With nearly half of Americans planning a move to reduce living expenses, according to a new study, many will be targeting cheaper towns. Move.org researched rent prices, utility costs, gas prices, and internet rates in the 75 largest U.S. cities to find the most affordable areas in the country. They identified the following 15 cities as having the lowest cost of living, factoring in average utilities, internet, monthly gas, rent for a one-bedroom apartment, and food per person:
- El Paso, Texas: $1,324.02
- Wichita, Kan.: $1,393.44
- Lincoln, Neb.: $1,422.53
- Tucson, Ariz.: $1,498.35
- Lexington, Ky.: $1,499.59
- Albuquerque, N.M.: $1,508.80
- Corpus Christi, Texas: $1,537.77
- Mesa, Ariz.: $1,564.68
- Louisville, Ky.: $1,618.42
- Omaha, Neb.: $1,621.62
- Memphis, Tenn.: $1,658.28
- Greensboro, N.C.: $1,675.69
- Tulsa, Okla.: $1,691.71
- Virginia Beach, Va.: $1,731.65
- Plano, Texas: $1,752.63
On the other hand, the five cities with the highest cost of living in the U.S. are:
- San Francisco: ($4,315.77)
- New York: ($4,178.78)
- Oakland, Calif.: ($3,644.78)
- Boston: ($3,426.47)
- San Jose, Calif. ($3,416.14)
Seven of the top 15 most expensive cities in the U.S. are in California.
Source: “U.S. Cities With the Lowest Cost of Living,” Move.org (Nov. 10, 2020)
