Cities With the Lowest and Highest Cost of Living in Each State

There are many factors that can influence where you can afford to live. It’s not just real estate that can set you back but also average monthly rents, your household income, public transportation costs or the price of commuting, job opportunities, unemployment rates and just an overall sense of the high costs of living in an expensive city — or the money-saving benefits of moving to a more affordable one.

How much you pay can vary dramatically, not only between states but also from city to city. GOBankingRates recently explored the cities with the lowest and highest cost of living in each state, as that can significantly impact your quality of life and financial stability. Here are some key takeaways: 

• Though many would assume San Francisco, if you are living in Hillsborough, California, you are experiencing the highest cost of living. At around $273,632, it is much higher than the national average and the most expensive living cost in the country.
• Parsons, Kansas comes in with the lowest cost of living at $23,146 on average. 
• For an individual in the U.S., the national average cost of living is around $38,266. For a family of four, it is closer to $83,139 annually.

Whether you’re looking for affordability or willing to pay a premium for urban amenities and other miscellaneous goods and services, understanding the cost of various cities across the United States can help you make better decisions about where to live.

City With the Lowest Cost: Selma

• Population: 17,875
• Average cost of living: $26,810

City With the Highest Cost: Chelsea

• Population: 15,201
• Average cost of living: $40,020

City With the Lowest Cost: Tanana

• Population: 214
• Average cost of living: $35,083

City With the Highest Cost: Sitka

• Population: 8,462
• Average cost of living: $52,174

City With the Lowest Cost: Nogales

• Population: 19,761
• Average cost of living: $28,224

City With the Highest Cost: Flagstaff

• Population: 76,177
• Average cost of living: $48,194

City With the Lowest Cost: Tuckerman

• Population: 1,654
• Average cost of living: $24,182

City With the Highest Cost: Bentonville

• Population: 54,513
• Average cost of living: $39,016

City With the Lowest Cost: Susanville

• Population: 15,737
• Average cost of living: $34,696

City With the Highest Cost: Hillsborough

• Population: 11,258
• Average cost of living: $273,632

City With the Lowest Cost: Alamosa

• Population: 9,792
• Average cost of living: $31,349

City With the Highest Cost: Aspen

• Population: 6,952
• Average cost of living: $134,310

City With the Lowest Cost: Willimantic

• Population: 17,762
• Average cost of living: $33,916

City With the Highest Cost: Greenwich

• Population: 14,051
• Average cost of living: $105,573

City With the Lowest Cost: Clayton

• Population: 3,978
• Average cost of living: $40,395

City With the Highest Cost: Henlopen Acres

• Population: 193
• Average cost of living: $147,805

City With the Lowest Cost: Alford

• Population: 432
• Average cost of living: $30,274

City With the Highest Cost: Key Largo

• Population: 12,021
• Average cost of living: $65,098

City With the Lowest Cost: Lumber City

• Population: 1,127
• Average cost of living: $24,796

City With the Highest Cost: Milton

• Population: 41,029
• Average cost of living: $59,131

City With the Lowest Cost: Hilo

• Population: 47,627
• Average cost of living: $51,823

City With the Highest Cost: Haleiwa

• Population: 4,708
• Average cost of living: $101,308

City With the Lowest Cost: Burley

• Population: 11,506
• Average cost of living: $31,228

City With the Highest Cost: Eagle

• Population: 30,635
• Average cost of living: $62,883

City With the Lowest Cost: Chrisman

• Population: 1,457
• Average cost of living: $26,130

City With the Highest Cost: Hinsdale

• Population: 17,169
• Average cost of living: $73,231

City With the Lowest Cost: Swayzee

• Population: 921
• Average cost of living: $26,650

City With the Highest Cost: Carmel

• Population: 99,453
• Average cost of living: $45,082

City With the Lowest Cost: Sheffield

• Population: 1,209
• Average cost of living: $26,228

City With the Highest Cost: Waukee

• Population: 25,045
• Average cost of living: $36,618

City With the Lowest Cost: Parsons

• Population: 9,564
• Average cost of living: $23,146

City With the Highest Cost: Mission Hills

• Population: 3,567
• Average cost of living: $82,467

City With the Lowest Cost: Middlesborough

• Population: 9,383
• Average cost of living: $25,714

City With the Highest Cost: La Grange

• Population: 10,073
• Average cost of living: $39,168

City With the Lowest Cost: Oak Ridge

• Population: 89
• Average cost of living: $29,334

City With the Highest Cost: Belle Chasse

• Population: 10,781
• Average cost of living: $41,356

City With the Lowest Cost: Caribou

• Population: 7,454
• Average cost of living: $28,478

City With the Highest Cost: Falmouth

• Population: 1,620
• Average cost of living: $56,040

City With the Lowest Cost: Frostburg

• Population: 7,118
• Average cost of living: $27,233

City With the Highest Cost: Chevy Chase Village

• Population: 1,885
• Average cost of living: $115,997

City With the Lowest Cost: Pittsfield

• Population: 43,730
• Average cost of living: $33,820

City With the Highest Cost: Nantucket

• Population: 10,479
• Average cost of living: $113,264

City With the Lowest Cost: Alpena

• Population: 10,200
• Average cost of living: $26,021

City With the Highest Cost: Brighton

• Population: 7,486
• Average cost of living: $42,441

City With the Lowest Cost: Madison

• Population: 1,566
• Average cost of living: $23,477

City With the Highest Cost: Victoria

