Top 10 Cities for Data Analyst Jobs

If you’re a data analyst (or aiming to become one), you’ve probably wondered:

> Which U.S. city should I move to?
The one where I can:

 Earn a solid salary

 Afford to live decently

 Find good job opportunities

 Maybe even save a little after rent, food, and bills

Everyone talks about tech salaries.
But nobody tells you how much of that salary gets eaten up by your zip code.

And if you're an international student or recent grad, you can't afford to get this wrong.

So, let’s break it down.

This guide is based on data from over 25,000 real job postings across the U.S. for Data Analyst roles in the last 12 months. It also includes average salaries and realistic cost of living in each city, rent, lifestyle expenses, car payments, and insurance.

Whether you're applying for internships, on OPT, or figuring out where to relocate for a full-time role, this should give you a clear picture of what to expect.

► How We’ve Calculated Cost of Living

Before we jump into cities, here's how the cost of living numbers are estimated:

 Rent: One-bedroom apartment (living solo)

 Lifestyle: Food, groceries, travel, outings

 Car loan + Insurance: Around $750/month combined

Note: If you live with roommates, rent can easily go down by 30–50%. But for this article, we’re assuming solo living so you can compare cities fairly.

 Let’s Start From Rank 10 to 1

(You’ll be surprised by who’s at the top.)

 

10. Los Angeles, CA | Raleigh, NC | Houston, TX (Tied)

Yes, three cities tied at number 10. All offer different pros and cons.

Average Salary:

 LA: $85,000–$95,000

 Raleigh: $80,000

 Houston: $70,000–$80,000

Rent:

 LA: $2,400

 Raleigh: $2,000

 Houston: $1,600

Lifestyle costs: $1,200–$1,600

Car/Insurance: $750 everywhere

Noteworthy:

 Houston has no state income tax, so you save more on take-home pay.

 LA offers higher pay but high rent and taxes will cut deep into your savings.

 Raleigh is a solid middle ground, especially for entry-level data analysts.

 

 9️. Washington, D.C.

Average Salary: $80,000–$105,000

Rent: $2,200

Lifestyle costs: $1,300–$1,500

Car/Insurance: $750

Industries: Cybersecurity, public sector, ed-tech, government analytics

Good for: Those open to working in policy, healthcare, or federal projects. DC isn’t cheap, but it offers strong stability and well-funded roles in public tech.

 

 8️. Charlotte, NC | Dallas, TX (Tied)

Average Salary: $70,000–$90,000

Rent:

 Charlotte: $1,400

 Dallas: $1,700

Lifestyle costs: $1,100–$1,500

Car/Insurance: $750

Industries: Fintech, healthcare analytics, logistics, supply chain

What stands out:

 Dallas gives you proximity to major companies without the sky-high rent of coastal cities.

 Charlotte is underrated but growing, with a strong finance and healthcare presence.

If you’re trying to balance cost and opportunity, both cities offer strong value.

 

 7️. Boston, MA

Average Salary: $80,000–$100,000

Rent: $2,200

Lifestyle costs: $1,300–$1,500

Car/Insurance: $750

Industries: Biotech, healthcare, fintech, ed-tech, AI research

Boston is expensive, but it’s also full of academic institutions, research labs, and healthcare giants. It’s a great launchpad if you’re into data + science or AI-driven products.

 

6. Austin, TX

Average Salary: $75,000–$95,000

Rent: $1,700

Lifestyle costs: $1,100–$1,300

Car/Insurance: $750

Industries: AI, supply chain, marketing analytics, mobility (Tesla HQ), tech

Austin is booming. It’s creative, tech-driven, and filled with startups. You’ll find plenty of opportunities without the same intensity (or expense) of the Bay Area.

Plus, like Houston, Texas has no state income tax.

 

5️. Seattle, WA

Average Salary: $85,000–$110,000

Rent: $2,000

Lifestyle costs: $1,300–$1,500

Car/Insurance: $750

Industries: Cloud, e-commerce, AI, healthtech, enterprise SaaS

Amazon, Microsoft, and other tech giants have huge data teams here. If you’re aiming for big tech or want to build a long-term career in data, Seattle is a solid bet.

 

4️. Atlanta, GA

Average Salary: $70,000–$90,000

Rent: $1,500–$1,600

Lifestyle costs: $1,100–$1,300

Car/Insurance: $750

Industries: Fintech, logistics, healthcare

Why Atlanta works:

 Lower rent and cost of living

 Active startup scene + stable corporate jobs

 Good choice if you’re on a tighter budget or early-career

You might not save a lot, but you also won’t burn out chasing rent.

 

 3️. Chicago, IL

Average Salary: $75,000–$95,000

Rent: $1,800–$2,000

Lifestyle costs: $1,200

Car/Insurance: $750

Industries: Finance, logistics, supply chain, healthcare, aerospace

What to know:

Chicago offers diverse job roles, especially in data-heavy sectors. It’s a city with real depth — from finance to healthtech but it’s not cheap. Choose it if you want variety and are okay with mid-to-high rent.

2. Bay Area, CA (San Jose, Fremont, etc.)

Average Salary: $95,000–$120,000

Rent: $2,200–$2,500

Lifestyle costs: $1,500–$1,800

Car/Insurance: $750

Industries: Every kind of tech you can imagine. AI, ML, enterprise, SaaS, hardware, cloud, etc.

Bay Area’s advantage:

 Jobs. Startups. Big tech.

 Endless opportunity but at a price.

 Expect pressure, competition, and high living expenses.

This is where people go when they want to be in the epicenter of tech, but it’s not for everyone.

 

 1️. New York, NY

Average Salary: $85,000–$110,000

Rent: $2,600 (solo)

Lifestyle costs: $1,500

Car/Insurance: $750

Industries: Finance, media, marketing, entrepreneurship, AI, product analytics

Why it’s #1:

New York had the highest number of job listings for data analysts in the past year — even more than the Bay Area.

But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

You’ll need hustle.

You’ll probably have roommates.

You’ll spend more than you planned.

But if you want a fast-paced, opportunity-packed environment, this is it.

 

► So... Where Should You Go?

Here’s how to think about it:

 If you want high pay + long-term upside:

 Bay Area

 Seattle

 New York (with hustle)

 

 If you want balance and growth:

 Austin

 Chicago

 Atlanta

 Charlotte/Dallas

 

 If you’re looking for affordable + first break:

 Houston

 Raleigh

 Atlanta

A fancy job in the wrong city can still leave you broke.

A mid-range job in a smart location can help you save, breathe, and grow.

So, think clearly about your future:

 What industries align with your skills?

 Where can you get hired fastest?

 Can you sustain your life while job hunting?

 Can you save, even a little, each month?

You don’t need to follow the crowd.

You need to plan for your life, and that starts by knowing what you’re walking into.