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US City Money Index

Best US cities for your money

Composite money index — tap a city to dive in.

July 2026
Raleigh, NC skyline illustration
Raleigh
North Carolina
OverallWinner!
Raleigh, North Carolina
Research Triangle, real returns.
162
Overall
The Strategist
Income
$78k
Save
15%
Own
54%
Happy
73
Commute
24m
Green
11%
See more
Minneapolis, MN skyline illustration
Minneapolis
Minnesota
2
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Midwest math, modern minds.
159
Overall
The Pragmatist
Income
$75k
Save
15%
Own
50%
Happy
73
Commute
23m
Green
15%
See more
Denver, CO skyline illustration
Denver
Colorado
3
Denver, Colorado
Mountain living, mountain prices.
158
Overall
The Optimist
Income
$88k
Save
15%
Own
51%
Happy
74
Commute
26m
Green
8%
See more
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Virginia Beach, VA skyline illustration
Virginia Beach
Virginia
4
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Coastal calm, military steady.
158
Overall
The Steady Hand
Income
$80k
Save
12%
Own
64%
Happy
72
Commute
24m
Green
22%
See more
Seattle, WA skyline illustration
Seattle
Washington
5
Seattle, Washington
Tech-built, tax-friendly.
157
Overall
The Strategist
Income
$116k
Save
19%
Own
46%
Happy
69
Commute
28m
Green
12%
See more
Colorado Springs, CO skyline illustration
Colorado Springs
Colorado
6
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Mountain lifestyle, manageable price.
157
Overall
The Optimist
Income
$78k
Save
13%
Own
60%
Happy
73
Commute
22m
Green
19%
See more
Omaha, NE skyline illustration
Omaha
Nebraska
7
Omaha, Nebraska
Buffett's hometown rules.
156
Overall
The Saver
Income
$65k
Save
14%
Own
60%
Happy
71
Commute
19m
Green
13%
See more
Austin, TX skyline illustration
Austin
Texas
8
Austin, Texas
Boomtown with a budget brain.
154
Overall
The Builder
Income
$84k
Save
14%
Own
46%
Happy
71
Commute
25m
Green
16%
See more
Oklahoma City, OK skyline illustration
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
9
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Where dollars stretch furthest.
152
Overall
The Saver
Income
$55k
Save
15%
Own
60%
Happy
69
Commute
22m
Green
17%
See more
Charlotte, NC skyline illustration
Charlotte
North Carolina
10
Charlotte, North Carolina
A banking capital, hiding in plain sight.
151
Overall
The Builder
Income
$73k
Save
12%
Own
53%
Happy
70
Commute
26m
Green
9%
See more
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Compare banks that pay you.
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Indianapolis, IN skyline illustration
Indianapolis
Indiana
11
Indianapolis, Indiana
Cheap living, big upside.
151
Overall
The Pragmatist
Income
$58k
Save
14%
Own
54%
Happy
69
Commute
24m
Green
6%
See more
Tulsa, OK skyline illustration
Tulsa
Oklahoma
12
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Where remote workers cash in.
150
Overall
The Saver
Income
$55k
Save
14%
Own
55%
Happy
68
Commute
20m
Green
7%
See more
Arlington, TX skyline illustration
Arlington
Texas
13
Arlington, Texas
Suburban Texas, suburban wealth.
150
Overall
The Builder
Income
$67k
Save
13%
Own
58%
Happy
69
Commute
27m
Green
9%
See more
Wichita, KS skyline illustration
Wichita
Kansas
14
Wichita, Kansas
Plains pragmatism.
150
Overall
The Saver
Income
$54k
Save
14%
Own
58%
Happy
68
Commute
19m
Green
8%
See more
San Jose, CA skyline illustration
San Jose
California
15
San Jose, California
Tech wages, tech-sized bills.
149
Overall
The Strategist
Income
$141k
Save
18%
Own
55%
Happy
68
Commute
28m
Green
17%
See more
Columbus, OH skyline illustration
Columbus
Ohio
16
Columbus, Ohio
Midwest math, modern jobs.
149
Overall
The Steady Hand
Income
$64k
Save
13%
Own
46%
Happy
69
Commute
22m
Green
11%
See more
El Paso, TX skyline illustration
El Paso
Texas
17
El Paso, Texas
Border-city budget mastery.
149
Overall
The Saver
Income
$52k
Save
14%
Own
60%
Happy
68
Commute
22m
Green
17%
See more
Kansas City, MO skyline illustration
Kansas City
Missouri
18
Kansas City, Missouri
Midwest stability, modern wages.
149
Overall
The Steady Hand
