The 50 Cheapest Places To Settle on America's East Coast: Your Guide to Budget-Friendly Living

Rising housing costs and inflated living expenses have become a defining issue for American households. Whether you’re looking to relocate, retire on the East Coast, or simply find a place where your paycheck stretches further, affordable locations still exist along the Atlantic seaboard.

GOBankingRates conducted extensive research across over 1,000 East Coast municipalities, analyzing annual living expenses, mortgage rates, household earnings, and overall quality of life metrics. The result: a comprehensive ranking of the 50 most affordable places to live in the region.

Key Highlights From the Analysis

• Pennsylvania dominates with two cities claiming the bottom price tier
• Pennsylvania and Georgia lead the pack, each featuring 11 cities in the top 50 most affordable places to live
• Largest municipalities making the list include Columbus, Georgia (population 204,383) and Erie, Pennsylvania (94,156)
• Highest habitability ratings belong to Meadville, Pennsylvania; Erie, Pennsylvania; and Huntington, West Virginia

The Complete Ranking: 50 Most Affordable Places To Live on the East Coast

1. Sharon, Pennsylvania

• Annual living expenses: $25,797
• Quality of life index: 67
• Average family earnings: $44,595
• Typical monthly home payment: $342

2. Johnstown, Pennsylvania

• Annual living expenses: $29,570
• Quality of life index: 78
• Average family earnings: $34,784
• Typical monthly home payment: $542

3. Jamestown, New York

• Annual living expenses: $29,823
• Quality of life index: 68
• Average family earnings: $44,878
• Typical monthly home payment: $641

4. Americus, Georgia

• Annual living expenses: $29,977
• Quality of life index: 51
• Average family earnings: $39,527
• Typical monthly home payment: $627

5. Cordele, Georgia

• Annual living expenses: $30,214
• Quality of life index: 53
• Average family earnings: $31,564
• Typical monthly home payment: $690

6. McKeesport, Pennsylvania

• Annual living expenses: $30,547
• Quality of life index: 70
• Average family earnings: $31,854
• Typical monthly home payment: $487

7. Dunkirk, New York

• Annual living expenses: $30,672
• Quality of life index: 72
• Average family earnings: $49,003
• Typical monthly home payment: $678

8. Massena, New York

• Annual living expenses: $30,678
• Quality of life index: 71
• Average family earnings: $48,810
• Typical monthly home payment: $607

9. New Castle, Pennsylvania

• Annual living expenses: $30,745
• Quality of life index: 79
• Average family earnings: $41,478
• Typical monthly home payment: $756

10. Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina

• Annual living expenses: $30,759
• Quality of life index: 56
• Average family earnings: $53,981
• Typical monthly home payment: $609

11. Altoona, Pennsylvania

• Annual living expenses: $30,954
• Quality of life index: 78
• Average family earnings: $50,171
• Typical monthly home payment: $718

12. Waycross, Georgia

• Annual living expenses: $30,988
• Quality of life index: 57
• Average family earnings: $37,398
• Typical monthly home payment: $686

13. Albany, Georgia

• Annual living expenses: $31,044
• Quality of life index: 64
• Average family earnings: $45,201
• Typical monthly home payment: $675

14. Martinsville, Virginia

• Annual living expenses: $31,092
• Quality of life index: 69
• Average family earnings: $42,434
• Typical monthly home payment: $716

15. Moultrie, Georgia

• Annual living expenses: $31,105
• Quality of life index: 62
• Average family earnings: $42,900
• Typical monthly home payment: $763

16. Clarksburg, West Virginia

• Annual living expenses: $31,214
• Quality of life index: 82
• Average family earnings: $46,859
• Typical monthly home payment: $613

17. Laurinburg, North Carolina

• Annual living expenses: $31,230
• Quality of life index: 56
• Average family earnings: $39,258
• Typical monthly home payment: $714

18. Cumberland, Maryland

• Annual living expenses: $31,271
• Quality of life index: 78
• Average family earnings: $47,819
• Typical monthly home payment: $781

19. Eden, North Carolina

• Annual living expenses: $31,276
• Quality of life index: 67
• Average family earnings: $50,959
• Typical monthly home payment: $796

20. Douglas, Georgia

• Annual living expenses: $31,506
• Quality of life index: 68
• Average family earnings: $37,979
• Typical monthly home payment: $796

21. Orangeburg, South Carolina

• Annual living expenses: $31,571
• Quality of life index: 52
• Average family earnings: $33,066
• Typical monthly home payment: $835

22. Meadville, Pennsylvania

• Annual living expenses: $31,658
• Quality of life index: 85
• Average family earnings: $46,012
• Typical monthly home payment: $789

23. Beckley, West Virginia

• Annual living expenses: $31,680
• Quality of life index: 56
• Average family earnings: $39,939
• Typical monthly home payment: $730

24. Elmira, New York

• Annual living expenses: $31,736
• Quality of life index: 63
• Average family earnings: $43,089
• Typical monthly home payment: $641

