10 best cities for cheapskates

• Metro population: 623,061
• Average household income: $63,691 (U.S. average: $70,883)
• Cost of living score: 92.3 (U.S. average: 100)
• Museums and libraries in metro area: 48 (U.S. average: 35)
• Dollar Generals in a 30-mile radius: 32
• Must-see freebie: The Ulrich Museum of Art, which boasts 6,600 works

Wichita is home to 36 museums, 20 live theaters and 35 art galleries. In other words, there are more than enough affordable cultural attractions to put it in the big leagues. Five museums sit along the Arkansas River, including the Wichita Art Museum, a botanical garden and a living history center, all of which charge $8 or less for admission. Outside of town, the Great Plains Nature Center serves up 2 miles of trails and regular programming for free. Wichita's overall living expenses are 8% below the national average, with food prices being particularly cheap. Speaking of food, the city has a thriving dining scene, which includes a growing number of inexpensive Lebanese and Vietnamese restaurants.

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• Metro population: 121,026
• Average household income: $52,249
• Cost of living score: 89.2
• Museums and libraries in metro area: 10
• Dollar Generals in a 30-mile radius: 26
• Must-see freebie: Crowley's Ridge Nature Center, a scenic educational park

Jonesboro benefits greatly from its proximity to Crowley's Ridge Parkway, a 200-mile network of roads recognized by the Department of Transportation for its scenic and historic qualities. You'll find plenty of cheap outdoor offerings nearby: a hundred-acre nature center, a city-owned park and a national wildlife area with ample acres for fishing, boating and bird-watching. For affordable culture in the Ozarks, look no further than the Arkansas State University Museum, which houses 21,000 square feet of exhibits -- and a mastodon skeleton. While Jonesboro's average income falls well below the national average, its superlow living costs offset the smaller paychecks.

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• Metro population: 319,224
• Average household income: $59,048
• Cost of living score: 92.4
• Museums and libraries in metro area: 26
• Dollar Generals in a 30-mile radius: 31
• Must-see freebie: The Snite Museum of Art, a 24,000-work collection

South Bend may be best known for the University of Notre Dame, but that isn't a bad thing. Its Midwest location keeps living costs modest -- nearly 8% below the national average -- while the university and its 12,000 students bring low-cost attractions and events to town. On any given day in April, for instance, 10 or more university events were open to the public, from baseball games and film screenings to readings and lectures. Tickets to Fighting Irish games (except football) run as low as $5 for adults and $3 for children. Plus, the university boasts a well-regarded art museum that is always free.

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• Metro population: 161,151
• Average household income: $60,025
• Cost of living score: 90.3
• Museums and libraries in metro area: 11
• Dollar Generals in a 30-mile radius: 3
• Must-see freebie: Lake Wissota, a 6,300-acre lake

"Eau Claire" means "clear water" in French. It's a relevant translation if you're looking for cheap things to do in this midsize Wisconsin city. Proximity to the Chippewa River makes outdoor activities such as camping and swimming budget-friendly options. Lake Wissota State Park, 20 miles northeast of Eau Claire, offers 1,062 acres of forests and prairie and a large lake complete with a swimming beach. Closer to home, the Chippewa Valley Trail System provides ample mileage for bikers, hikers and skaters. The area also boasts a planetarium, a cranberry museum and a full slate of concerts and performances at the University of Wisconsin. While some of these places charge admission, Eau Claire's ultralow cost of living means your dollar stretches further.

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• Metro population: 2,142,508
• Average household income: $65,337
• Cost of living score: 93.2
• Museums and libraries in metro area: 58
• Dollar Generals in a 30-mile radius: 65
• Must-see freebie: Main Plaza

San Antonio enjoys the economical living costs that are standard in much of Texas. But the city's budget-minded cultural amenities put it far above its neighbors: Per capita, the Alamo City has nearly five times as many museums and libraries as Austin and seven times as many as Houston. Many of these attractions -- such as the historic Alamo site, the arts village at La Villita and the River Walk that follows the San Antonio River -- charge no admission. The city also loves its free festivals and seems to celebrate one every few weeks. Luminaria, an outdoor performance festival, brings theater and music downtown every May. Other free festivals recognize photography, jazz, mariachi and a range of local and national holidays, including, of course, Cinco de Mayo.