Income
$62k
Save
13%
Own
55%
Happy
69
Commute
22m
Green
11%
See more
Mesa, AZ skyline illustration
Mesa
Arizona
19
Mesa, Arizona
Suburban Sunbelt steady.
149
Overall
The Builder
Income
$68k
Save
12%
Own
62%
Happy
69
Commute
27m
Green
4%
See more
Fort Worth, TX skyline illustration
Fort Worth
Texas
20
Fort Worth, Texas
Quiet Texas wealth, the long way.
148
Overall
The Pragmatist
Income
$67k
Save
13%
Own
60%
Happy
67
Commute
28m
Green
7%
See more
Nashville, TN skyline illustration
Nashville
Tennessee
21
Nashville, Tennessee
No income tax, music to your wallet.
148
Overall
The Builder
Income
$68k
Save
13%
Own
54%
Happy
71
Commute
25m
Green
7%
See more
Louisville, KY skyline illustration
Louisville
Kentucky
22
Louisville, Kentucky
Bourbon-belt budget wisdom.
144
Overall
The Pragmatist
Income
$58k
Save
12%
Own
55%
Happy
67
Commute
22m
Green
9%
See more
Albuquerque, NM skyline illustration
Albuquerque
New Mexico
23
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Desert calm, desert savings.
144
Overall
The Steady Hand
Income
$58k
Save
12%
Own
60%
Happy
67
Commute
22m
Green
31%
See more
Atlanta, GA skyline illustration
Atlanta
Georgia
24
Atlanta, Georgia
Hustle hub, low-tax base.
144
Overall
The Hustler
Income
$75k
Save
12%
Own
46%
Happy
67
Commute
31m
Green
9%
See more
San Antonio, TX skyline illustration
San Antonio
Texas
25
San Antonio, Texas
Affordable Texas, big future.
143
Overall
The Steady Hand
Income
$57k
Save
12%
Own
55%
Happy
67
Commute
25m
Green
14%
See more
Jacksonville, FL skyline illustration
Jacksonville
Florida
26
Jacksonville, Florida
Sunshine, no income tax.
143
Overall
The Steady Hand
Income
$62k
Save
11%
Own
58%
Happy
67
Commute
25m
Green
11%
See more
Washington, D.C., DC skyline illustration
Washington, D.C.
District of Columbia
27
Washington, D.C., District of Columbia
Federal jobs, federal benefits.
143
Overall
The Steady Hand
Income
$101k
Save
14%
Own
42%
Happy
67
Commute
33m
Green
24%
See more
Boston, MA skyline illustration
Boston
Massachusetts
28
Boston, Massachusetts
Old wealth, new ideas.
143
Overall
The Strategist
Income
$101k
Save
15%
Own
36%
Happy
69
Commute
31m
Green
17%
See more
Sacramento, CA skyline illustration
Sacramento
California
29
Sacramento, California
State capital, steady checks.
143
Overall
The Pragmatist
Income
$78k
Save
12%
Own
53%
Happy
68
Commute
26m
Green
13%
See more
Houston, TX skyline illustration
Houston
Texas
30
Houston, Texas
No state tax, no excuses.
141
Overall
The Builder
Income
$62k
Save
13%
Own
54%
Happy
64
Commute
28m
Green
16%
See more
Dallas, TX skyline illustration
Dallas
Texas
31
Dallas, Texas
Where ambition meets affordability.
141
Overall
The Hustler
Income
$67k
Save
12%
Own
51%
Happy
66
Commute
27m
Green
11%
See more
Portland, OR skyline illustration
Portland
Oregon
32
Portland, Oregon
Lifestyle first, money second.
141
Overall
The Dreamer
Income
$78k
Save
11%
Own
51%
Happy
69
Commute
26m
Green
18%
See more
Tucson, AZ skyline illustration
Tucson
Arizona
33
Tucson, Arizona
Affordable Sunbelt living.
141
Overall
The Optimist
Income
$55k
Save
11%
Own
54%
Happy
68
Commute
23m
Green
14%
See more
Chicago, IL skyline illustration
Chicago
Illinois
34
Chicago, Illinois
Big-city living, Midwestern math.
139
Overall
The Pragmatist
Income
$71k
Save
11%
Own
46%
Happy
65
Commute
31m
Green
10%
See more
Phoenix, AZ skyline illustration
Phoenix
Arizona
35
Phoenix, Arizona
Sunbelt steady, slowly compounding.
138
Overall
The Steady Hand
Income
$65k
Save
10%
Own
57%
Happy
66
Commute
26m
Green
16%
See more
San Francisco, CA skyline illustration
San Francisco
California
36
San Francisco, California
Highest highs, hardest math.
138
Overall
The Risk-Taker
Income
$136k
Save
21%
Own
38%
Happy
64
Commute
33m
Green
18%
See more
Milwaukee, WI skyline illustration
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
37
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Quiet, frugal, future-proof.
138
Overall
The Saver
Income
$50k
Save
13%
Own
43%
Happy
65
Commute
22m
Green
10%
See more
Memphis, TN skyline illustration
Memphis
Tennessee
38
Memphis, Tennessee
