Written by: Kate Becker
Date:

Moving carries a lot of excitement within the process! Especially if you need to leave your old home – like when your lease is expired or your office is closing – but you don’t really know where you need to go next. If it is up to you, then the world is your oyster – and the possibilities are endless! However, sometimes, your budget can limit them somewhat. This is why it’s important to look into the most affordable cities to move to! Luckily, here at Verified Movers, we are very well aware of the fact that affordable moving has become a commodity. This is why we have created a list of the cities you should look into. Afterward, you can use our services to find the right movers for these cities, and then plan an easy and stress-free relocation!

Why people move to more affordable cities?

We can all agree that one of the best things that came out of the pandemic was working from home. Employees and companies have realized that working from home can be as productive and successful as working from an office. There is no commute time and more time to sleep in. Many companies have decided that continuing the work from the home movement was beneficial both for the company and the workers. Since a lot of well-paid jobs are in expensive cities like New York and Los Angeles many people moved there solely for a job. However, thanks to the remote work, now they are able to move to the more affordable cities, all while keeping their high-paid jobs.

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Remote work has allowed for many benefits.

Even though prices in the big cities went down for a short amount of time, they quickly went back up. And since the demand for more space and better living conditions has raised, the housing market is booming and with it its prices. Between the January of 2021 and January of 2022 the housing market has grown up to 33.5%. To be able to afford a place in Manhattan you need to have an income of around $13.166 per month if we count that on average people put 30% of their income towards their rent. When you add on top of these other expenses you realize that this is a lot and that you can get more for your money somewhere else. Having the privilege of working from home changed people’s needs and wants.

The need for more space is one of the main reasons to move to one of the most affordable cities

People have stayed in their homes longer than usual due to the pandemic restrictions and realized that they want to have a space where they feel good, their own safe haven. More and more people started to reevaluate their life and choices. Why spend exorbitant amounts of money in expensive places to leave in a shoebox apartment when you can have much more space for way less money? There are many cities where you can have a great life without breaking the bank. Lower cost of living and housing is what you want to look for in order to have enough money to pay your bills, have fun and save some of it. You get the best of both worlds. In the affordable cities that we will present you your dream of having a house one day can become a reality!

a dog on the street in suburbs
Having a great job from the comfort of your own home is now a common occurrence.

How we created the list of the most affordable cities to move to?

One of the main questions, however, becomes how we were able to make this list. What makes one city more affordable, and what makes the other not so? Then, there is the fact that what’s affordable for someone might not be for another person. For example, if you are a single young entrepreneur, then housing might not be as difficult to find as a good workspace. On the other hand, families with children might consider places with cheap family homes and great but affordable schools the best for them.

But what is affordable housing? When you can pay for your home and still have a decent amount of money left over for the food, utilities, healthcare, entertainment this means that housing is affordable. The numbers are different in evet city, so you need to see which city suits your budget the most. However, no matter the income you have you deserve to have affordable housing.

We took all of this into account when creating our list of the most affordable cities to move to. By trying to balance out all your needs, and pull from the most common ones, we believe we have created the best, most reliable list you have ever run into! Two main topics we looked into are the housing market – just how cheap or expensive it is to get or rent a home – as well as the cost of living.

How to determine the cost of living in the most affordable cities to move to

There are a few criteria that you need to look at in order to determine the cost of living of a city or a state. They are the following: housing costs, transportation, food, and entertainment.

On average the largest expense is housing. No matter if you are paying the mortgage or rent this is where the large percentage of your income goes towards. Moreover, as a homeowner, you don’t have the same amount of monthly expenses related to housing as you would as a renter. You need to include maintenance, and taxes that vary from state to state. This is why some places are more affordable than others. When both property taxes and the median house prices are low you know that you scored a jackpot!

Another thing that you need to take into account is transportation. If you are lucky to work from home then you will not have high transportation expenses. However, if you need to commute then you should be aware that this is the second largest expense. For the car owner’s transportation expenses are higher than for those who use public transportation. You need to count the price of gas, insurance of your vehicle, parking, and eventual reparations. This is why when you live in a smaller city you will have a shorter commute time which will have a huge impact on the cost of living.

