Inflation may be cooling off, but it's still incredibly expensive to live in the US. Even the cost of partaking in everyday activities, like grabbing coffee or shopping for clothes, remains high.
One solution? Move. People looking for a more affordable life often migrate to smaller states like Oklahoma and Tennessee. Expensive states like California, meanwhile, are continuing to lose residents to less pricey spots in Florida and Texas.
Living in a larger city in a smaller state — particularly in the South or Midwest, where the cost of living tends to be more reasonable — may give you the best of both worlds.
Each quarter, the Council for Community and Economic Research, a nonprofit focused on regional economic development, compares the cost of living in more than 300 American cities and metropolitan areas to calculate which are the most and least affordable. Its Cost of Living Index looks at the average price of different necessities, including rent, home prices, groceries, gas, medical appointments, entertainment, and more.
Take the cost of a beer and a burger: That'll be easier on your wallet in some cities in Illinois and Georgia.
Read on for the 17 cheapest cities to live in the US, listed in order from most to least expensive.