Fayetteville, Ark.

Forbes Magazine recently named Fayetteville, Ark., one of the best places in the U.S. for "businesses and careers." An added benefit? It's affordable. The average home price is $228,200, and a two-bedroom/two-bath apartment goes for $543 per month. When food shopping, ground beef costs $3.22, and the average cost of a loaf of bread is $1.25. A trip to the movies will set you back a modest $8.70, compared with more than $12 in New York City. Fayetteville's overall cost of living is 15.4 percent lower than the national average.

Credit: Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce