The 6 U.S. Cities Where Your Paycheck Goes the Furthest

These cities offer an affordable lifestyle with relatively high wages

Reviewed by Marguerita Cheng
Fact checked by Kirsten Rohrs Schmitt

Considering a move? When it comes to finances, you’re likely thinking about two things: what you can earn, and what living there will cost. Unfortunately, they’re often linked: as one rises, so does the other. Fat paychecks in New York City and San Francisco translate into $25 salads for lunch and $2500-to-$3000-a-month rent checks for a shoebox-sized apartment.

This isn’t the case everywhere. We’ve compiled a list of the best cities in the United States that combine a low cost of living with a relatively high income potential.

Key Takeaways

• Detroit and Cleveland are two strong options in the Midwest, with median home prices hovering around $200,000.
• Houston’s economy boasts job growth in information technology, biomedicine, and aeronautics.
• In Dallas, wages outpace the area’s relatively low cost of living.
• Low housing prices are a big draw for Charlotte, North Carolina, which has become one of the leading financial and banking centers in the United States.
• Denver is known for its quality of life, natural beauty, and stable economy with job growth in technology, telecommunications, and energy.

1. Detroit, Michigan

Dubbed “The Motor City”, Detroit is possibly the most affordable big city in the nation. Like our second pick, Cleveland, Detroit has been transformed with strategic investments and attracts transplants from all over the country, especially those who hail from higher cost-of-living areas. It is a cultural powerhouse and offers an arguably unbeatable value.

The median sold home price in Wayne county is $195,000, according to Realtor.com. According to MIT’s Living Wage calculator, a typical annual salary in Wayne county for a management job is $119,010 and $90,400 for a computer / mathematical job. This rivals Austin, Texas, where those salaries are $119,540 and $98,210, respectively.

2. Cleveland, Ohio

This lakefront city in Northeast Ohio offers excellent livability, and its smaller sister city to the south, Akron, punches above its weight. (Just ask LeBron James.) The area is home to a new wave of workers who vary from artistic types to tech-savvy millennials to corporate employees. A massive revitalization effort has transformed the city with a lively array of theaters, art galleries, and restaurants. Its sports teams garner international attention, and its Playhouse Square is the second-largest theater district in the country. Cuyahoga county had job growth of 5.0% in 2022.

Realtor.com reports that the median sold home price in Cuyahoga county is $204,000. MIT’s Living Wage calculator states that a typical annual salary in Cuyahoga county for a management job is $114,240 and $92,050 for a computer / mathematical job.

3. Houston, Texas

Houston offers a strong transportation system, affordable housing, and low prices of common consumer goods.

According to MIT’s Living Wage calculator, a typical annual salary in Harris county for a management job is $119,540 and $98,210 for a computer / mathematical job.

The median sold home price in Harris county is $315,000, according to Realtor.com.

4. Dallas, Texas

In the “Big D”, everything is bigger: the boots, the hair, the monthly savings. Like Houston, Dallas benefits from high net domestic migration and a nonexistent state income tax.

MIT’s Living Wage calculator states that a typical annual salary in Dallas county for a management job is $119,540 and $98,210 for a computer / mathematical job.

The median sold home price in Dallas county is $356,300, according to Realtor.com.

5. Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte may seem off the beaten path to some, but to North Carolinians and Southerners who’ve grown up loving the city, a move here seems like a no-brainer. Charlotte is a major U.S. financial center and is the headquarters of Bank of America. Other major industries include motorsports and energy. The city is home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and boasts its own NFL football team, the Carolina Panthers.

According to MIT’s Living Wage calculator, a typical annual salary in Mecklenburg county for a management job is $126,640 and $104,530 for a computer / mathematical job.

The median sold home price in Mecklenburg county is $461,000, according to Realtor.com.

6. Denver, Colorado

Denver is a gorgeous, relatively quiet city situated in the mountains. Downtown is a short half-hour drive from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Many beautiful, smaller towns are in the region, where people can hike with their dogs and families free of charge.

MIT’s Living Wage calculator states that a typical annual salary in Denver county for a management job is $149,300 and $116,620 for a computer / mathematical job.

The median sold home price in Denver county is $600,000, according to Realtor.com.

In addition to high wages, Colorado offers a high quality of life which continues to attract lovers of nature and adventure.

How Do Housing Costs in Charlotte Compare to New York?

Median home costs are 43% lower in Charlotte compared to New York City.

How Does the Cost of Living in Dallas Compare to Los Angeles?

In a 2025 cost of living comparison between Dallas and Los Angeles, you would need an income of $7,852.50 per month in Los Angeles, California, to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $4,500 per month in Dallas, Texas. The cost of living in Los Angeles is 74.5% higher than in Dallas. The most significant differences between the two cities are home prices, which are 209% higher in Los Angeles than in Dallas.

What Jobs Are in Houston?

While Houston is well-known as a major oil town, the city has seen job growth in a variety of sectors, including information technology, biomedicine, aeronautics, and manufacturing.

The Bottom Line

High salaries typically coincide with a relatively high cost of living. This list of cities highlights a few of the outliers. In these cities, workers are in an optimal financial situation. They can enjoy a high quality of life and decreased financial stress. All it takes is the courage to make the move, and forge your own path.