These Favorable Metros Have Only Gotten Cheaper Since March

These 10 metro areas have seen the greatest drops in cost of living since March, according to data from the Council for Community and Economic Research. Cost of living data analyzed includes groceries, housing, utility, transportation, and healthcare costs. This data was compared from the first quarter of 2020 to the third quarter to see which areas had the greatest drops. The top metro area on the list is Palm Coast, Fla. Cost of living has dropped 3.4% in this area with 13.7% grocery cost drops and 2.2% decrease in the cost of housing.

2. Johnson City, Tennessee
Located near the Tennessee-North Carolina border, Johnson City, Tennessee has seen its overall cost of living drop by 3.3%. The cost of groceries is down 12.6%, and housing is down 3.1%, according to Apartment.com. With lots of rivers and mountains, Johnson City is also home to East Tennessee State University.

3. Huntsville, Alabama
In Huntsville, located in the Appalachian region of northern Alabama, the overall cost of living has dropped by 3.1%, with housing down 4.8% and transportation costs down 7.4%. US News and World Report voted Huntsville one of the top 10 best places to live in America in 2018.

PB Topical Ref