10 Affordable U.S. Cities to Live Alone in 2026, According to the Carrie Bradshaw Index
Ever dreamed of walking into your own apartment, tossing your keys in a cute bowl, decorating exactly how you want, and never worrying about whose turn it is to scrub the shower? For millions of Americans, the desire to live solo is more than a lifestyle preference; it’s a marker of independence and financial stability.
But in 2026, the cost of that independence depends heavily on which city you choose.
To help renters understand where solo living is realistic, The Economist released its third annual Carrie Bradshaw Index, named after the iconic Sex and the City character who somehow afforded a West Village studio on a columnist’s salary. Spoiler: Carrie couldn’t pull that off today.
The Carrie Bradshaw Index Explained
The index evaluates 100 major U.S. cities using one standard budgeting rule: rent should cost no more than 30% of income. Suppose the median salary in a city can cover a typical studio rent within that limit. In that case, the city gets a Bradshaw Score above 1.0, meaning most people can live alone without financial strain. A score below 1.0 indicates that solo living is out of financial reach for most.
The gap between American cities is striking. In New York City, the median studio rent is $3,790 a month, meaning residents must earn more than $151,000 per year to live comfortably alone.
But a standard studio in Las Vegas, Nevada, costs under $1,000 monthly, affordable on about $40,000 a year, according to the 30% rule that financial planners hold on to.
But affordability is shrinking. Last year, 38 cities were classified as unaffordable. In 2025, that number jumped to 41.
Memphis, Tennessee, experienced the steepest drop. Its Bradshaw score plunged from 1.5 to just under 1.0. Average studio rent jumped from $745 to nearly $1,200, spurred by strong housing demand and slow construction.
There are a couple of reasons for this drop in affordability, with Texas as its leading example:
- There is a surging rental demand in popular metros
- Wages aren’t rising fast enough to keep up with the rental prices
- The housing construction in key areas is slow
- A rapid population growth in business-friendly states
Texas: From Affordable Hotspot to Rent Pressure Cooker
For years, Dallas, Houston, and Austin attracted workers with high-growth jobs, low taxes, and relatively cheap housing. That era is fading.
In Austin, studio rents soared 25% to $1,580 a month. To stay within the budget rule, renters would need $63,200 annually, over $10,000 more than the city’s median income; the city’s Bradshaw score dropped to 0.8.
Dallas and Houston slipped into the unaffordable category, too. Memphis experienced one of the steepest affordability declines as well.
So where does that leave singles looking for a space of their own?
Top 10 U.S. Cities Where Americans Can Live Alone in 2026
The latest index highlights 10 cities that balance livability and affordability.
- Wichita, KS
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Lincoln, NE
- Des Moines, IA
- Akron, OH
- Tucson, AZ
- Tulsa, OK
- St. Louis, MO
- Albuquerque, NM
- Aurora, CO
Wichita, Kansas, takes the crown for the second year. The average studio runs around $580/month, requiring a salary of only $26,400 to live within budget, and its median wages exceed that by nearly $20,000.
Other cities that have become more affordable are: Tallahassee (Florida), Phoenix (Arizona), and Aurora (Colorado). And Knoxville, Tennessee, made the biggest turnaround: with median wages around $45,460 and average studio rent at just $970, it now lands firmly on the affordable side.
See also: Zillow Reveals Where You Can Still Rent Under $1,000
No, it doesn’t have Wall Street energy. But it does offer financial breathing room, something New York cannot compete with.