Low cost, no state tax.
132
Overall
The Saver
Income
$48k
Save
11%
Own
48%
Happy
62
Commute
23m
Green
6%
See more
San Diego, CA skyline illustration
San Diego
California
39
San Diego, California
Paradise has a price tag.
130
Overall
The Optimist
Income
$84k
Save
8%
Own
48%
Happy
74
Commute
25m
Green
23%
See more
Las Vegas, NV skyline illustration
Las Vegas
Nevada
40
Las Vegas, Nevada
High-roller city, low-roller savings.
129
Overall
The Risk-Taker
Income
$66k
Save
8%
Own
54%
Happy
64
Commute
25m
Green
8%
See more
Fresno, CA skyline illustration
Fresno
California
41
Fresno, California
Inland California, real budgets.
128
Overall
The Survivor
Income
$58k
Save
9%
Own
51%
Happy
62
Commute
22m
Green
7%
See more
New Orleans, LA skyline illustration
New Orleans
Louisiana
42
New Orleans, Louisiana
Live for today, save for the storm.
127
Overall
The Dreamer
Income
$50k
Save
9%
Own
48%
Happy
66
Commute
25m
Green
6%
See more
Oakland, CA skyline illustration
Oakland
California
43
Oakland, California
Bay Area math, without the Bay Area peak.
126
Overall
The Builder
Income
$90k
Save
12%
Own
42%
Happy
65
Commute
32m
Green
17%
See more
Philadelphia, PA skyline illustration
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
44
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Old money, new rhythm.
125
Overall
The Pragmatist
Income
$58k
Save
9%
Own
53%
Happy
60
Commute
31m
Green
14%
See more
Baltimore, MD skyline illustration
Baltimore
Maryland
45
Baltimore, Maryland
Underdog returns.
125
Overall
The Survivor
Income
$55k
Save
10%
Own
48%
Happy
60
Commute
30m
Green
12%
See more
Miami, FL skyline illustration
Miami
Florida
46
Miami, Florida
Glamour, no income tax.
124
Overall
The Risk-Taker
Income
$60k
Save
10%
Own
51%
Happy
66
Commute
30m
Green
5%
See more
Long Beach, CA skyline illustration
Long Beach
California
47
Long Beach, California
Coastal CA on a smaller bill.
120
Overall
The Dreamer
Income
$74k
Save
9%
Own
42%
Happy
66
Commute
30m
Green
7%
See more
Detroit, MI skyline illustration
Detroit
Michigan
48
Detroit, Michigan
Resilience built into the math.
114
Overall
The Survivor
Income
$39k
Save
8%
Own
48%
Happy
58
Commute
26m
Green
6%
See more
Los Angeles, CA skyline illustration
Los Angeles
California
49
Los Angeles, California
Lifestyle now, wealth later.
101
Overall
The Dreamer
Income
$76k
Save
7%
Own
37%
Happy
62
Commute
31m
Green
14%
See more
New York, NY skyline illustration
New York
New York
50
OverallLoser
New York, New York
Ambition is the city's currency.
90
Overall
The Hustler
Income
$79k
Save
6%
Own
33%
Happy
58
Commute
35m
Green
22%
See more
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How we rank US cities

The PickYourBank US City Money Index scores 50 metros on ten dimensions of household finance: median income, savings rate, cost of living, homeownership, digital payment adoption, credit card usage, emergency-fund coverage, work-life balance, happiness, and stress. Use the category bar above to rank by a single dimension, or stay on Overall for the composite score.

Frequently asked questions

Which US city is best for saving money in 2026?+

Our index combines household savings rate, median income, cost of living, happiness and work-life balance into one overall score. The top of the leaderboard above reflects the current ranking across all 50 metros.

How is the PickYourBank US City Money Index calculated?+

Each city receives a composite score weighted across savings rate, median household income, cost of living (lower is better), happiness, work-life balance and 3-month emergency fund prevalence, minus financial stress. You can also filter the leaderboard by a single dimension.

Are these numbers official?+

Metrics are editorial estimates assembled from public sources (BLS, Census, BEA, cost-of-living indices and survey data). They're intended for comparison, not financial advice.

What's the cheapest US city to live in from this list?+

Sort the leaderboard by Affordability to see the lowest cost-of-living indices among the 50 metros tracked.

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