Cost Of Living By State

Cost of Living Index
Cost of Living Index
1.HawaiiHawaii184
2.MassachusettsMassachusetts149.7
3.CaliforniaCalifornia137.6
4.New YorkNew York134.5
5.AlaskaAlaska126.6
6.MarylandMaryland124
7.OregonOregon121.2
8.ConnecticutConnecticut116.8
9.New HampshireNew Hampshire116.1
10.VermontVermont115.9
11.MaineMaine115.3
12.WashingtonWashington114.2
13.Rhode IslandRhode Island112.9
14.New JerseyNew Jersey112.4
15.ArizonaArizona105.8
16.DelawareDelaware105.6
17.MontanaMontana104.8
18.ColoradoColorado104.6
19.NevadaNevada103.2
20.FloridaFlorida102.8
21.UtahUtah102.8
22.VirginiaVirginia102.8
23.IdahoIdaho99.6
24.PennsylvaniaPennsylvania98.2
25.MinnesotaMinnesota97.5
26.North DakotaNorth Dakota97.1
27.North CarolinaNorth Carolina95.7
28.WisconsinWisconsin95.5
29.KentuckyKentucky94.9
30.South DakotaSouth Dakota94.5
31.South CarolinaSouth Carolina94.3
32.New MexicoNew Mexico94
33.LouisianaLouisiana93.6
34.IllinoisIllinois92.6
35.WyomingWyoming92.5
36.TexasTexas92.5
37.MichiganMichigan92.2
38.OhioOhio91.9
39.NebraskaNebraska91.9
40.ArkansasArkansas90.6
41.TennesseeTennessee90.2
42.West VirginiaWest Virginia90
43.IndianaIndiana89.9
44.IowaIowa89.2
45.MissouriMissouri89.1
46.GeorgiaGeorgia88.6
47.AlabamaAlabama88.1
48.KansasKansas87.5
49.OklahomaOklahoma85.8
50.MississippiMississippi85

Introduction

Achieving economic success and overall well-being of individuals and families is inherently linked to the cost of living, which varies significantly across the United States. The elements that constitute this cost—housing, food, healthcare, and transportation—not only quantify the economic necessities of daily life, but also serve as an indicator of the quality of life. With diverse economic structures, geographical elements and local policies, each state poses a distinctive cost of living scenario.

  • States with the highest cost of living are mostly found on the coasts, with Hawaii (184), Massachusetts (149.7), California (137.6), and New York (134.5) leading the way. This pattern might be linked to several factors, including higher property and living costs, lucrative job markets, economic opportunities, and denser populations.
  • Various states in the southern and mid-west regions, including Mississippi (85), Oklahoma (85.8), and Kansas (87.5), are noted for lower costs of living. Lower housing costs contribute heavily to these lower figures.
  • Nevada (103.2), Florida (102.8), and Utah (102.8), located in different geographical regions, have similar cost of living indexes, just slightly above the national average.
  • Alaska (126.6) stands out as the only state in the northwest with a high cost of living index. This is possibly due to its remote and extreme location raising the costs of goods and services.

States with the Highest Cost of Living

Leading this list is Hawaii, presenting an astonishing cost of living index of 184, which is nearly twice the national average. The high cost of living here can be attributed to factors such as expensive real estate and the high cost of imported goods. Not far behind is Massachusetts with a cost of living index of 149.7. The state's strong economy supported by sectors such as biotechnology, healthcare, finance, and higher education justifies this high index. California earns third place with a cost of living index of 137.6, majorly driven by the colossal costs linked to housing, especially in regions like Silicon Valley and San Francisco. New York, with a cost of index of 134.5, hinges its high cost of living on factors such as considerable housing costs, particularly in New York City, and high taxes. Alaska, the only non-coastal state in the top 5, holds a cost index of 126.6. Its remote location and the costs associated with bringing goods and services into the state contribute to its expensive living conditions. Other states rounding out the top 10 with high costs of living include Maryland (124), Oregon (121.2), Connecticut (116.8), New Hampshire (116.1), and Vermont (115.9). Factors such as high housing costs, expensive healthcare, and high taxes significantly contribute to their higher cost of living indexes. States with the Highest Cost of Living:

  1. Hawaii - 184
  2. Massachusetts - 149.7
  3. California - 137.6
  4. New York - 134.5
  5. Alaska - 126.6
  6. Maryland - 124
  7. Oregon - 121.2
  8. Connecticut - 116.8
  9. New Hampshire - 116.1
  10. Vermont - 115.9