We all need to eat so the food prices affect a lot the cost of living. Weekly grocery store trips can quickly add up. So, moving to a place where the cost of living is affordable is the way to go. And of course, entertainment. The availability of the venues around and their cost are always important – but they also need to keep your balance safe!

Let’s take a look at the most affordable cities to move to

So, without further ado, let us take a deeper dive into what the top cities you should consider moving to are. We have compiled a list of 13 of the best ones, and they are as follows:

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Buffalo, New York

The city of Buffalo is the second-largest city in the state of New York. It has a population of around 256,000, although the metropolitan statistical area counts over one million people as its population. The city has a very important location when it comes to trade. It is a seat of Erie County and you need to pass it when traveling to Canada border in this part of the county.

What will make you call the long-distance moving companies New York is the low median housing costs of Buffalo. There is always something fun to do. It also has a lot of attractions that you can enjoy. There are major sports teams you can follow, as well as a lot of museums to visit! Moreover, you can enjoy plenty of concerts, festivals, and outdoor activities all year round. What’s more, the average drive to work is just 20 minutes! Add the fact that the school district is one of the best in the area, and you have your perfect place! People are lovely, they will gladly show you around and be there for you after you move there.

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Niagara Falls are only 17 miles out of the city.

Dallas, Texas

In a couple of last years, Texas has become the IT place. Many people decided to move here, and rightfully so. Dallas is a great place that has a lot to offer, no matter what age you are. After moving here you will have the opportunity to visit The Dallas World Aquarium, Dallas Zoo, Dallas Museum of Art, and the Dallas Cowboys. The southern hospitality and the great spirit that people from Dallas have are going to make you happy that you moved here.

Recently Dallas was ranked as the top labor market in the US. Apart from being a great place for those looking for a job another thing that will make you call your long-distance moving companies Texas is the fact that there is no state income tax. Moreover, housing and rent are affordable and accessible to a lot of people. They are below the national average so you can rest assured that you will be able to have a nice home and live life to the fullest. You can buy a home for around $142,600 and rent a place for around $888 monthly.

the aerial view of dallas the most affordable city to move to
Dallas is one of the most affordable cities to move to.

Des Moines, Iowa

This is definitely one of the best places to live in the Midwest. Des Moines is home to one of the largest state fairs in the U.S. as well as one of the best farmers markets in the country – The downtown Farmer’s Market. Moving here with long distance movers Iowa your kids will have a great education, not only middle school and high school but also higher education. Two of the famous Iowa universities are in De Moines, Drake University, and Grand View University. The cost of living is affordable like in most cities of the state.

The price of a home is around $119.800 while the monthly rent is $775. After all, Iowa is known to be one of the most affordable states to move to.  Moreover, there are plenty of job opportunities wheatear you are working in transportation, manufacturing, healthcare, teaching, hospitality, etc. People are extremely friendly, which makes it easy to make a lot of friends.

Fort Wayne, Indiana

It is known for its parks and boulevards that connect three rivers that are registered in the National Register of Historic Places. The reasons why most people move here with the help of long distance moving companies Indiana are the low cost of living and strong wages. The cost of living is 14% below the national average! This city is one of the best places to buy a home and raise a family. It is family-friendly and well maintained.

The city is not lacking jobs; you will be able to find well-paid ones pretty easily. With a great quality of life, a booming economy, and affordable home prices Fort Wayne should be your number one choice. Moreover, the economy is on the rise. The predicted job increase over the next ten years is 38.6%. One of the biggest industries in Fort Wayne is the manufacturing industry. Some of the famous Fortune 500 Companies are based here:

  • Steel Dynamics Inc,
  • Franklin Electric

Moreover, you will have the opportunity to work for some of the industry giants like General Motors, Vera Bradley, Nestle. For those looking to shorten their commute time, Fort Wayne is perfect. The average commute is around 21.1 minutes.  This leaves you with a lot of free time that you can spend with your family and friends. When it comes to taxes, income and sales taxes are lower than the national average. While property taxes are decently low. Another plus for this beautiful city whit many opportunities.

