63 metros leave you better off than St. Louis

Police officer earning $72,500 in St. Louis, MO. One adult, renting a 1-bedroom. You keep $1,659 a month today.

Your best overall match

Midland, TX

+$610/mo (+$7,320 a year) versus St. Louis

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Your pay moves with the local market for your job.

Rent is priced at the bedroom count you need in each metro.

0

Suggested for your household.

What matters to you?

1 means leave it out of the ranking, 5 means it decides the ranking.

5 Deal-breaker

What is left after tax, rent and the month's bills.

2 A little

Sunshine, and summers and winters that are not extreme.

2 A little

Population and density, rather than small-town scale.

Every metro on the map

Coloured by this ranking. Click a dot for the city page; right-click or long-press to compare, set home, zoom or copy a link.

MidlandAustinSeattleBismarckFargoCedar RapidsAmarilloLexington ParkAppletonJefferson City
Best fitMiddle thirdWeakest fitWhere you live now · $1,659/moDot size is population. 383 metros in the 48 states; 4 outside the frame. Best best fit: Midland, TX. Right-click or long-press for actions.

1

Midland, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,516 and 263 sunny days; commutes average 22 minutes.

No state income tax263 sunny days22-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,269

+$610 vs today

Local pay
$80,647
Rent (1br)
$1,273/mo
Take-home
$5,427/mo
Everything else
$1,885/mo
Money left over
100
Sun and mild weather
78
Being in a big city
34
2

Austin, TX

No income tax, but property taxes are among the steepest anywhere.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$2,014

+$355 vs today

Local pay
$77,732
Rent (1br)
$1,226/mo
Take-home
$5,256/mo
Everything else
$2,016/mo
Money left over
89
Sun and mild weather
66
Being in a big city
80
3

Houston, TX

The cheapest housing of any top-10 metro, paid for in property tax and humidity.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$2,019

+$360 vs today

Local pay
$76,237
Rent (1br)
$1,199/mo
Take-home
$5,168/mo
Everything else
$1,950/mo
Money left over
90
Sun and mild weather
63
Being in a big city
76
4

Seattle, WA

No state income tax and high wages, offset by home prices and 150 sunny days.

No state income taxCar optional

Left over monthly

$2,065

+$406 vs today

Local pay
$89,691
Rent (1br)
$1,761/mo
Take-home
$5,957/mo
Everything else
$2,131/mo
Money left over
92
Sun and mild weather
49
Being in a big city
82
5

Dallas, TX

No income tax, endless new construction, and a 1.5% property tax bill.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$1,904

+$245 vs today

Local pay
$76,237
Rent (1br)
$1,263/mo
Take-home
$5,168/mo
Everything else
$2,001/mo
Money left over
85
Sun and mild weather
70
Being in a big city
76
6

Bismarck, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,298 and 196 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

18-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,243

+$584 vs today

Local pay
$75,938
Rent (1br)
$1,090/mo
Take-home
$5,130/mo
Everything else
$1,797/mo
Money left over
99
Sun and mild weather
47
Being in a big city
35
7

Fargo, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,049 and 193 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

18-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,184

+$525 vs today

Local pay
$70,781
Rent (1br)
$881/mo
Take-home
$4,836/mo
Everything else
$1,771/mo
Money left over
96
Sun and mild weather
44
Being in a big city
45
8

Minot, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,132 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,252

+$593 vs today

Local pay
$73,845
Rent (1br)
$951/mo
Take-home
$5,010/mo
Everything else
$1,807/mo
Money left over
99
Sun and mild weather
50
Being in a big city
26
9

Cedar Rapids, IA

A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,102 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,104

+$445 vs today

Local pay
$72,649
Rent (1br)
$926/mo
Take-home
$4,774/mo
Everything else
$1,744/mo
Money left over
93
Sun and mild weather
56
Being in a big city
41
10

Davenport, IA

A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $886 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 21 minutes.