25. Wheeling, West Virginia

• Annual living expenses: $32,158
• Quality of life index: 67
• Average family earnings: $48,498
• Typical monthly home payment: $737

26. Pottsville, Pennsylvania

• Annual living expenses: $32,196
• Quality of life index: 74
• Average family earnings: $53,465
• Typical monthly home payment: $725

27. Parkersburg, West Virginia

• Annual living expenses: $32,263
• Quality of life index: 71
• Average family earnings: $44,675
• Typical monthly home payment: $753

28. Danville, Virginia

• Annual living expenses: $32,296
• Quality of life index: 77
• Average family earnings: $42,778
• Typical monthly home payment: $803

29. Kinston, North Carolina

• Annual living expenses: $32,302
• Quality of life index: 58
• Average family earnings: $35,250
• Typical monthly home payment: $751

30. Weirton, West Virginia

• Annual living expenses: $32,332
• Quality of life index: 68
• Average family earnings: $56,699
• Typical monthly home payment: $735

31. Greenwood, South Carolina

• Annual living expenses: $32,509
• Quality of life index: 60
• Average family earnings: $40,253
• Typical monthly home payment: $949

32. Georgetown, Georgia

• Annual living expenses: $32,517
• Quality of life index: 67
• Average family earnings: $80,231
• Typical monthly home payment: $703

33. Bainbridge, Georgia

• Annual living expenses: $32,555
• Quality of life index: 58
• Average family earnings: $41,531
• Typical monthly home payment: $854

34. Lumberton, North Carolina

• Annual living expenses: $32,646
• Quality of life index: 61
• Average family earnings: $43,114
• Typical monthly home payment: $815

35. Nanticoke, Pennsylvania

• Annual living expenses: $32,939
• Quality of life index: 72
• Average family earnings: $60,340
• Typical monthly home payment: $781

36. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

• Annual living expenses: $33,043
• Quality of life index: 76
• Average family earnings: $47,970
• Typical monthly home payment: $860

37. Newberry, South Carolina

• Annual living expenses: $33,063
• Quality of life index: 67
• Average family earnings: $47,885
• Typical monthly home payment: $955

38. Huntington, West Virginia

• Annual living expenses: $33,105
• Quality of life index: 81
• Average family earnings: $43,146
• Typical monthly home payment: $702

39. Johnson City, New York

• Annual living expenses: $33,212
• Quality of life index: 76
• Average family earnings: $51,667
• Typical monthly home payment: $791

40. Columbus, Georgia

• Annual living expenses: $33,352
• Quality of life index: 64
• Average family earnings: $56,662
• Typical monthly home payment: $859

41. Munhall, Pennsylvania

• Annual living expenses: $33,429
• Quality of life index: 75
• Average family earnings: $52,037
• Typical monthly home payment: $752

42. Camden, New Jersey

• Annual living expenses: $33,503
• Quality of life index: 70
• Average family earnings: $40,450
• Typical monthly home payment: $754

43. Cairo, Georgia

• Annual living expenses: $33,687
• Quality of life index: 64
• Average family earnings: $40,496
• Typical monthly home payment: $908

44. Henderson, North Carolina

• Annual living expenses: $33,783
• Quality of life index: 59
• Average family earnings: $38,780
• Typical monthly home payment: $957

45. New Kensington, Pennsylvania

• Annual living expenses: $34,150
• Quality of life index: 70
• Average family earnings: $49,644
• Typical monthly home payment: $877

46. Gaffney, South Carolina

• Annual living expenses: $34,163
• Quality of life index: 66
• Average family earnings: $41,214
• Typical monthly home payment: $953

47. Erie, Pennsylvania

• Annual living expenses: $34,185
• Quality of life index: 82
• Average family earnings: $43,397
• Typical monthly home payment: $984

48. Tarboro, North Carolina

• Annual living expenses: $34,198
• Quality of life index: 64
• Average family earnings: $49,386
• Typical monthly home payment: $844

49. Niagara Falls, New York

• Annual living expenses: $34,249
• Quality of life index: 59
• Average family earnings: $48,535
• Typical monthly home payment: $844

50. Vidalia, Georgia

• Annual living expenses: $34,313
• Quality of life index: 61
• Average family earnings: $53,393
• Typical monthly home payment: $975

Finding Your Perfect Fit Among Affordable Cities

The data reveals distinct patterns across the East Coast. Pennsylvania consistently appears at the budget-friendly end of the spectrum, making it an attractive destination for those seeking the lowest living expenses. Georgia and the Carolinas offer numerous alternatives, particularly if you’re prioritizing a balance between affordability and community appeal.

For families and retirees, the quality-of-life metrics matter equally. Locations like Meadville, Erie, and Huntington combine strong habitability ratings with reasonable annual expenses—making them ideal destinations for those seeking both pocket-friendly living and satisfying community engagement.

Whether you’re drawn to small-town charm, proximity to urban centers, or simply the math of stretching your retirement funds further, the most affordable places to live on the East Coast provide tangible alternatives to expensive metropolitan areas. Each destination offers its own character while delivering measurable economic advantages.