City in Texas named number one place to live in the US on two key metrics
When it comes to deciding where to live, money is a huge factor for most people. GoBankingRates recently revealed the best city to live in depending on money.
A city in Texas was ranked the number one city in the country in terms of cost of living and affordability.
When it comes to deciding where to live, money is a huge factor for most people. GoBankingRates recently revealed the best city to live in based on factors relating to costliness.
For the report, the outlet sourced the 50 best places to live from the U.S. News & World Report's "250 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2025-2026” and determined each city's average monthly and yearly rent, thanks to data from Zillow.
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The outlet also included key details like each city’s annual expenses for other important factors, such as groceries, health care, utilities, and transportation, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey data points.
Finally, to determine the salary in each city, GoBankingRates followed Investopedia’s 50/30/20 budget rule, which suggests “you spend 50 percent of your budget on needs, 30 percent on wants, and 20 percent on your savings goal,” which included housing in the need category.
After reviewing all of this information, GoBankingRates ranked Lardeo, Texas, the most affordable city to live in the United States.
According to GoBakingRates, homeowners spend only $36,008, with the salary for homeowners at $72,015.
GoBankingRates also found the cost of renters to be a touch higher, at $36,888, and the salary to be higher, at $73,776.
McAllen, Texas, came in second place, with an annual cost of living for homeowners of $36,287 and an annual salary needed for homeowners of $72,574.
The annual cost of living expenses for renters was $38,742, and a higher salary is needed for renters, at $77,484.
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Moore, Oklahoma, came in at third, Midland, Michigan at fourth, and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma at fifth.
Here’s the top 50 most affordable cities to live in 2025-2026.
1 Laredo, Texas
2 McAllen, Texas
3 Moore, Oklahoma
4 Midland, Michigan
5 Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
6 Springdale, Arkansas
7 Saint Peters, Missouri
8 Eau Claire, Wisconsin
9 Sioux Falls, South Dakota
10 West Des Moines, Iowa
11 Saint Charles, Missouri
12 Bismarck, North Dakota
13 Ankeny, Iowa
14 Rogers, Arkansas
15 Edmond, Oklahoma
16 Idaho Falls, Idaho
17 Katy, Texas
18 League City, Texas
19 O’Fallon, Missouri
20 Noblesville, Indiana
21 Pearland, Texas
22 Pflugerville, Texas
23 Maple Grove, Minnesota
24 Fishers, Indiana
25 Round Rock, Texas
26 Hoover, Alabama
27 Troy, Michigan
28 Leander, Texas
29 Mansfield, Texas
30 Rochester Hills, Michigan
31 Sugar Land, Texas
32 Eden Prairie, Minnesota
33 Mckinney, Texas
34 Plymouth, Minnesota
35 Cedar Park, Texas
36 Hendersonville, Tennessee
37 Novi, Michigan
38 West Hartford, Connecticut
39 Huntersville, North Carolina
40 Carmel, Indiana
41 Apex, North Carolina
42 Cary, North Carolina
43 Flower Mound, Texas
44 Frisco, Texas $68,401
45 Johns Creek, Georgia
46 Alpharetta, Georgia
47 Ellicott City, Maryland
48 Bethesda, Maryland
49 Newton, Massachusetts
50 Sammamish, Washington