Median home purchase price in the most affordable cities to move to

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Huntsville, Alabama

Not too small and not too big with a population of 188,973 The Rocket City is the place to be! Even though the cost of living is slightly above the state average it is still 4% lower than the national average. This is all due to affordable housing. The median home price is around $ 168.900. However, if you just want to rent a place it will cost you roughly around $750. Compared to many other places in the country this is fairly cheap. Moreover, the transportation is affordable, which is good news for those who don’t own a car. Job wise there are many opportunities. You will be able to make a progress in your career. Some of the biggest companies based here are the following:

  • Huntsville Hospital, 
  • Sequel Youth & Family Services,
  • Millennium System Services, Inc. 

Many opportunities are waiting for you in the Rocket City, so pick up your phone and contact long distance movers Alabama to schedule your move to one of the most affordable cities in the country!

a rocket
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is in Huntsville.



Kansas City, Missouri

Even though its name points to another state, Kansas City is actually the largest city in the state of Missouri, as well as one of the most affordable cities to move to. The estimated population is around 492,000 – which also puts it in the top 40 most populous cities in the whole country. One of the most famous traits of the city is its ties to jazz music and culture. This is best represented in the theater. Kansas City was the center of the Vaudevillian Orpheum circuit at the beginning of the twentieth century. Other prominent perks include the cuisine (especially barbecue) and the craft breweries.

The reasons you would want to call your long-distance moving companies Missouri, though, are plenty! The rental properties here average at only $850 per month. The low mortgages that take only a part of your monthly income are a huge plus as well! Add to that the low cost of living and you have yourself a great place to call home! What’s more, if you are on the job hunt, then you will love to know that Kansas City is a hub for a lot of federal government jobs. Finally, the cost of all the amazing food and entertainment we mentioned is really low – which is only an added perk!

Kansas City one of the most affordable cities to move to
Low cost of living and amazing food and music are just some of the things that make Kansas City a great place to call home.

Unemployment rate in the most affordable cities to move to

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Memphis, Tennessee

Now, almost everyone has heard about Memphis, Tennessee. Sitting right on the Mississippi River, this city has a population of around 650,000, which makes it the largest on the River. What might prompt you to call long distance moving companies Tennessee is the cities importance in the culture and history of the South. The food and music are perfect for stress-free living. Whether it’s winter or summer, you will have a bunch of things to do in Memphis. Go for a bike ride or a canoe ride on the Mississippi or the Ghost.

If you are foody then you are going to be thrilled to learn that Memphis has an array of food and music festivals. The city is in a festive mood all year round! Maybe this is one of the reasons why Memphis is ranked in 9th place as the happiest city to live in and in the 4th place the happiest city to work in the country! However, that’s not all! It is also one of the most affordable cities to move to because the cost of living is 17 percent lower than the national average – which you can see in the table below! Moreover, Tennessee has a 0 percent tax rate, and a 1or 2 percent flat rate for income earned through dividends and interests. The mortgage is really, really low too – which makes the city a perfect choice!

Nashville, Tennessee

With a population of 643,771, Nashville is the capital of Tennessee. The Music City is one of the best places to live in the country. If you love music and the events related to it, then this is a no-brainer. Nashville is proof that the city doesn’t have to be small in order to be affordable. The average housing prices are around $174,600.  The unemployment rates are 4.3% which is considered low. This is mainly due to the terrific job opportunities. You can score a job at one of the famous companies like Nissan North America, HCA Healthcare, and Bridgestone.  Moreover, one of the biggest pros of moving to Nashville with one of the best long distance moving companies Tennessee has to offer is that you will not be paying the state income taxes.

Nashville one of the most affordable cities to move to.
The Music City is waiting for you!

Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha is the biggest city in Nebraska, with a population of around 466,000 people. It is also the county seat of Douglas County, sitting right on the Missouri River. The reasons for calling long distance movers Nebraska are plenty! First, you will make a lot more money than the nation’s average, and you will spend a lot less! A third of the people living here are younger than 24, so it is perfect for young professionals. What’s more, five of the largest corporations in the United States are nearby. So, you will have a lot of job opportunities!

