border at Lake Erie, this Northern town has a median annual salary of $48,180 and residents spend about 21% of their income on living expenses. Buffalo ranked 52 on the list of Best Places 2019, largely due to its low cost of living and proximity to jaw-dropping natural attractions like Niagara Falls.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana


Baton Rouge, LouisianaGettyImages
Yes, Baton Rouge is a surprisingly affordable place to call home. With a median annual salary of $44,500, residents only spend about 20% of their annual income on living expenses. The city has a very strong economy and was rated as one of the "Top 10 Places for Young Adults" in 2010 by portfolio.com. The city was also called one of the best places in the country to start a new business by CNN, due to this strong economic upswing.

Indianapolis, Indiana


Indianapolis, IndianaGettyImages
Unlike Indiana as a whole, Indianapolis is well known for its financial services, insurance, and pharmaceutical industry, which paves the way for its strong economy. Indianapolis residents spend just 20% of their income on living expenses and need just $40,726.80 to live comfortably (though the median income is about $10K more than that per year).

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGettyImages
Located in the Western part of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh is a great option for NYC-dwellers to escape the bustle of the city while enjoying a much more affordable cost of living. A six hour drive from its big city counterparts, Pittsburgh ranks 50th on the Best Places 2019 list. The main reasons for its economic upswing include the shift away from steel and toward high technology, robotics, and nuclear engineering.

Phoenix, Arizona


Phoenix, ArizonaGettyImages
Anyone who has been to Phoenix could see the appeal of living there – the dry heat, sweeping mountain views, and proximity to neighbouring Nevada and California are big selling features. But Phoenix residents also benefit from a considerably low cost of living. Residents only need to earn about $48,628.96 annually to live comfortably in the city, but that’s positioned to change as Arizona grows – so if the desert is calling you, go, now!

Detroit, Michigan


Detroit, MichiganGettyImages
It’s well known that the loss of the industrial and auto industry hit Detroit hard. The largest U.S. city to ever file for bankruptcy protection has since seen significantly lower unemployment rates (even lower than the national average these days) and the economy is only growing, with several major corporations based in the city, including three Fortune 500 companies. Residents need just $34,808 annually to live comfortably, with a one-bedroom apartment running around $600 per month.

Las Vegas, Nevada


Las Vegas, NevadaGettyImages
Living in Las Vegas may seem unimaginable to an outsider, but there’s a lot more than goes on in the city outside of The Strip. While the big economic draw in Vegas is tourism and gaming, there are handfuls of other major corporations based in the city, including Zappos and Allegiant Airlines. Residents will need $43,454.96 annually to live comfortably in Las Vegas.

Memphis, Tennessee


Memphis, TennesseeGettyImages
If you’re just starting out or on a budget, Memphis is a great alternative to neighboring Nashville. The city is just as music-focused as its bigger city counterpart, but residents will need around $42,260.16 to live comfortably, so if you love the music industry, this may be a great alternative. Due to its central geographic location, the main economic draw in Memphis is the transportation and shipping industry, specifically serving as a primary hub for FedEx and other Fortune 500 companies such as AutoZone and International Paper.

San Antonio, Texas


San Antonio, TexasGettyImages
San Antonio is the oldest municipality in Texas, and while the cost of living is currently low, GOBankingRates researchers expect it to rise significantly in the near future. For now, residents need just $43,460.40 to live comfortably in the city, with big employers including the military (the largest local economic draw), health care, government, and financial services.
You Might Also Dig: