Most affordable ZIP codes by state
Ranked by the SkaldMaps Cost of Living Index, lowest first. 100 is about the national level; lower values indicate lower estimated costs. Pick a state for its top ZIP codes.
How we rank lowest cost of living
The Cost of Living Index combines the local cost of everyday goods and services with the estimated cost of owning a typical listed home, including mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. These measures are combined and compared with a national baseline.
100 is about the national level. Below 100, a homebuyer's money goes further; above 100, it goes less far.
It reflects homes for sale today, not what current owners pay, so it needs listing data: ZIPs without enough listings are not ranked. It does not include income, so a low index does not mean local wages cover local costs.
Only ZIPs with at least 1,000 residents are ranked, so a handful of households cannot top the list. 18,969 U.S. ZIPs qualify.
U.S. ZIP codes ranked by lowest cost of living
1ZIP 62914Cairo
Illinois
- Cost of living index
- 53.4
- ZIP population
- ~2k
- Avg. temperature
- 60°F
- Avg. commute
- 35 min
2ZIP 38774Shelby
Mississippi
- Cost of living index
- 54.2
- ZIP population
- ~2k
- Avg. temperature
- 65°F
- Avg. commute
- 39 min
3ZIP 71103Shreveport
Louisiana
- Cost of living index
- 54.8
- ZIP population
- ~6k
- Avg. temperature
- 68°F
- Avg. commute
- 20 min
4ZIP 71109Shreveport
Louisiana
- Cost of living index
- 55.3
- ZIP population
- ~17k
- Avg. temperature
- 69°F
- Avg. commute
- 18 min
5ZIP 15901Johnstown
Pennsylvania
- Cost of living index
- 55.8
- ZIP population
- ~3k
- Avg. temperature
- 49°F
- Avg. commute
- 17 min
6ZIP 15722Carrolltown
Pennsylvania
- Cost of living index
- 56.0
- ZIP population
- ~2k
- Avg. temperature
- 49°F
- Avg. commute
- 24 min
| Rank | ZIP | City | State | Cost of living index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #7 | 71108 | Shreveport | Louisiana | 56.3 |
| #8 | 66756 | Arma | Kansas | 56.6 |
| #9 | 71038 | Haynesville | Louisiana | 57.4 |
| #10 | 36610 | Prichard | Alabama | 57.6 |
| #11 | 15942 | Johnstown | Pennsylvania | 57.7 |
| #12 | 36612 | Prichard | Alabama | 57.9 |
| #13 | 15906 | Johnstown | Pennsylvania | 58.2 |
| #14 | 66603 | Topeka | Kansas | 58.2 |
| #15 | 71101 | Shreveport | Louisiana | 58.2 |
| #16 | 39203 | Jackson | Mississippi | 58.7 |
| #17 | 15902 | Johnstown | Pennsylvania | 58.9 |
| #18 | 50585 | Sioux Rapids | Iowa | 58.9 |
| #19 | 71202 | Monroe | Louisiana | 58.9 |
| #20 | 71726 | Chidester | Arkansas | 58.9 |
| #21 | 73738 | Garber | Oklahoma | 59.1 |
| #22 | 25703 | Huntington | West Virginia | 59.2 |
| #23 | 62090 | Venice | Illinois | 59.3 |
| #24 | 44507 | Youngstown | Ohio | 59.6 |
| #25 | 62207 | Cahokia Heights | Illinois | 59.6 |
Choose a state
States are shaded by their population-weighted average cost of living index across ranked ZIPs; darker is higher. Hover a state for its value.
- AlabamaAvg. 84.0
- AlaskaAvg. 111.2
- ArizonaAvg. 109.7
- ArkansasAvg. 82.9
- CaliforniaAvg. 162.5
- ColoradoAvg. 121.7
- ConnecticutAvg. 128.2
- DelawareAvg. 104.5
- District of ColumbiaAvg. 126.0
- FloridaAvg. 108.7
- GeorgiaAvg. 99.7
- HawaiiAvg. 154.3
- IdahoAvg. 113.3
- IllinoisAvg. 103.6
- IndianaAvg. 87.1
- IowaAvg. 84.9
- KansasAvg. 89.6
- KentuckyAvg. 87.7
- LouisianaAvg. 80.0
- MaineAvg. 112.1
- MarylandAvg. 114.2
- MassachusettsAvg. 142.4
- MichiganAvg. 93.8
- MinnesotaAvg. 103.2
- MississippiAvg. 81.0
- MissouriAvg. 88.2
- MontanaAvg. 118.2
- NebraskaAvg. 91.9
- NevadaAvg. 108.7
- New HampshireAvg. 130.2
- New JerseyAvg. 137.6
- New MexicoAvg. 98.1
- New YorkAvg. 140.4
- North CarolinaAvg. 98.9
- North DakotaAvg. 92.9
- OhioAvg. 89.1
- OklahomaAvg. 82.8
- OregonAvg. 119.9
- PennsylvaniaAvg. 97.9
- Rhode IslandAvg. 123.6
- South CarolinaAvg. 95.7
- South DakotaAvg. 93.9
- TennesseeAvg. 98.9
- TexasAvg. 100.4
- UtahAvg. 118.6
- VermontAvg. 116.3
- VirginiaAvg. 114.7
- WashingtonAvg. 136.3
- West VirginiaAvg. 80.0
- WisconsinAvg. 99.6
- WyomingAvg. 111.2
Other research
Best ZIP codes for schools
Ranked by school quality index
- U.S. median ZIP
- 47.8
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 30.2 to 67.2
ZIP codes with the shortest commutes
Ranked by mean commute
- U.S. median ZIP
- 26.1 min
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 18.6 min to 35.1 min
Best healthcare access
Ranked by healthcare access score
- U.S. median ZIP
- 93.3
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 83.7 to 98.7
Best broadband coverage
Ranked by households with broadband
- U.S. median ZIP
- 89.9%
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 79.2% to 96.3%
Warmest ZIP codes
Ranked by avg. temperature
- U.S. median ZIP
- 54.9°F
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 46.5°F to 68.1°F