Cost of Living Comparison – Where Your Money Stretches Further

Thinking about moving but not sure which city lets you keep more cash? Below you’ll find a quick rundown of the cheapest spots to live in the US, how rent varies, and what building a new home might cost you. We’ve pulled data from our own guides so you get real numbers, not guesswork.

Cheapest Regions for Rent and Daily Expenses

Virginia’s Southside and Southwest regions consistently appear at the bottom of the cost‑of‑living ladder. In towns like Danville or Bristol, you can find a 2‑bedroom apartment for under $800 a month, and groceries are about 10‑15% cheaper than the national average. If you prefer the South‑West, places like Abilene, Texas, also rank low on rent, with many units under $700.

Looking farther west, Texas overall still feels cheap compared to coastal states. Our "Is it Cheap to Rent in Texas?" guide breaks down city‑by‑city numbers: Austin tops the price list, while smaller markets such as Lubbock or Amarillo stay well below $900 for a decent two‑bedroom. The key is to avoid the big metro hubs where demand drives everything up.

Home‑Building Costs and Buying Power

If you’re thinking about building rather than renting, the cost per square foot varies a lot. In Tennessee, a 3,000 sq ft house in 2025 runs around $250,000‑$300,000, depending on land price and finishes. That’s roughly $85‑$100 per square foot, which is lower than the national average of $120. Compare that to West Virginia, where one acre can be bought for as little as $2,000‑$3,000 in some counties, giving you cheap land to build on.

California and New York are still the expensive outliers – even a modest 1,000 sq ft home can top $400,000 once you add permits and fees. So if your budget is tight, look for states where both land and labor costs stay low.

Another tip: keep an eye on the 5‑year lifetime rule for tax‑advantaged accounts. Using a Roth IRA to fund a down payment can give you a tax break that makes a pricey market a little more affordable.

Bottom line: the cheapest places to live are usually outside the big tech corridors, where rent is low and building costs stay modest. Use the data from our guides – Virginia Southside, Southwest Texas, and rural Tennessee – as a starting point and match them against your job market and lifestyle preferences. A little research can save you thousands each year, giving you more freedom to enjoy the home you choose.