• Population: 10,681
• Average cost of living: $47,732

City With the Lowest Cost: Greenwood

• Population: 14,242
• Average cost of living: $24,895

City With the Highest Cost: Madison

• Population: 27,595
• Average cost of living: $38,056

City With the Lowest Cost: Bertrand

• Population: 743
• Average cost of living: $25,669

City With the Highest Cost: Parkville

• Population: 7,669
• Average cost of living: $48,047

City With the Lowest Cost: Anaconda

• Population: 9,435
• Average cost of living: $28,592

City With the Highest Cost: Bozeman

• Population: 53,500
• Average cost of living: $54,438

City With the Lowest Cost: Superior

• Population: 1,905
• Average cost of living: $27,164

City With the Highest Cost: Papillion

• Population: 24,016
• Average cost of living: $42,694

City With the Lowest Cost: Hawthorne

• Population: 2,739
• Average cost of living: $27,833

City With the Highest Cost: Gardnerville

• Population: 6,147
• Average cost of living: $48,632

City With the Lowest Cost: Berlin

• Population: 9,485
• Average cost of living: $25,953

City With the Highest Cost: Portsmouth

• Population: 22,138
• Average cost of living: $55,218

City With the Lowest Cost: Vineland

• Population: 60,796
• Average cost of living: $34,279

City With the Highest Cost: Franklin Lakes

• Population: 11,007
• Average cost of living: $79,262

City With the Lowest Cost: Clayton

• Population: 2,825
• Average cost of living: $26,604

City With the Highest Cost: Santa Fe

• Population: 87,617
• Average cost of living: $47,083

City With the Lowest Cost: Houghton

• Population: 1,771
• Average cost of living: $29,164

City With the Highest Cost: New York City

• Population: 8,622,467
• Average cost of living: $64,726

City With the Lowest Cost: Laurinburg

• Population: 14,971
• Average cost of living: $26,313

City With the Highest Cost: Nags Head

• Population: 3,153
• Average cost of living: $46,002

City With the Lowest Cost: Linton

• Population: 886
• Average cost of living: $29,539

City With the Highest Cost: Bismarck

• Population: 73,694
• Average cost of living: $39,120

City With the Lowest Cost: New Washington

• Population: 900
• Average cost of living: $26,305

City With the Highest Cost: Powell

• Population: 14,113
• Average cost of living: $46,468

City With the Lowest Cost: Altus

• Population: 18,711
• Average cost of living: $24,296

City With the Highest Cost: Guthrie

• Population: 10,872
• Average cost of living: $33,211

City With the Lowest Cost: Ontario

• Population: 11,610
• Average cost of living: $31,058

City With the Highest Cost: Lake Oswego

• Population: 40,457
• Average cost of living: $65,900

City With the Lowest Cost: Seneca

• Population: 911
• Average cost of living: $27,891

City With the Highest Cost: Newtown

• Population: 2,169
• Average cost of living: $57,003

City With the Lowest Cost: Warwick

• Population: 82,783
• Average cost of living: $39,619

City With the Highest Cost: Newport

• Population: 25,087
• Average cost of living: $61,034

City With the Lowest Cost: Fairfax

• Population: 2,035
• Average cost of living: $26,006

City With the Highest Cost: Sullivan’s Island

• Population: 2,317
• Average cost of living: $130,243

City With the Lowest Cost: Gettysburg

• Population: 1,440
• Average cost of living: $26,689

City With the Highest Cost: Box Elder

• Population: 11,905
• Average cost of living: $39,006

City With the Lowest Cost: Ridgely

• Population: 1,798
• Average cost of living: $24,849

City With the Highest Cost: Brentwood

• Population: 44,830
• Average cost of living: $69,083

City With the Lowest Cost: Lockney

• Population: 1,720
• Average cost of living: $25,866

City With the Highest Cost: Bee Cave

• Population: 8,771
• Average cost of living: $66,104

City With the Lowest Cost: Vernal

• Population: 10,141
• Average cost of living: $32,168

City With the Highest Cost: Park City

• Population: 8,379
• Average cost of living: $78,457

City With the Lowest Cost: Newport

• Population: 4,431
• Average cost of living: $34,697

City With the Highest Cost: Shelburne

• Population: 6,195
• Average cost of living: $56,786

City With the Lowest Cost: Martinsville

• Population: 13,539
• Average cost of living: $25,705

City With the Highest Cost: Falls Church

• Population: 14,576
• Average cost of living: $61,786

City With the Lowest Cost: Long Beach

• Population: 1,831
• Average cost of living: $32,281

City With the Highest Cost: Mercer Island

• Population: 25,464
• Average cost of living: $122,130

City With the Lowest Cost: Northfork

• Population: 402
• Average cost of living: $25,267

City With the Highest Cost: Charles Town

• Population: 6,584
• Average cost of living: $43,793

City With the Lowest Cost: Marinette

• Population: 11,065
• Average cost of living: $26,223

City With the Highest Cost: Hudson

• Population: 14,763
• Average cost of living: $44,926

City With the Lowest Cost: Rawlins

• Population: 8,287
• Average cost of living: $34,701

City With the Highest Cost: Jackson

• Population: 10,748
• Average cost of living: $72,033

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed 6,300 cities across the United States to find the cheapest and most expensive cost of living cities in each state. First, GOBankingRates found the cost of living indexes as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces, and using the national average expenditure costs for all residents, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost can be calculated for each city. The total population was sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, and the livability index was sourced from AreaVibes. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 21, 2024.