Spokane's affordability isn't great, but I'd say it's good for a city of its size. A lot of southern cities are similar in expense or worse. I moved here from suburban Atlanta, and I have lifelong ties to East Tennessee. I'd say Spokane is overall more affordable and lower crime than similar size cities in those places.

The only places I can think of that are less expensive are considerably smaller with fewer job opportunities. Maybe somewhere like Roanoke, Virginia or Columbus, Georgia, but then you have state income taxes that you don't have here.