From Alabama to Wyoming: The Cost of Living Across America
These are the most and least expensive states to call home.
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There are pros and cons to living anywhere, and you have to consider both if you plan to make a move. Take New Mexico, for instance. On the one hand, the state is famous for its immensely rich cultural history, delicious hatch chiles, “Breaking Bad” filming locations and stunning Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. Additionally, it happens to be an excellent place for living on a budget, with annual expenditures nearly $7,000 below the national average. On the other hand, New Mexico is home to something called the “tarantula hawk wasp,” which combines the names of three terrifying predators into one entity and is apparently abundant — or menacing — enough that government officials made it the state insect.
Take another example, this time at the opposite end of the budgetary spectrum. New York is filled with incomparable entertainment, far-flung wineries and its own fascinating history from Montauk to Massapequa. But the cost-of-living index is through the roof, with housing alone costing residents over $23,000 annually, which is double the national average. Also, in all fairness to New Mexico, New York has its own monstrous creatures to contend with: New Yorkers.
Since deciding where to live is such a complex issue — and it’s a little too subjective to compare Broadway theater to Old Town Albuquerque, New Mexico — GOBankingRates took an in-depth look at the cost of living across all 50 states. The cost of living was determined by taking the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center’s cost-of-living indices from the third quarter of 2019 and applying them to seven different factors from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2018 Consumer Expenditure Survey: housing, utilities, groceries, healthcare, transportation and miscellaneous expenses. The states were then ranked in order from lowest to highest annual expenditures.
Some states have expenditures so high that you might start seeing the tarantula hawk wasp as a friendly addition to the neighborhood. In other states, you’ll be able to save money on all your monthly bills and expenses.
Last updated: Feb. 3, 2020
50. Mississippi
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,205
- Annual housing expenditures: $7,882
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,721
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,407
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,551
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $909
Total annual expenditures: $51,734
Cost-of-living index: 84.5
49. Oklahoma
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,236
- Annual housing expenditures: $8,223
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,907
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,536
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,620
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $908
Total annual expenditures: $52,714
Cost-of-living index: 86.1
48. Arkansas
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,031
- Annual housing expenditures: $8,834
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,701
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,143
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,277
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $946
Total annual expenditures: $53,204
Cost-of-living index: 86.9
47. Kansas
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,165
- Annual housing expenditures: $8,376
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,980
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,725
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,898
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $919
Total annual expenditures: $53,510
Cost-of-living index: 87.4
46. Tennessee
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,210
- Annual housing expenditures: $9,116
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,802
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,307
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,397
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $916
Total annual expenditures: $53,693
Cost-of-living index: 87.7
45. New Mexico
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,526
- Annual housing expenditures: $9,139
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,612
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,685
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,879
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $897
Total annual expenditures: $54,306
Cost-of-living index: 88.7
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44. Alabama
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,281
- Annual housing expenditures: $8,235
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,170
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,511
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,526
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $973
Total annual expenditures: $54,489
Cost-of-living index: 89.0
43. Missouri
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,424
- Annual housing expenditures: $8,293
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,976
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,715
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,908
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $951
Total annual expenditures: $54,551
Cost-of-living index: 89.1
42. Michigan
- Annual grocery expenditures: $3,919
- Annual housing expenditures: $8,857
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,029
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,281
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,665
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $942
Total annual expenditures: $54,918
Cost-of-living index: 89.7
41. Georgia
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,428
- Annual housing expenditures: $8,634
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,794
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,685
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,764
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $971
Total annual expenditures: $55,163
Cost-of-living index: 90.1
40. Indiana
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,044
- Annual housing expenditures: $8,834
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,102
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,023
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,794
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $969
Total annual expenditures: $55,530
Cost-of-living index: 90.7
39. West Virginia
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,067
- Annual housing expenditures: $9,914
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,608
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,297
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,352
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $990
Total annual expenditures: $55,959
Cost-of-living index: 91.4
38. Nebraska
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,379
- Annual housing expenditures: $9,785
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,656
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,705
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,923
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $942
Total annual expenditures: $56,142
Cost-of-living index: 91.7
37. Texas
- Annual grocery expenditures: $3,995
- Annual housing expenditures: $10,020
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,142
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,635
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,759
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $945
Total annual expenditures: $56,326
Cost-of-living index: 92.0
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36. Iowa
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,366
- Annual housing expenditures: $9,374
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,956
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,023
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,958
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $957
Total annual expenditures: $56,571
Cost-of-living index: 92.4
35. Ohio
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,384
- Annual housing expenditures: $9,045
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,640
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,132
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,839
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,006
Total annual expenditures: $56,816
Cost-of-living index: 92.8
34. Louisiana
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,357
- Annual housing expenditures: $10,032
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,571
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,943
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,859
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $955
Total annual expenditures: $56,877
Cost-of-living index: 92.9
33. Kentucky
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,160