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• Metro population: 471,221
• Average household income: $61,695
• Cost of living score: 93.0
• Museums and libraries in metro area: 19
• Dollar Generals in a 30-mile radius: 0 (but 9 Dollar Trees within 25 miles)
• Must-see freebie: Mount Spokane, a 13,919-acre state park in the Selkirk Mountains

With 76 lakes, five ski mountains and 4,100 acres of city parks, Spokane is a paradise for outdoorsy types -- especially outdoorsy types on a budget. Living costs fall 7% below the national average, and because most outdoor attractions charge no admission, you can enjoy the Lilac City for even less than that. Spokane is noted for its public parks, which include a national wildlife refuge and a 100-acre urban park in downtown Spokane. To the northeast, Mount Spokane State Park ranks as Washington's largest and contains a nonprofit ski and snowboard center. The city is also home to a Smithsonian-affiliated art museum and a 65-acre arboretum. While the museum charges admission, the arboretum is free.

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• Metro population: 326,589
• Average household income: $60,362
• Cost of living score: 87.4
• Museums and libraries in metro area: 27
• Dollar Generals in a 30-mile radius: 21
• Must-see freebie: All Ears Theater, a free live performance series organized by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo's living costs are the lowest on our list: 13% below the national average and 21% below nearby Chicago's. Housing is perhaps the city's most notably cheap amenity, with costs one-third below the national average. But Kalamazoo also offers a range of budget-friendly activities, from art and music at Western Michigan University to an unusually well-funded public library system. The Kalamazoo Nature Center, rated one of the country's best, charges $7 for nonmember admission and hosts free daily activities, from cooking workshops to yoga classes. Nearby parks, such as Cold Brook and Prairie View, boast a combined 140 miles of trails and three swimming beaches. Bored of the outdoors? Take your savings to Chicago, less than three hours away.  

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• Metro population: 210,170
• Average household income: $66,639
• Cost of living score: 88.1
• Museums and libraries in metro area: 17
• Dollar Generals in a 30-mile radius: 37
• Must-see freebie: Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Abraham Lincoln's legacy lives on in his former hometown, at least in the form of free museums, parks, libraries and other attractions. Lincoln's family home, located in downtown Springfield, charges no admission. Twenty miles northwest, a 700-acre reconstruction of the town where Lincoln spent his young adulthood asks for only a $4 donation. Even if history isn't your thing, you'll find plenty of other frugal things to do: Think parks, picnics and marinas around Lake Springfield, a 7-mile itrail and plenty of family-friendly art museums and amusement parks. Because living costs fall 12% below the national average -- one of the lowest scores on our list -- you'll get more bang for your buck, no matter what you end up doing.

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• Metro population: 800,647
• Average household income: $57,981
• Cost of living score: 91.0
• Museums and libraries in metro area: 17
• Dollar Generals in a 30-mile radius: 27
• Must-see freebie: Alfresco! Fridays, a multicultural summer concert series

Living on the border has its benefits: outstanding Mexican food, cool fusion music and an extra-low cost of living. El Paso, like many Texas towns, enjoys cheaper utilities, transportation and overall living costs than its northern peers. The city's location in the Chihuahuan Desert also means there's plenty of cheap stuff to do, particularly if you like the outdoors. Franklin Mountains State Park, the largest urban park in the country, contains 125 miles of multiuse trails and sits inside city limits. The River Park Trail follows the Rio Grande from El Paso to the New Mexico state line. Closer to home, the city offers a number of free attractions, like the El Paso Museum of Art, one of the country's top-rated rose gardens and an artisanal farmer's market.

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• Metro population: 2,812,896
• Average household income: $69,992
• Cost of living score: 91.2
• Museums and libraries in metro area: 144
• Dollar Generals in a 30-mile radius: 59
• Must-see freebie: Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the U.S.

St. Louis isn't a huge city, but if we're counting per capita, it boasts more museums and libraries than any other city on our list (and it beats New York and Washington, D.C., by a factor of 25). That's good news for folks looking to have a good time on a budget. Admission to top attractions, such as the city zoo and science center, is free. Citygarden, a $30-million, mixed-use sculpture park in downtown St. Louis, promises great gardening, art and picnics year-round. And if you do feel the need to spend some hard-earned cash -- at a Cardinals game or in the downtown shopping district, perhaps -- your money will go further here. While St. Louis residents earn roughly the same amount as average Americans, their living costs fall nearly 9% below the norm.

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More from Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine:

• 10 US cities with the lowest cost of living
• 10 tiny homes you'll love for under $100,000
• Quiz: Dollar store . . . deal or no deal?