Where does your
dollar go furthest?
Compare cost of living across 387 U.S. metros and 51 states using the official BEA Regional Price Parities — the federal benchmark for what a dollar actually buys across all 50 states.
- Metro areas
- 387
- States covered
- 51
- Cost spread
- 84 – 116
- Source
- BEA RPP
Cost-of-Living Choropleth — Browse by State
PlainCost's signature US choropleth visualization: each state color-coded by overall RPP. Cooler tones = below national average (cheaper); warmer tones = above (more expensive). Tap any state to see its metro breakdown.
- Cheap (RPP <90)
- Below avg (90-100)
- Above avg (100-110)
- Expensive (≥110)
Learn & Explore
Go beyond the data with our in-depth guides on cost of living, salary negotiation, and making the most of RPP data.
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
The most affordable metro areas in the US ranked by BEA Regional Price Parities, including housing and services.
How to Use RPP Data in Salary Negotiations
Use Regional Price Parity data to make a data-driven case for your salary in relocation or remote work discussions.
Comparing Metro Areas: A Practical Walkthrough
Step-by-step guide to using the BEA RPP breakdown for an honest cost comparison between two metros.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does PlainCost get its cost of living data?
All data comes from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities (RPP), which measures price level differences across U.S. metropolitan areas relative to the national average.
What are Regional Price Parities?
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes that measure cost differences between metro areas. An RPP of 110 means prices are 10% above the national average, while 90 means 10% below. They cover goods, services, and housing.
Is PlainCost free?
Yes, PlainCost is completely free. You can look up cost of living data for any of our 387 metro areas, use salary relocation calculators, and compare cities without any account or payment.
How can I use PlainCost for a job relocation?
Use our salary relocation pages to see how your current salary translates to equivalent purchasing power in a different city. This accounts for differences in housing, goods, and services costs based on BEA data.
Related Guides
Editorial context for the plaincost dataset — methodology, comparisons, and deep dives into the underlying records.
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026: Official BEA Data
In-depth guide with context and practical steps.
Comparing Metro Areas: A Guide to BEA Cost-of-Living Data
In-depth guide with context and practical steps.
Cost of Living vs Wages: Where Your Dollar Goes Furthest
In-depth guide with context and practical steps.
Rankings & Comparisons
See where every metro stands on the BEA's price index — overall, rents, services, and goods. Each ranking page lists the top 100 metros with full RPP breakdown.
Most Expensive US Metros
Top 100 most expensive metropolitan statistical areas by overall BEA Regional Price Parity, 2024 data. Rent component breakdown included.
RankingsCheapest US Metros
Most affordable U.S. metros, where the BEA index sits well below the national average. Each entry shows full goods/services/rents breakdown.
RankingsHighest Rent Metros
U.S. metros ranked by BEA RPP-Rents component. Cross-referenced with HUD Fair Market Rent for federal context.