Monroe, Louisiana is the cheapest US metro by official price data: its 2024 Regional Price Parity is 83.6, the lowest of the 387 metros the Bureau of Economic Analysis covers, meaning prices about 16% below the national average. But the lowest prices do not always leave the most money. For a single renter on $75,000, Monroe leaves $31,725 a year after 2026 taxes and living costs, 15th-best; McAllen, Texas leaves the most, $33,353. New York City leaves $1,403.
Rankings use BEA Regional Price Parities (data year 2024, released February 19, 2026) and HUD Fiscal Year 2027 Fair Market Rents. Budgets use MoveMath’s default household: one adult earning $75,000, renting a one-bedroom at Fair Market Rent (HUD’s 40th-percentile gross rent, utilities included), one car at 12,000 miles a year, the USDA Moderate-Cost food plan (August 2026) and $500 a month each of other goods and services at US prices, an adjustable estimate scaled by local price levels.
The 12 metros with the lowest price levels
| Metro | BEA price level, 2024 | 1-BR Fair Market Rent | Left over on $75,000 | Break-even pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe, LA | 83.6 | $794 | $31,725 | $32,887 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | 83.8 | $931 | $31,853 | $34,299 |
| Dothan, AL | 83.8 | $768 | $30,358 | $33,959 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 84.0 | $874 | $32,566 | $33,413 |
| Enid, OK | 84.3 | $818 | $30,410 | $33,788 |
| Hammond, LA | 84.5 | $854 | $31,005 | $33,818 |
| Shreveport, LA | 84.8 | $926 | $30,141 | $34,935 |
| Florence, AL | 84.8 | $834 | $29,566 | $35,007 |
| Houma, LA | 85.1 | $903 | $30,417 | $34,578 |
| Wildwood, FL | 85.4 | $1,139 | $28,879 | $38,001 |
| Jackson, TN | 85.5 | $1,051 | $29,829 | $36,819 |
| Gadsden, AL | 85.7 | $830 | $29,614 | $34,943 |
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents (91 FR 56156); 2026 taxes from the MoveMath engine. Break-even pay is the salary at which 2026 taxes and the modeled costs use up all income.
The 12 metros that leave the most on $75,000
| Metro | BEA price level | 1-BR Fair Market Rent | Left over per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen, TX | 85.9 | $806 | $33,353 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 86.7 | $821 | $33,021 |
| Casper, WY | 93.8 | $804 | $32,806 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 84.0 | $874 | $32,566 |
| Minot, ND | 87.0 | $864 | $32,513 |
| Brownsville, TX | 86.0 | $884 | $32,417 |
| Kingsport, TN-VA | 86.4 | $845 | $32,263 |
| Amarillo, TX | 91.8 | $904 | $32,177 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | 90.9 | $903 | $32,040 |
| Killeen, TX | 91.1 | $927 | $31,901 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | 83.8 | $931 | $31,853 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 85.9 | $748 | $31,803 |
Rank all 387 metros for your own income with where can I afford to live.
Why the two lists differ
State income tax. Texas, Wyoming and Tennessee do not tax wages. At $75,000, a single filer pays $1,865 of Louisiana income tax (a flat 3% in 2026), $2,830 in Oklahoma and $3,127 in Alabama. That is why Casper, Wyoming, with a price level of 93.8, leaves more than every one of the 12 lowest-priced metros.
Rent at your bedroom count. The price index weights rent by what residents spend overall; your budget pays the one-bedroom Fair Market Rent. Wildwood, Florida has a low price level (85.4) but a $1,139 one-bedroom rent, above the median of $1,106 across all 387 metros, so it leaves less than its index suggests.
Sales tax on groceries. Alabama taxes groceries at a 2% state rate (since September 1, 2025) and Tennessee at 4%; Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma exempt them from state sales tax. Local sales taxes add on in all of these states and are not modeled.
Why these metros are cheap
Low price levels in these metros come mostly from housing. BEA’s housing index for Monroe is 42.8, while its goods index is 93.7 — groceries and other goods cost only about 6% less than average, but rent costs far less. Expect the biggest savings on rent and smaller savings at the store.
The trade-offs
Lower prices usually go with lower local wages. The Census ACS 2020–2024 median household income is a useful check on what local jobs pay. If your income comes from remote work or a pension, you keep the full price advantage; if you need a local job, research pay for your occupation first. Price parities also say nothing about job openings, health care access or schools.
Ranking by prices alone can mislead in the other direction too: a metro with a price level of 89 in a no-tax state can leave more than one at 84 with a state income tax. Compare candidates side by side with the cost of living calculator, and see full budgets for Monroe, Shreveport and Dothan. For the other end of the scale, see the most expensive metro areas.