21-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,071

+$412 vs today

Local pay
$69,884
Rent (1br)
$744/mo
Take-home
$4,621/mo
Everything else
$1,806/mo
Money left over
92
Sun and mild weather
59
Being in a big city
42
11

Amarillo, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,017 and 260 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

No state income tax260 sunny days20-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,905

+$246 vs today

Local pay
$67,268
Rent (1br)
$854/mo
Take-home
$4,642/mo
Everything else
$1,883/mo
Money left over
85
Sun and mild weather
84
Being in a big city
37
12

Lexington Park, MD

State income tax topping out at 5.75%, a median 2-bedroom estimated asking rent of $1,896 and 216 sunny days; commutes average 35 minutes.

Left over monthly

$1,964

+$305 vs today

Local pay
$93,278
Rent (1br)
$1,593/mo
Take-home
$5,579/mo
Everything else
$2,022/mo
Money left over
87
Sun and mild weather
71
Being in a big city
39
13

Appleton, WI

State income tax topping out at 7.65%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,099 and 195 sunny days; commutes average 21 minutes.

21-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,060

+$401 vs today

Local pay
$75,863
Rent (1br)
$923/mo
Take-home
$4,903/mo
Everything else
$1,920/mo
Money left over
91
Sun and mild weather
55
Being in a big city
38
14

Odessa, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,398 and 269 sunny days; commutes average 25 minutes.

No state income tax269 sunny days

Left over monthly

$1,973

+$314 vs today

Local pay
$73,920
Rent (1br)
$1,174/mo
Take-home
$5,032/mo
Everything else
$1,885/mo
Money left over
88
Sun and mild weather
80
Being in a big city
25
15

Washington, DC

Recession-resistant government and consulting pay, humid summers, real transit.

Car optional

Left over monthly

$1,681

+$22 vs today

Local pay
$92,680
Rent (1br)
$1,929/mo
Take-home
$5,712/mo
Everything else
$2,102/mo
Money left over
76
Sun and mild weather
67
Being in a big city
86
16

San Antonio, TX

Among the cheapest big-city rents in the country, with the highest property tax rate here.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$1,793

+$134 vs today

Local pay
$69,510
Rent (1br)
$1,052/mo
Take-home
$4,774/mo
Everything else
$1,929/mo
Money left over
80
Sun and mild weather
67
Being in a big city
64
17

Jefferson City, MO

State income tax topping out at 4.7%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $886 and 217 sunny days; commutes average 22 minutes.

22-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,944

+$285 vs today

Local pay
$67,866
Rent (1br)
$744/mo
Take-home
$4,489/mo
Everything else
$1,801/mo
Money left over
87
Sun and mild weather
71
Being in a big city
33
18

Cheyenne, WY

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,219 and 253 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

No state income tax18-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,959

+$300 vs today

Local pay
$73,247
Rent (1br)
$1,024/mo
Take-home
$4,993/mo
Everything else
$2,010/mo
Money left over
87
Sun and mild weather
69
Being in a big city
30
19

Dubuque, IA

A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $955 and 204 sunny days; commutes average 17 minutes.

17-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,018

+$359 vs today

Local pay
$69,062
Rent (1br)
$802/mo
Take-home
$4,575/mo
Everything else
$1,755/mo
Money left over
90
Sun and mild weather
58
Being in a big city
30
20

Beaumont, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,141 and 223 sunny days; commutes average 23 minutes.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$1,865

+$206 vs today

Local pay
$68,389
Rent (1br)
$958/mo
Take-home
$4,708/mo
Everything else
$1,885/mo
Money left over
83
Sun and mild weather
74
Being in a big city
38
Show the remaining 367 metros

Showing the top 20 of 387 by best fit for you.

Rent is Zillow's asking rent for each metro; taxes and living costs are modelled. Every figure is an estimate, not a quote. See exactly how it's calculated.