20 Affordable Cities for Couples Living on a Combined Income of $100,000

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A six-figure household income can feel a lot smaller in the wrong zip code. But in some U.S. cities, $100,000 goes a lot further.

These cities below all offer average monthly rents under $2,000 (according to Zillow,) state average monthly mortgage payments under $2,000 (according to the U.S. Census Bureau,) and below-average cost of living (according to livingcost.org).

They offer enough financial breathing room for couples who want to live comfortably without compromising on long-term goals like saving, investing or buying a home. That doesn’t mean giving up on amenities, infrastructure or culture, but it does mean thinking twice about expensive zip codes and oversubscribed city centers.

Tucson, Arizona

• Average monthly rent: $1,645
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,739
• Cost of living: $785

Boise, Idaho

• Average monthly rent: $1,775
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,610
• Cost of living: $807

Fort Wayne, Indiana

• Average monthly rent: $1,225
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,355
• Cost of living: $769

Wichita, Kansas

• Average monthly rent: $1,150
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,638
• Cost of living: $814

Lexington, Kentucky

• Average monthly rent: $1,631
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,393
• Cost of living: $769

Detroit, Michigan

• Average monthly rent: $1,200
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,521
• Cost of living: $852

St. Paul, Minnesota

• Average monthly rent: $1,403
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,890
• Cost of living: $837

St. Louis, Missouri

• Average monthly rent: $1,275
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,478
• Cost of living: $830

Lincoln, Nebraska

• Average monthly rent: $1,231
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,686
• Cost of living: $766

Omaha, Nebraska

• Average monthly rent: $1,595
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,686
• Cost of living: $850

Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Average monthly rent: $1,625
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,510
• Cost of living: $843

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

• Average monthly rent: $1,495
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,561
• Cost of living: $860

Cincinnati, Ohio

• Average monthly rent: $1,400
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,472
• Cost of living: $750

Cleveland, Ohio

• Average monthly rent: $1,200
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,472
• Cost of living: $794

Columbus, Ohio

• Average monthly rent: $1,493
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,472
• Cost of living: $897

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• Average monthly rent: $1,400
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,479
• Cost of living: $813

Tulsa, Oklahoma

• Average monthly rent: $1,350
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,479
• Cost of living: $793

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Average monthly rent: $1,500
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,722
• Cost of living: $891

Memphis, Tennessee

• Average monthly rent: $1,350
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,506
• Cost of living: $782

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• Average monthly rent: $1,295
• State average monthly mortgage payment: $1,652
• Cost of living: $843

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