August 4, 2026
Just Moved In? Here’s How To Get To Know Your Neighbors
Moving into a new place brings a rush of emotions — excitement about a fresh start, anticipation for what’s ahead and, if you’re hon...
It feels like rent keeps climbing, groceries cost more and your paycheck is sprinting for the exit a little earlier every month. Rising housing costs and inflation have pushed the cost of living in America steadily upward and you may be one of the many people wondering if it’s smart to relocate for a lower cost of living.
For some people, the answer is a confident yes. For others, the process is a little more nuanced. This guide walks through the decision-making process, highlights some of the most affordable places to live and shares practical tips for moving to a new city and finding affordable housing.
A lower price tag does not automatically translate into a better financial outcome. If you’d like to relocate for a lower cost of living, run your situation through these four filters before you commit.
Salaries tend to be lower in more affordable regions, so the real question is how your pay will compare to local prices. If you will need to find work after the move, study the job market in your target metro first. Browse job postings in your field, note the salary ranges being offered and compare typical wages for your role in each area.
Taxes can play a big part in affordability. Some states skip income tax entirely but make up the difference with higher property taxes or sales taxes. Texas, for example, has no income tax but relies on one of the highest property tax rates in the country.
If you plan to buy a home, look up rates on the county assessor’s website before you fall in love with a listing, since property taxes can shape your monthly financial obligations. You’ll also want to keep in mind that renters feel these costs too, because landlords typically fold them into the rent.
If your affordability plan depends on remote work, consider a return-to-office (RTO) mandate as a potential risk. In 2025 and 2026, major employers, including Amazon, JPMorgan Chase and Meta, announced full-time in-office requirements.
Get your company’s remote work policy in writing and pay attention to how your industry is trending with regard to RTO orders. And if your employer has even hinted at a return-to-office policy, factor in commute time when making your relocation decision. Moving to a city with no local office presence could force a difficult choice down the road.
Ultimately, a smart hedge is to choose a metro with local employers in your field, so you have options if needed.
Long-distance moves are notoriously expensive, especially once you consider movers, packing supplies, security deposits, overlapping rent and time away from work. So ask yourself whether every piece truly deserves a seat on the truck. Selling or donating heavy items before you leave can save money on both ends of the move. Or skip the haul entirely by renting from CORT Furniture Rental in your new city.
Cheaper on paper does not always mean cheaper in practice and cities with the lowest cost of living do not always offer the strongest wages or services. Watch for these three blind spots.
An affordable area with limited transit usually means one car per adult. Owning a new car can easily cost more than $12,000 per year once you count payments, insurance, fuel and maintenance. If you are leaving a walkable city, that expense can eat a surprising share of your housing savings.
Many employers adjust pay by geography, so a remote salary can shrink when you change your address and local offers may come in lower than you expect. Run the numbers in advance before assuming your paycheck will feel twice as big.
Smaller metros sometimes come with fewer specialists, longer wait times and slower internet speeds. Look up nearby hospital ratings, confirm broadband speeds at your exact address and consider how far you will be from a major airport if you travel often.
Here are 10 relatively affordable cities with distinct lifestyle profiles; you can find more options in our guide to the least expensive cities in the U.S.
Des Moines pairs a healthy job market, anchored by insurance and financial services, with housing prices well below the national average, short commutes and famously family-friendly neighborhoods.
Cost of living: about 17% lower than the national average.
El Paso offers a vibrant border-city culture, year-round sunshine, easy access to the Chihuahuan Desert and a steady job market anchored by Fort Bliss and a growing healthcare sector — all with no state income tax and housing costs far below the national median.
Cost of living: about 16% lower than the national average.
Knoxville sits at the doorstep of the Great Smoky Mountains and offers low housing prices, no state income tax and a mild climate that keeps energy costs manageable.
Cost of living: about 14% lower than the national average.
Low housing costs, a strong manufacturing and aviation sector and a tight-knit community with a surprisingly vibrant food scene.
Cost of living: about 13% lower than the national average.
Memphis punches well above its weight on culture, with a world-famous music heritage, a growing logistics and healthcare job market, and housing costs that make homeownership just a little more attainable for middle-income earners. Tennessee’s lack of a state income tax adds to the financial case.
Cost of living: about 10% lower than the national average.
Huntsville pairs some of the most reasonably priced real estate in the South with a booming aerospace and defense sector. It is a smart pick for engineers who want big career upside at a small price.
Cost of living: about 9% lower than the national average.
San Antonio delivers big-city amenities, a rich food and cultural scene and a deep supply of affordable housing, with home prices well below the national median and no state income tax to boot.
Cost of living: about 9% lower than the national average.
Green Bay offers some of the Midwest’s most affordable housing, along with a strong sense of community that is hard to replicate. The bay and nearby trails keep outdoor lovers busy year-round.
Cost of living: roughly 8% lower than the national average.
Fort Wayne has earned its reputation as one of the Midwest’s best cities for stretching a salary, with a diverse manufacturing and healthcare economy, a revitalized downtown and home prices well below the national median.
Cost of living: about 7% lower than the national average.
Pittsburgh has become one of America’s most affordable major metros in 2026, with a growing tech and healthcare economy anchored by Carnegie Mellon University and UPMC, walkable neighborhoods and a median home price of around $250,000 — less than half of what comparable homes cost in coastal metros. For buyers in particular, the housing value here is hard to match.
Cost of living: about 2% lower than the national average, with housing costs significantly below the national median.
Whether you’re drawn to a big-city feel on a budget or a quieter, slower-paced lifestyle, there’s likely an affordable market that closely fits your preference (no place is perfect after all) — and moving to a new city for affordable living doesn’t have to mean compromising on quality of life.
The most successful affordable home relocations reward the planners. Do this homework before you commit.
Before signing a lease, spend time researching neighborhoods. Visit your target city in person and explore different areas at different times of day to gauge noise, traffic and overall quality of life.
Renting for the first year may also be a smart way to learn a market before you buy, so study listings on a site like ApartmentSearch by CORT to understand typical rents, lease terms and how quickly units move.
Build a cushion covering at least 3 months of expenses, since deposits, utility setup and unexpected costs add up early. Choosing an affordable city to live in is only half the work. Settling in comfortably, without draining the savings you moved to protect, is the other half.
Moving to a more affordable city is a smart financial decision, and keeping moving costs low is part of that equation. Rather than paying to ship furniture across state lines, CORT Furniture Rental makes it easy to arrive and settle in with stylish, comfortable pieces delivered and set up for you. Furnish your whole place your way, from sofas and sectionals to bedroom furniture to complete Move-In Ready packages.
With flexible rental options and no long-term commitment required, you can focus on getting established in your new city. Get started online or visit a CORT showroom near you.