The cost of living is 6.4% below the national average, while the median home price is $220.600 which is affordable compared to most of the cities in the country. Furthermore, you will get to experience all four seasons. Summers are hot and humid while winters are cold. Omaha has great options of Colleges and Universities. There are plenty of events that you will enjoy all year round.

Omaha one of the most affordable cities to move to
Omaha is a perfect city for young professionals!

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

You know how they say that nature makes people feel happier? Well, residents of Oklahoma City can attest to that! There are many green spaces you can enjoy. Moreover, people are friendly and always ready to help. With a population of 620.015, this is a great place to live. The city is safe and has highly rated schools. Moreover, a few times it was voted as one of the favorite cities for millennials. The cost of living is low and the wages are high. This gives you the opportunity to save up and enjoy various events that take place every year. If you want to become one of the happy residents of Oklahoma City calling long distance movers Oklahoma is a smart thing to do! Offer yourself the life you deserve and move to the city where you can work hard and play hard.

aerial view of Oklahoma City
One of the favorite cities of millennials.

San Antonio, Texas

The City of San Antonio is the seventh-most populous one in the country – but is only second-most populous in the state of Texas. There are more than 1.5 million people living here! If you want to be one of them, then calling long distance movers Texas is a must! What you will find, however, is a thriving arts community, as well as breathtaking natural scenery. The economic appeal of the city is amazing too! Housing prices, for example, are often just a tenth of the average you will find in cities of similar size! This makes San Antonio one of the most affordable cities to move to by a huge margin! Moreover, there are no income taxes so you will be saving money by moving here. Even though it is a big city it has kept a small-town feel. It’s a perfect mix of urban and rural.

Income tax rates in the most affordable cities to move to

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Tampa, Florida

We couldn’t complete this list without adding a sunny place with beaches. Tampa Florida is another state where you will not have to pay state income tax. You will pay around 2% for property taxes. The low cost of living and affordable home prices are the reason you should move here with long distance movers Florida. You will get 250 days of sunshine annually; this is great for those who love doing activities on weekends. There are many interesting activities that you can do, and most of them are water-based. If you love going out, here you will find many different fine dining places and bars. Moreover, no matter what age are you, Tampa is a good place for you. The job market is constantly growing, which is great news for those looking to find a job after moving here. 

Cities with their cost index (with 100 being the average)

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Tulsa, Oklahoma

Another great place in the state of Oklahoma. With a population of 399.906, Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state. One of the biggest advantages of moving here apart from the affordability is the fact that you can get paid to live here. Yes, you read it right! As long as you live outside of Oklahoma you can apply for the program as a remote worker. You will get free desk space and 10.000 dollars in cash! This is reason enough to contact one of our long distance movers in Oklahoma and start planning your move here! Furthermore, the cost of living is 13% below the national average. Move to Tulsa and enjoy the perks of living in one of the most affordable cities in the country!

Tulsa
You can get paid to move to Tulsa!

The most affordable cities to move to are scattered all of the country

As you can see, the most affordable cities to move to aren’t only in one area of the United States. Instead, they are spread out all over. From the southeastern states like Iowa, Tennessee, or Alabama, over Oklahoma and Nebraska to Florida and Texas – your destination can be anywhere on the map! There are even some pretty surprising appearances on this list – like Buffalo in New York state or Dallas, Texas. These states can be quite notorious as touristy – but they offer some affordable living solutions as well!

Now that you have this list, all it really takes is to learn more about the cities. Each one offers something unique about them. This can either be the climate, the way of life, people, job opportunities – and many, many more things! It’s up to you to research each of them and decide what the best step of action is for you! Then, you should call your movers and start planning your move!

Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive! We offer you five amazing choices, but there are many more still left to explore! No one can really know which city is the perfect one for you! All we can do is make some great suggestions! However, it is completely up to you to keep exploring and keep learning. The perfect city is out there – just waiting for you to find it! Until then, you can jump into exploring these thirteen choices in our article!