Most Affordable Cities With Good Weather (2026)
Data-driven city rankings · 2026
Overview
The Sun Belt's population boom is not just about jobs — it is about escaping harsh winters without paying California or Miami prices. Dozens of southern and southwestern metros offer warm climates, reasonable sunshine, and cost indices well below the national average.
We focused on states known for mild winters and abundant sunshine: Florida, Texas, Arizona, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Nevada, and neighboring states. Within these warm-weather states, we filtered for cities with below-average cost indices.
Ranking Criteria
Ranked by cost index among cities in Sun Belt and warm-weather states (FL, TX, AZ, NM, GA, SC, NC, AL, MS, LA, TN, NV). Index cap of 100 ensures prices remain below the national average.
Top Cities
| # | City | Index | Rent | Home Price | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson, MS | 82 | $900/mo | $125,000 | $36,528 |
| 2 | Lubbock, TX | 83 | $950/mo | $175,000 | $49,834 |
| 3 | Brownsville, TX | 83 | $1,220/mo | $271,000 | $46,400 |
| 4 | Gulfport, MS | 83 | $810/mo | $192,000 | $47,500 |
| 5 | Memphis, TN | 84 | $1,000/mo | $155,000 | $41,228 |
| 6 | Mobile, AL | 84 | $1,390/mo | $308,000 | $42,900 |
| 7 | Hattiesburg, MS | 84 | $1,220/mo | $259,000 | $44,600 |
| 8 | El Paso, TX | 85 | $1,000/mo | $185,000 | $47,568 |
| 9 | Irving, TX | 85 | $850/mo | $249,000 | $46,700 |
| 10 | Laredo, TX | 86 | $1,050/mo | $222,000 | $43,800 |
| 11 | Birmingham, AL | 87 | $1,000/mo | $165,000 | $38,178 |
| 12 | Corpus Christi, TX | 87 | $1,100/mo | $195,000 | $53,238 |
| 13 | Greensboro, NC | 87 | $830/mo | $228,000 | $42,300 |
| 14 | Clarksville, TN | 87 | $1,410/mo | $324,000 | $46,700 |
| 15 | Lafayette, LA | 87 | $840/mo | $213,000 | $46,200 |
| 16 | Augusta, GA | 87 | $1,060/mo | $266,000 | $48,800 |
| 17 | Sandy Springs, GA | 87 | $1,430/mo | $334,000 | $45,500 |
| 18 | Knoxville, TN | 88 | $1,100/mo | $240,000 | $42,898 |
| 19 | Beaumont, TX | 88 | $1,300/mo | $282,000 | $51,300 |
| 20 | Chattanooga, TN | 89 | $1,200/mo | $255,000 | $46,054 |
City-by-City Breakdown
1. Jackson, MS (Index: 82)
Jackson sits 18% below the national average with a cost index of 82. Median rent runs $900/mo per month, and the median home price is $125,000. With a median household income of $36,528, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 56, which is the most affordable category in Jackson.
2. Lubbock, TX (Index: 83)
Lubbock sits 17% below the national average with a cost index of 83. Median rent runs $950/mo per month, and the median home price is $175,000. With a median household income of $49,834, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 59, which is the most affordable category in Lubbock.
3. Brownsville, TX (Index: 83)
Brownsville sits 17% below the national average with a cost index of 83. Median rent runs $1,220/mo per month, and the median home price is $271,000. With a median household income of $46,400, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 95, which drives most of the overall cost in Brownsville.
4. Gulfport, MS (Index: 83)
Gulfport sits 17% below the national average with a cost index of 83. Median rent runs $810/mo per month, and the median home price is $192,000. With a median household income of $47,500, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 60, which is the most affordable category in Gulfport.
5. Memphis, TN (Index: 84)
Memphis sits 16% below the national average with a cost index of 84. Median rent runs $1,000/mo per month, and the median home price is $155,000. With a median household income of $41,228, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 63, which is the most affordable category in Memphis.
6. Mobile, AL (Index: 84)
Mobile sits 16% below the national average with a cost index of 84. Median rent runs $1,390/mo per month, and the median home price is $308,000. With a median household income of $42,900, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 103, which drives most of the overall cost in Mobile.
7. Hattiesburg, MS (Index: 84)
Hattiesburg sits 16% below the national average with a cost index of 84. Median rent runs $1,220/mo per month, and the median home price is $259,000. With a median household income of $44,600, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 85, which drives most of the overall cost in Hattiesburg.
8. El Paso, TX (Index: 85)
El Paso sits 15% below the national average with a cost index of 85. Median rent runs $1,000/mo per month, and the median home price is $185,000. With a median household income of $47,568, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 69, which is the most affordable category in El Paso.
9. Irving, TX (Index: 85)
Irving sits 15% below the national average with a cost index of 85. Median rent runs $850/mo per month, and the median home price is $249,000. With a median household income of $46,700, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 79, which is the most affordable category in Irving.
10. Laredo, TX (Index: 86)
Laredo sits 14% below the national average with a cost index of 86. Median rent runs $1,050/mo per month, and the median home price is $222,000. With a median household income of $43,800, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 78, which is the most affordable category in Laredo.
How to Use This Data
Warm weather brings its own cost considerations. Utility bills may be lower in winter but spike during summer air conditioning season. Check the utilities index on each city profile page for a sense of energy costs. Also factor in higher homeowner insurance premiums in hurricane-prone areas of Florida, Texas, and the Gulf Coast. Despite these offsets, the overall cost savings in these Sun Belt metros typically outweigh the climate-specific extras.
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