3 Cheapest Places to Live in the U.S.
The cost of living is super-low in these three cities.
Looking for the most affordable cities in America? Start your search in Texas. The Lone Star State is home to the two cheapest places to live in the U.S. But before you pack your bags, weigh the pros and cons that come with such super-low living costs.
1. McAllen, Texas
City Population: 140,269
Cost of Living: 23.7% below U.S. average
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Median Household Income: $44,254 (U.S.: $53,889)
Median Home Value: $115,400 (U.S.: $178,600)
Average Monthly Rent: $629 (U.S.: $1,004)
Unemployment Rate: 7.8% (U.S.: 4.9%)
Highlight: Quinta Mazatlan birding center
2. Harlingen, Texas
City Population: 65,774
Cost of Living: 20.6% below U.S. average
Median Household Income: $34,466 (U.S.: $53,889)
Median Home Value: $80,600 (U.S.: $178,600)
Average Monthly Rent: $662 (U.S.: $1,004)
Unemployment Rate: 7.2% (U.S.: 4.9%)
Highlight: A short drive to South Padre Island
3. Kalamazoo, Mich.
City Population: 76,041
Cost of Living: 20.0% below U.S. average
Median Household Income: $33,009 (U.S.: $53,889)
Median Home Value: $96,600 (U.S.: $178,600)
Average Monthly Rent: $671 (U.S.: $1,004)
Unemployment Rate: 4.2% (U.S.: 4.9%)
Highlight: Western Michigan University
See the full list of the cheapest U.S. cities to live in.
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Dan is a veteran of MarketWatch, CBS MoneyWatch, SmartMoney, InvestorPlace, DailyFinance and others, before joining Kiplinger in 2016. He has written for The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and Consumer Reports and his stories have appeared in the New York Daily News, Investor's Business Daily and more. Dan reported from the New York Stock Exchange floor as a senior writer at AOL's DailyFinance.
Once upon a time, he worked for Spy magazine and Time Inc., and contributed to Maxim when lad mags were a thing.
Dan holds a bachelor's degree from Oberlin College and a master's degree from Columbia University.
Disclosure: Dan does not trade individual stocks or securities. He is eternally long the U.S equity market, primarily through tax-advantaged accounts.