Cheap and convenient: 15 American cities where you can live well for little money

The cost of living in the US has risen sharply in 2022. This has prompted many Americans to rethink their way of life and, most importantly, where they live. About the most affordable cities in America, reports Insider.

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In October report Real estate brokerage Redfin says higher mortgage rates and growing economic troubles are making expensive parts of the country "less attractive" to potential buyers.

“Six percent mortgage rates are exacerbating already high home prices and motivating homebuyers, especially remote workers, to leave expensive areas for more affordable ones,” Taylor Marr, deputy chief economist at Redfin, said in the report. “Persistent inflation and plummeting inventories are also tightening buyers’ budgets, making relatively affordable areas even more attractive.”

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Although next year it might not be so expensive. President Joe Biden said earlier this month that "it will take time for inflation to return to normal levels." As such, the downward trend in the cost of living is likely to continue into 2023 as respected economists and policy makers brace for a recession.

Company Kiplinger, a personal finance firm, has identified America's cheapest cities by calculating living costs, including housing prices, groceries, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services, in 267 US cities with at least 50 inhabitants.

According to their methodology, America's cheapest city is Harlingen, Texas, a small city of less than 72 people on the southern tip of Texas near the Mexican border.

Located in the Rio Grande Valley next to Brownsville and a strip of sand full of beach resorts called South Padre Island, Harlingen is also known for its air force base and launch site for Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket company.

“The Rio Grande Valley in general is very affordable,” said Craig Grove, broker and owner of GRT Realty in Brownsville. “We have experienced significant job growth in the last couple of years because of SpaceX, and there is a new medical school.”

Grove confirmed that the lower cost of living in the Harlingen area is attracting new residents.

"People said, 'I don't want to live in these big cities,'" he added. “It became too unaffordable, so they moved to the valley.” This made Harlingen more attractive. It’s very old school in a good way—the people are very friendly, it still feels like a small town, and the houses are affordable.”

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The other available cities on the list are mostly in the South and Midwest.

15.Des Moines, Iowa

• Cost of living: 15,3% below the US average.
• Population: 719 146 people.
• Median household income: $74
• Median home value: $229
• Unemployment Rate: 2,4%

14. Akron, Ohio

• Cost of living: 15,6% below the US average.
• Population: 700 015 people.
• Median household income: $63
• Median home value: $181
• Unemployment Rate: 4,0%

13. Amarillo, Texas

• Cost of living: 15,6% below the US average.
• Population: 270 119 people.
• Median household income: $58
• Median home value: $167
• Unemployment Rate: 2,8%

12. Augusta-Aiken, Georgia/South Carolina

• Cost of living: 16,4% below the US average.
• Population: 616 395 people.
• Median household income: $56
• Median home value: $182
• Unemployment Rate: 3,6%

11. Jackson, Mississippi

• Cost of living: 16,6% below the US average.
• Population: 586 758 people.
• Median household income: $54
• Median home value: $178
• Unemployment Rate: 3,1%

10. Conway, Arkansas

• Cost of living: 16,7% below the US average.
• Population: 65 126 people.
• Median household income: $53
• Median home value: $230
• Unemployment Rate: 2,5%

9. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• Cost of living: 16,8% below the US average.
• Population: 1
• Median household income: $61
• Median home value: $190
• Unemployment Rate: 3,3%

8 Mobile, Alabama

• Cost of living: 17,2% below the US average.
• Population: 430 714 people.
• Median household income: $49
• Median home value: $159
• Unemployment Rate: 3,5%

7Joplin, Missouri

• Cost of living: 17,5% below the US average.
• Population: 182 541 people.
• Median household income: $55
• Median home value: $149
• Unemployment Rate: 2,3%

6. Anniston, Alabama

• Cost of living: 17,6% below the US average.
• Population: 115 972 person.
• Median household income: $46
• Median home value: $139
• Unemployment Rate: 4,4%

5. Topeka, Kansas

• Cost of living: 19,4% below the US average.
• Population: 232 670 people.
• Median household income: $57
• Median home value: $154
• Unemployment Rate: 2,7%

4 Kalamazoo, Michigan

• Cost of living: 20,7% below the US average.
• Population: 261 108 people.
• Median household income: $62
• Median home value: $208
• Unemployment Rate: 4,5%

3. McAllen, Texas

• Cost of living: 21,8% below the US average.
• Population: 880 356 people.
• Median household income: $44
• Median home value: $107
• Unemployment Rate: 4,3%

2. Decatur, Illinois

• Cost of living: 22% below the US average.
• Population: 102 432 person.
• Median household income: $46
• Median home value: $110
• Unemployment Rate: 5,7%

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1 Harlingen, Texas

• Cost of living: 24,4% below the US average.
• Population: 423 029 people.
• Median household income: $48
• Median home value: $103
• Unemployment Rate: 5,4%

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