Best Cities To Live Monthly Budget: Americans may not agree on much these days, but one thing is certain: the cost of living has skyrocketed. Politicians use the term “inflation” as if it’s unavoidable or unavoidable, but all it means is more money spent on the same necessities we’ve always paid for.
The inflation rate was 6.2% in October 2021. It had reached an amazing height of 9.1% by June 2022, and it is still at 8.2% now. It can be difficult to find methods to cut back. While there are no obvious solutions to lowering the cost of living, one method is to look for areas where you can live comfortably on $4,000 or less. Depending on where you live presently, you may need to relocate because some of the most affordable cities are in the South and Southwest.
GOBankingRates used data from ApartmentList, Sperling’s Best, the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021 Consumer Expenditure Survey, and AreaVibes to determine the best cities to live on less than $4,000 per month. The top three are as follows.
3 Best Cities To Live Monthly Budget on a $4,000
Texas, Abilene
- Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in 2022: $759.78
- $3,853.67 in monthly expenses
Abilene, Texas, was formed in 1881 as a result of the T & M railway, which required a spot for trains to stop along its route. Since then, this historic portion of Texas has gone a long way in terms of arts, culture, and entertainment, with a liveability score of 75.
Not only can you live in Abilene for less than $4,000 a month, but you can also enjoy attractions like its Downtown Cultural District, which, according to the visitors’ bureau, is a walkable procession of live music, museums, performing arts centres, shopping, dining, and storybook sculptures. It’s also a terrific site for outdoor enthusiasts, with trails for bicycling, walking, and horseback riding, as well as beautiful spots for bird viewing, fishing, and just relaxing in nature.
Texas Midland
- Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in 2022: $736.89
- $3,705.26 in monthly expenses
Texas takes the lead on this list, with a second town, Midland, offering affordability and much more. The city, which is ideally located along Interstate 20 between Fort Worth and El Paso, gets a liveability score of 72 due to its good amenities and attractions, parks, restaurants, arts and culture, and so on.
Summer Mummers, a unique performing arts event, should be checked out, as should a hunt for Midland’s unique murals all around town, or a day excursion to nearby Big Bend National Park, according to VisitMidland.com.
Louisiana’s Lake Charles
- Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in 2022: $696.33
- $3,764.39 in monthly expenses
You’ll pay the least amount of rent in Lake Charles, Louisiana, which has a liveability score of 70, as well as the least amount of overall monthly expenses. But it doesn’t imply there’s nothing to see or do here.
According to VisitLakeCharles.org, the community has “a Cajun personality with a Texas flair.” Being lakeside also allows for a variety of aquatic sports at the Bord du Lac Marina, Prien Lake Park, or the picturesque North Beach. Live music can be found in casinos, pubs, and restaurants such as Panoramic Music House. In addition, the town offers a number of festivals, including the Smoke & Barrel, whisky and BBQ events, and the eerie Lost Hollows tour.
GOBankingRates used ApartmentList data to find (1) average 2022 one-bedroom rents to determine the best cities to live on less than $4,000 per month. The (2) overall cost of living index for each selected city was then calculated by GOBanking Rates using Sperling’s Best. Then, GOBankingRates used (3) data points from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021 Consumer Expenditure Survey to calculate how much a person may spend living in each city on a monthly basis. The monthly expenditures were then added together by GOBankingRates. To be eligible for the survey, a location has to have a liveability score of 75 or higher, according to AreaVibes. All data was gathered on and is current as of October 12, 2022.
