1. Memphis, Tennessee

• Cost of living: 20.6% below the U.S. average
• City population: 650,618
• Median household income: $39,108
• Income adjusted by cost of living: $49,254
• Median home price: $248,857
• Median monthly rent: $756
• Cost of a half-gallon of milk: $1.90

Situated on the Mississippi River, Memphis is a big city with a small-town vibe. It should be no surprise that the city, which gave B.B. King, Otis Redding, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley their starts, is a popular choice with budding musicians. It only takes one trip to Beale Street to realize that Memphis hasn’t lost its musical heritage.

Nevertheless, there are a number of companies that are headquartered within the city, including FedEx and AutoZone. Though the cost of living in Memphis is low – it’s actually the sixth cheapest city in the United States – the salaries are even lower. Despite being among the country’s largest distribution centers, Memphis still has the lowest median household income of any city on this list. Residents earn 35% less than the average American.

2. Tulsa, Oklahoma

• Cost of living: 14.8% below the U.S. average
• City population: 400,669
• Median household income: $46,113
• Income adjusted by cost of living: $54,123
• Median home price: $231,122
• Median monthly rent: $678
• Cost of a half-gallon of milk: $2.09

Once considered the “Oil Capital of the World,” the oil boom of the ’20s brought great wealth to Tulsa and has left a lasting mark on the city – even the local sports teams, the Tulsa Oilers and Tulsa Drillers, pay tribute to this history.

Thanks to the city’s prosperity at that time, Tulsa still has one of the most spectacular collections of art deco architecture in the country. Although the city’s stronghold on the oil industry ended in the ’60s, energy continues to be a thriving industry in Tulsa. Careers in the aerospace industry are also plentiful, as the city is home to American Airlines Maintenance and Engineering Center, the largest facility of its kind.

Although the median household income in Tulsa is lower than the national average, residents take pleasure in the warmth of the community and the city’s low housing costs. Tulsa’s median home price and rent are below the national average by 26% and 31%, respectively, making the city’s housing the cheapest on the list.

3. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• Cost of living: 14.6% below the U.S. average
• City population: 649,021
• Median household income: $54,034
• Income adjusted by cost of living: $63,272
• Median home price: $243,654
• Median monthly rent: $859
• Cost of a half-gallon of milk: $1.96

Oklahoma’s state capital was no stranger to rough times, but as the city declined, the community pulled itself up by its bootstraps. After implementing a temporary one-cent sales tax increase in the mid-’90s, Oklahoma City has managed to revitalize its downtown by funding projects that have improved residents’ quality of life and stimulated tourism.

Twenty-five years and $1.5 billion later, the success of the public works program is undisputed. The city has not incurred any debt, and residents have voted to begin its fourth phase. Known as the Big Friendly, Oklahoma City truly takes care of its own, and younger residents have been moving in as a result.

It doesn’t hurt that housing prices have remained low despite the strengthening of the local economy. In fact, Oklahoma City has the highest purchasing power of any city on this list, meaning residents have to spend less to maintain a higher standard of living.

4. St. Louis, Missouri

• Cost of living: 12.6% below the U.S. average
• City population: 302,838
• Median household income: $41,107
• Income adjusted by cost of living: $47,033
• Median home price: $244,787
• Median monthly rent: $856
• Cost of a half-gallon of milk: $1.72

With just over 300,000 residents, St. Louis may be the smallest of the big cities, but its extensive history adds to its greatness. St. Louis was acquired by Thomas Jefferson as part of the Louisiana Purchase. It was the point of departure for Lewis and Clark’s expedition in 1804 and home to the World’s Fair 100 years later. This rich history has provided the city with a wealth of historic buildings and museums, many of which are free to the public.

In fact, many of the city’s attractions are complimentary, including the Saint Louis Zoo, Science Center and iconic Gateway Arch, which is useful considering that the city has the lowest purchasing power of any of the seven most affordable big cities. Still, many top corporations are headquartered in St. Louis, such as Anheuser-Busch, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Express Scripts and Nestle-Purina.

But, it’s the civic pride of the residents – who are as charitable as they are community-minded – and low housing costs that make this city competitive.

5. San Antonio, Texas

• Cost of living: 11.3% below the U.S. average
• City population: 1,532,233
• Median household income: $50,980
• Income adjusted by cost of living: $57,475
• Median home price: $264,718
• Median monthly rent: $1,200
• Cost of a half-gallon of milk: $1.34

As the second-largest city in Texas and the seventh largest city in the United States, San Antonio is a lively place to settle down. It may have over 1.5 million residents, but spread across just over 460 square miles, the city never feels overcrowded.

Home of the Alamo, the community celebrates its Mexican-American heritage. With countless festivals, including the 11-day Fiesta San Antonio, a handful of amusement parks, world-class museums and parks, San Antonio literally has something for everyone to enjoy. Jobs are also plentiful, with large corporations like USAA, Valero Energy and Air Force Federal Credit Union headquartered in the city.

Plus, San Antonio possesses many military stations, and the city’s Joint Base houses the Department of Defense’s largest medical center. Although San Antonians make around 15% less than the average American, they benefit from the fact that there’s no state income tax. Furthermore, they spend less on groceries: In San Antonio, a half-gallon of milk costs 31% less than the national average.

6. Tampa, Florida

• Cost of living: 9.1% below the U.S. average
• City population: 392,890
• Median household income: $50,909
• Income adjusted by cost of living: $56,006
• Median home price: $259,155
• Median monthly rent: $1,205
• Cost of a half-gallon of milk: $2.41

Tampa’s not the place to score an oceanfront property, but with beaches half an hour to an hour away, it’s certainly an affordable alternative. With warm summer days, mild winter nights and 178 parks, many of which overlook the bay or river, living in Tampa can feel like a vacation.

Therefore, it may not be surprising that tourism is a substantial contributor to the local economy. Port Tampa Bay is the seventh largest in the country, bringing hundreds of thousands of cruise passengers and tens of millions of dollars into the city each year. While the supply chain industry is certainly thriving, Tampa affords its residents great job opportunities in a range of businesses, including healthcare, finance and technology.

Tampanians’ salaries are around 15% lower than the national average. But in Florida, like in Texas, residents don’t have to pay income tax. And, despite the more tropical climate, their utility bills tend to be lower. Tampanians spend approximately 31% less on electricity than the average American. (For those of you who lead with your stomach, you’ll be happy to hear that thanks to Tampa’s significant Cuban population, the city is celebrated for having put the Cuban sandwich on the culinary map.)

7. Jacksonville, Florida

• Cost of living: 9% below the U.S. average
• City population: 903,889
• Median household income: $52,576
• Income adjusted by cost of living: $57,776
• Median home price: $287,931
• Median monthly rent: $1,268
• Cost of a half-gallon of milk: $1.79

If your dream is to live by the ocean, this city’s for you. Jacksonville has 22 miles of beaches and also benefits from having the St. Johns River and the Intracoastal running through it.