By Region

Alabama

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Alabama

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

88.1

#47

Alaska

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Alaska

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

126.6

#5

Arizona

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Arizona

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

105.8

#15

Arkansas

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Arkansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

90.6

#40

California

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California

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

137.6

#3

Colorado

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Colorado

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

104.6

#18

Connecticut

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Connecticut

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

116.8

#8

Delaware

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Delaware

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

105.6

#16

Florida

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Florida

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

102.8

#20

Georgia

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Georgia

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

88.6

#46

Hawaii

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Hawaii

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

184

#1

Idaho

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Idaho

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

99.6

#23

Illinois

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Illinois

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

92.6

#34

Indiana

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Indiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

89.9

#43

Iowa

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Iowa

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

89.2

#44

Kansas

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Kansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

87.5

#48

Kentucky

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Kentucky

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

94.9

#29

Louisiana

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Louisiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

93.6

#33

Maine

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Maine

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

115.3

#11

Maryland

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Maryland

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

124

#6

Massachusetts

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Massachusetts

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

149.7

#2

Michigan

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Michigan

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

92.2

#37

Minnesota

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Minnesota

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

97.5

#25

Mississippi

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Mississippi

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

85

#50

Missouri

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Missouri

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

89.1

#45

Montana

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Montana

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

104.8

#17

Nebraska

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Nebraska

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

91.9

#39

Nevada

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Nevada

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

103.2

#19

New Hampshire

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New Hampshire

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

116.1

#9

New Jersey

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New Jersey

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

112.4

#14

New Mexico

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New Mexico

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

94

#32

New York

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New York

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

134.5

#4

North Carolina

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North Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

95.7

#27

North Dakota

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North Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

97.1

#26

Ohio

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Ohio

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

91.9

#38

Oklahoma

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Oklahoma

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

85.8

#49

Oregon

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Oregon

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

121.2

#7

Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

98.2

#24

Rhode Island

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Rhode Island

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

112.9

#13

South Carolina

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South Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

94.3

#31

South Dakota

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South Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

94.5

#30

Tennessee

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Tennessee

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

90.2

#41

Texas

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Texas

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

92.5

#36

Utah

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Utah

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

102.8

#21

Vermont

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Vermont

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

115.9

#10

Virginia

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Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

102.8

#22

Washington

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Washington

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

114.2

#12

West Virginia

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West Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

90

#42

Wisconsin

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Wisconsin

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

95.5

#28

Wyoming

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Wyoming

Metric

Value

Rank

Cost of Living Index

92.5

#35

Table

Region ↕Cost of Living Index ↕
Alabama iconAlabama88.1
Alaska iconAlaska126.6
Arizona iconArizona105.8
Arkansas iconArkansas90.6
California iconCalifornia137.6
Colorado iconColorado104.6
Connecticut iconConnecticut116.8
Delaware iconDelaware105.6
Florida iconFlorida102.8
Georgia iconGeorgia88.6
Hawaii iconHawaii184
Idaho iconIdaho99.6
Illinois iconIllinois92.6
Indiana iconIndiana89.9
Iowa iconIowa89.2
Kansas iconKansas87.5
Kentucky iconKentucky94.9
Louisiana iconLouisiana93.6
Maine iconMaine115.3
Maryland iconMaryland124
Massachusetts iconMassachusetts149.7
Michigan iconMichigan92.2
Minnesota iconMinnesota97.5
Mississippi iconMississippi85
Missouri iconMissouri89.1
Montana iconMontana104.8
Nebraska iconNebraska91.9
Nevada iconNevada103.2
New Hampshire iconNew Hampshire116.1
New Jersey iconNew Jersey112.4
New Mexico iconNew Mexico94
New York iconNew York134.5
North Carolina iconNorth Carolina95.7
North Dakota iconNorth Dakota97.1
Ohio iconOhio91.9
Oklahoma iconOklahoma85.8
Oregon iconOregon121.2
Pennsylvania iconPennsylvania98.2
Rhode Island iconRhode Island112.9
South Carolina iconSouth Carolina94.3
South Dakota iconSouth Dakota94.5
Tennessee iconTennessee90.2
Texas iconTexas92.5
Utah iconUtah102.8
Vermont iconVermont115.9
Virginia iconVirginia102.8
Washington iconWashington114.2
West Virginia iconWest Virginia90
Wisconsin iconWisconsin95.5
Wyoming iconWyoming92.5
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