The 10 Cheapest Cities In America
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<strong>Price of T-bone steak:</strong> $8.98</p>
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<strong>Cost of orange juice:</strong> $2.98</p>
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<strong>Average monthly utilities:</strong> $146.68</p>
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<strong>Median rental cost:</strong> $798</p>
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<strong>Average home price (2,400 sq. foot, 4 bedrooms/2+ bathrooms):</strong> $223,371</p>
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By <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com" target="_blank">Business Insider</a></p>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/haggismac/2744694741/in/photostream/">Photo: Flickr / Sean Loyless</a></p>
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<strong>Price of T-bone steak:</strong> $9.57</p>
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<strong>Cost of orange juice:</strong> $2.79</p>
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<strong>Average monthly utilities:</strong> $155.62</p>
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<strong>Median rental cost:</strong> $<span>610</span></p>
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<strong>Average home price (2,400 sq. foot, 4 bedrooms/2+ bathrooms):</strong> $217,376</p>
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By <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com" target="_blank">Business Insider</a></p>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aka_kath/1144669824/in/photostream/">Photo: Flickr / aka Kath</a></p>
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<strong>Price of T-bone steak:</strong> $8.98</p>
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<strong>Cost of orange juice:</strong> $3.36</p>
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<strong>Average monthly utilities:</strong> $143.15</p>
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<strong>Median rental cost:</strong> $640</p>
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<strong>Average home price (2,400 sq. foot, 4 bedrooms/2+ bathrooms):</strong> $240,000</p>
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By <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com" target="_blank">Business Insider</a></p>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49024304@N00/1389252732/in/photostream/">Photo: anyjazz65</a>, Flickr.com</div>
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"When Memphis showed up in the list, I was really surprised," says Frutiger. "Memphis is a major city." </p>
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<strong>Price of T-bone steak:</strong> $8.82</p>
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<strong>Cost of orange juice: </strong>$3.27</p>
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<strong>Average monthly utilities:</strong> $134.40</p>
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<strong>Median rental cost:</strong> $705</p>
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<strong>Average home price (2,400 sq. foot, 4 bedrooms/2+ bathrooms):</strong> $198,268</p>
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By <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com" target="_blank">Business Insider</a></p>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mishism/3081346310/in/photostream/">Photo: Flickr / MiiiSH</a></p>
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Most of the cities on this list, like Fayetteville, are rather small. So are the low-prices a byproduct of a smaller population? Not exactly, says Frutiger.</p>
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"Though some of the cheaper cities do have a population issue—more people means more demand and higher prices—[COLI] does have a population requirement. Not just anyone can participate in the Cost of Living Index." </p>
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<strong>Price of T-bone steak:</strong> $9.96</p>
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<strong>Cost of orange juice:</strong> $3.23</p>
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<strong>Average monthly utilities: </strong>$142.94</p>
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<strong>Median rental cost:</strong> $551</p>
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<strong>Average home price (2,400 sq. foot, 4 bedrooms/2+ bathrooms):</strong> $241,400</p>
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By <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com" target="_blank">Business Insider</a></p>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nanoprobe67/6231658143/">Photo: Doug Wertman, flickr.com </a></p>
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<strong>Price of T-bone steak:</strong> $9.48</p>
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<strong>Cost of orange juice:</strong> $3.07</p>
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<strong>Average monthly utilities:</strong> $144.83</p>
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<strong>Median rental cost:</strong> $657</p>
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<strong>Average home price (2,400 sq. foot, 4 bedrooms/2+ bathrooms):</strong> $230,439</p>
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By <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com" target="_blank">Business Insider</a></p>
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<strong>Price of T-bone steak:</strong> $9.65</p>
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<strong>Cost of orange juice:</strong> $3.22</p>
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<strong>Average monthly utilities:</strong> $145.45</p>
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<strong>Median rental cost:</strong> $516</p>
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<strong>Average home price (2,400 sq. foot, 4 bedrooms/2+ bathrooms):</strong> $206,667</p>
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By <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com" target="_blank">Business Insider</a></p>
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Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/legalsec/55232824/in/photostream/">jilly~bean</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/legalsec/55232824/in/photostream/">Flickr.com</a></p>
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"Housing prices are very low in Texas, even in the major cities. Houston, Dallas ... Housing there is relatively inexpensive," Frutiger says.</p>
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"A lot of it, too, is the housing size. Two thousand and four hundred square feet in New York is a mansion, but in Texas it's a closet."</p>
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<strong>Price of T-bone steak:</strong> $9.49</p>
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<strong>Cost of orange juice:</strong> $2.98</p>
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<strong>Average monthly utilities:</strong> $167.73</p>
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<strong>Median rental cost:</strong> $749</p>
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<strong>Average home price (2,400 sq. foot, 4 bedrooms/2+ bathrooms):</strong> $213,850</p>
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By <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com" target="_blank">Business Insider</a></p>
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Frutiger adds, "You're looking at houses in Texas that are way bigger than anything you'll get in a large Northeastern city, and for a relatively cheaper per square foot price." </p>
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<strong>Price of T-bone steak:</strong> $6.98</p>
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<strong>Cost of orange juice:</strong> $3.08</p>
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<strong>Average monthly utilities:</strong> $145.80</p>
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<strong>Median rental cost:</strong> $565</p>
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<strong>Average home price (2,400 sq. foot, 4 bedrooms/2+ bathrooms):</strong> $264,000</p>
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By <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com" target="_blank">Business Insider</a></p>
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"Every time we release this data, Harlingen makes the news," the economist says with a chuckle, "and the people love it."</p>
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In Manhattan, the most expensive U.S. city right now, rent is $2,905 more each month than in Harlingen. </p>
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Even a tube of toothpaste costs $1.73 more in Manhattan.</p>
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<strong>Price of T-bone steak:</strong> $8.14</p>
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<strong>Cost of orange juice:</strong> $2.98</p>
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<strong>Average monthly utilities:</strong> $158.65</p>
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<strong>Median rental cost:</strong> $642</p>
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<strong>Average home price (2,400 sq. foot, 4 bedrooms/2+ bathrooms):</strong> $221,486</p>
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<p>
By <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com" target="_blank">Business Insider</a></p>
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Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sadiediane/4471406845/in/photostream/">Sadie Hernandez</a>, Flickr.com</p>
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![<p> Most of the cities on this list, like Fayetteville, are rather small. So are the low-prices a byproduct of a smaller population? Not exactly, says Frutiger.</p> <p> "Though some of the cheaper cities do have a population issue—more people means more demand and higher prices—[COLI] does have a population requirement. Not just anyone can participate in the Cost of Living Index." </p> <p> <strong>Price of T-bone steak:</strong> $9.96</p> <p> <strong>Cost of orange juice:</strong> $3.23</p> <p> <strong>Average monthly utilities: </strong>$142.94</p> <p> <strong>Median rental cost:</strong> $551</p> <p> <strong>Average home price (2,400 sq. foot, 4 bedrooms/2+ bathrooms):</strong> $241,400</p> <br /> <p> By <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com" target="_blank">Business Insider</a></p> <p> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nanoprobe67/6231658143/">Photo: Doug Wertman, flickr.com </a></p> <p> </p>](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.dailyfinance.com/media/2012/09/fayetteville-1040cs091212.jpg){kind=link}
