The 10 Most Affordable Cities in the U.S. in 2026

Key takeaways Little Rock, AR, Oklahoma City, and Indianapolis are the most affordable cities in the U.S., where locals need to spend around 26% of their income on housing. The Midwest and East Coast are home to a majority of the cheapest places to live, although they’re also becoming increasingly competitive. Home prices are still rising in many parts of the country, but slower price growth is helping affordability improve in most markets. Housing affordability is one of the biggest challenges for Americans in 2026. Home prices grew exponentially during the pandemic housing boom, and while growth has slowed in the last year, a majority of people are still spending an outsized share of their income on housing. The typical homebuyer today spends nearly 40% of their income on monthly housing payments, according to Redfin data—well above the traditional affordability benchmark. Still, some cities are more affordable than others. In many Midwest and Northeast metros, lower home prices and relatively strong local incomes keep homeownership within reach. So, which U.S. cities are still affordable, and where is affordability improving? Let’s take a look at the most affordable places to li...