It’s a sad but true fact: The best cities for young professionals aren’t always the most affordable. Although metropolises like New York City, Boston, and San Francisco often have the highest-paying jobs and the strongest economies, they’re also notoriously expensive places to live.
If you’re not keen on the idea of sharing a tiny apartment with several roommates, consider putting down roots in an up-and-coming city that will be kinder to your bank account. Need some ideas to kick off your job search? We’ve gone ahead and rounded up a list of affordable cities that offer a bevy of professional opportunities for young and budget-conscious job-seekers.
- San Antonio, Texas
- Metro Population: 2,550,960
- Cost of Living: 14% lower than the national average
- Median Home Price: $262,332
San Antonians tend to be pretty devoted to their city, and for good reason. The Alamo City is surrounded by beautiful scenery (seriously, check out their gorgeous River Walk), boasts a thriving arts scene, and has a surprisingly low cost of living. If you’re searching for a job in healthcare, the city’s medical facilities are second-to-none. Major employers in San Antonio include the military, USAA, Rackspace, and CPS Energy. Another perk? No state income tax!
- Salt Lake City, Utah
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- Population: 1,222,540
- Cost of Living: 6% lower than the national average
- Median Home Price: $320,281
Salt Lake City is attracting young professionals in droves, thanks to a booming tech industry, an excellent transportation system, and a low cost of living in comparison to other metro areas. It also doesn’t hurt that SLC is home to some of the best skiing in the country (it’s not called “Ski Town, USA” for nothing) and a surprisingly active nightlife. While those are all solid reasons to make SLC your new hometown, many professionals decide to plant their roots in the city for its charm, beauty, and a culture of civic responsibility and community.
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Population: 738,939
- Cost of Living: 6% lower than the national average
- Median Home Price: $341,101
Are you an outdoor enthusiast who prefers a city with a laidback vibe? Look no further than the City of Colorado Springs. Nestled against the majestic Pikes Peak, this fast-growing city offers an array of outdoor sports, scenic office views, affordable living costs, and over 100 miles of on-street bicycle routes for easy and convenient commuting.
If you’re trying to map out a career path in STEM, Colorado Springs is a safe bet. The city is known for its booming cybersecurity industry, as well its groundbreaking innovation in biomedicine. Colorado Springs also has a pro-business environment that makes it attractive to small business owners and cutting-edge startups.
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Metro Population: 1,151,801
- Cost of Living: 9% lower than the national average
- Median Home Price: $299,808
Known as “The Pittsburgh of the South” for its heavy role in steel and iron production, Birmingham is quickly becoming a hotspot for young professionals. The Magic City boasts a thriving job market — it took the number 8 spot on Glassdoor’s list of Best Cities for Jobs 2020 — and extremely affordable rental properties, making it the ideal city for recent college graduates. And if you somehow get tired of Birmingham’s mouth-watering food, burgeoning craft brew scene, and cultural attractions galore, the city of Atlanta is just a two-hour road trip away.
- Raleigh, North Carolina
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- Metro Population: 1,264,000
- Cost of Living: 5% lower than the national average
- Median Home Price: $241,512
If you’re thinking about choosing a career in tech, then the City of Raleigh definitely deserves a spot on your shortlist of places to relocate to after graduation. Often called “the next Silicon Valley” by news outlets, Raleigh’s tech scene has been steadily growing over the last decade. What’s been attracting top tech companies to the city? Two things: lower taxes and top tech talent coming out of “the Triangle,” the nickname given to the area that encompasses Raleigh’s three major universities.
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Metro Population: 1,504,980
- Cost of Living: 5% lower than the national average
- Median Home Price: $309,524
Don’t let the “Florida Man” jokes fool you — Florida is an absolutely beautiful state. If you want to live close to Florida’s stunning beaches without paying an arm and a leg for it, consider moving to Jacksonville. Not only is the job market amazing for young professionals, housing is super affordable compared to other Florida metros like Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. And since Jacksonville is a massive city, there are tons of things to do: farmers markets, art galleries, parks, beaches, delicious bars and restaurants, indoor skydiving, golf, and much more.
- Des Moines, Iowa
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- Metro Population: 699,292
- Cost of Living: 10% lower than the national average
- Median Home Price: $286,622
With short commute times, a low cost of living, and a slew of career opportunities, Des Moines is a fantastic place for young professionals to plant their roots. This fast-growing city has a highly educated population and boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. The region’s insurance and financial sector is especially robust, making it a great place for business and finance majors. Des Moines has been catering to the younger crowd for a long time, and it definitely shows through their vibrant downtown and abundance of networking opportunities.
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Metro Population: 2,048,703
- Cost of Living: 8% lower than the national average
- Median Home Price: $280,376
With an extremely low cost of living, a thriving downtown, a growing food scene, and lots of job opportunities, Indianapolis is another city that you should check out. Although its mostly known for its automotive industry due to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the city also has a growing tech scene and a strong life sciences industry. When they’re not working, Indy residents enjoy catching a flick at Tibbs Drive-In Theater, going to the Indianapolis Zoo, and grabbing a craft brew at one of the many new breweries and taprooms that are popping up in the city.