Winston-Salem, N.C.
Median household income: $41,483
Average home price: $199,118
Home to Wake Forest University and Reynolds American cigarettes, Winston-Salem is one of the cheapest places to put a roof over your head, and a decent one at that. Most apartments rent for under $600 a month, and most homes sell for under $200,000.
Springfield, Ill.
Median household income: $47,209
Average home price: $210,673
Illinois’ capital enjoys drastically cheaper living costs than its Northern neighbor, Chicago. Most homes in Springfield sell for $150,000 less than homes in Chicago. Utilities also cost about 15 percent less than the national average.
Wichita Falls, Texas
Median household income: $40,670
Average home price: $264,000
While home prices are on the higher end in our list of cheap cities, the low unemployment rate offsets that, offering more income to mortgage payers. Grocery, gas and utility costs are 10 percent lower than the national average.
Pueblo, Colo.
Median household income: $34,323
Average home price: $196,330
A mere 100 miles out of Denver, Pueblo is an economic stronghold of Colorado — and still offers low cost housing. Most homes in Pueblo sell for $87,000 less than the national average. Plus, these homes come with views of national parks, forests and mountains.
Conway, Ark.
Median household income: $41,917
Average home price: $230,199
Just a half-hour drive from Little Rock, Conway is thousands of figurative miles away when you compare the living costs. Health care is very low in this riverside town, with a doctor’s visit costing 15 percent less than the national average.
Temple, Texas
Median household income: $47,240
Average home price: $206,602
While housing costs are more than $75,000 less than the national average, the household income for this city is the highest on this list. Groceries here are the cheapest of all our 10 cities and with the most doctors per capita in the U.S., medical costs run relatively low.
Fayetteville, Ark.
Median household income: $37,113
Average home price: $228,200
Nestled at the corners of Missouri and Oklahoma, Fayetteville is home to the University of Arkansas. The major school draws in employers, especially during football season, giving this city one of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S.
McAllen, Texas
Median household income: $39,547
Average home price: $178,000
McAllen is situated along the Rio Grande, making it a border town. That could explain why housing and grocery prices are among the lowest on our list. McAllen has one of the fastest-growing populations in the U.S.
Memphis, Tenn.
Median household income: $36,473
Average home price: $180,375
For those who want low living expenses but still like to be in a buzzing metropolitan area, Memphis is ideal as it’s one of the third-largest Southern cities. Fortunately, the big city — home to three Fortune 500 companies — does not come with big city prices.
Harlingen, TX
Median household income: $34,748
Average home price: $229,558
Another South Texas city makes our list with super-low living costs. Prices for groceries, transportation and healthcare are well below the national average, but there’s a catch: unemployment rates are in the double-digits.
