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MoveMap's cost of living index comes from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data: housing costs (median rent and home values), median household income, and metro-area economic indicators. A score below 100 means cheaper than the national average.

All data comes from official U.S. government sources: the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) for income and housing data, NOAA for climate and weather records, and BLS for employment statistics. Data covers 530 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) across all 50 states.

Mid-sized metros in the South and Midwest consistently rank as the most affordable, including areas in Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and West Virginia. Housing costs (the largest component) drive most of the difference. Use the Most Affordable rankings to see the current top cities.

Use the Compare tool (available from the homepage or any city page) to pick two metros. You'll see cost of living, median household income, housing costs, weather, and population trends for both cities side by side.

Low housing costs (rent and home prices) are the biggest factor, but income levels matter too. A city with low costs but also low wages may not actually be more livable. MoveMap shows both sides so you can evaluate the real purchasing power in each metro.

MoveMap covers metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. These include the core city and surrounding counties. Fully rural counties outside any MSA are not included, as comparable data across all metrics is not available for those areas.