- Annual housing expenditures: $9,621
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,826
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,938
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,536
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $999
Total annual expenditures: $56,938
Cost-of-living index: 93.0
32. Idaho
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,134
- Annual housing expenditures: $10,631
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,320
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,346
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,749
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $982
Total annual expenditures: $58,040
Cost-of-living index: 94.8
31. North Carolina
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,397
- Annual housing expenditures: $9,715
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,988
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,580
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,485
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,009
Total annual expenditures: $58,040
Cost-of-living index: 94.8
30. South Carolina
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,535
- Annual housing expenditures: $9,691
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,316
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,471
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,705
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,009
Total annual expenditures: $58,224
Cost-of-living index: 95.1
29. Illinois
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,330
- Annual housing expenditures: $10,055
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,968
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,604
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,963
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $962
Total annual expenditures: $58,346
Cost-of-living index: 95.3
28. Wisconsin
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,326
- Annual housing expenditures: $10,396
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,928
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,983
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,594
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $976
Total annual expenditures: $58,714
Cost-of-living index: 95.9
27. Utah
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,410
- Annual housing expenditures: $10,819
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,766
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,182
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,605
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $971
Total annual expenditures: $58,897
Cost-of-living index: 96.2
26. South Dakota
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,428
- Annual housing expenditures: $11,500
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,563
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,779
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,077
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $952
Total annual expenditures: $59,081
Cost-of-living index: 96.5
25. North Dakota
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,705
- Annual housing expenditures: $10,631
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,652
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,266
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,554
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $951
Total annual expenditures: $59,142
Cost-of-living index: 96.6
24. Florida
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,647
- Annual housing expenditures: $11,265
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,077
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,849
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,913
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $971
Total annual expenditures: $60,244
Cost-of-living index: 98.4
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23. Arizona
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,460
- Annual housing expenditures: $11,794
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,227
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,167
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,849
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $970
Total annual expenditures: $61,163
Cost-of-living index: 99.9
22. Minnesota
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,745
- Annual housing expenditures: $10,279
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,956
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,963
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,475
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,084
Total annual expenditures: $61,591
Cost-of-living index: 100.6
21. Pennsylvania
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,611
- Annual housing expenditures: $11,583
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,426
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,445
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,690
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $972
Total annual expenditures: $61,714
Cost-of-living index: 100.8
20. Virginia
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,317
- Annual housing expenditures: $13,168
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,025
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,491
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,839
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $983
Total annual expenditures: $62,265
Cost-of-living index: 101.7
19. Wyoming
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,585
- Annual housing expenditures: $11,994
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,531
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,526
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,003
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,077
Total annual expenditures: $62,448
Cost-of-living index: 102.0
18. Nevada
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,245
- Annual housing expenditures: $13,603
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,045
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,505
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,948
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $932
Total annual expenditures: $62,938
Cost-of-living index: 102.8
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17. Colorado
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,299
- Annual housing expenditures: $13,486
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,523
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,047
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,047
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,010
Total annual expenditures: $63,367
Cost-of-living index: 103.5
16. New Hampshire
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,585
- Annual housing expenditures: $12,381
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,762
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,077
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,673
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,076
Total annual expenditures: $65,693
Cost-of-living index: 107.3
15. Delaware
- Annual grocery expenditures: $5,410
- Annual housing expenditures: $11,477
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,774
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,167
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,953
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,155
Total annual expenditures: $65,877
Cost-of-living index: 107.6
14. Montana
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,625
- Annual housing expenditures: $14,813
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,482
- Annual transportation expenditures: $4,526
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,725
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,050
Total annual expenditures: $65,999
Cost-of-living index: 107.8
13. Washington
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,826
- Annual housing expenditures: $14,073
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,616
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,783
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,887
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,071
Total annual expenditures: $67,959
Cost-of-living index: 111.0
12. Vermont
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,960
- Annual housing expenditures: $15,694
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,810
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,629
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,988
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,029
Total annual expenditures: $70,714
Cost-of-living index: 115.5
11. Maine
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,861
- Annual housing expenditures: $15,483
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,341
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,062
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,668
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,145
Total annual expenditures: $71,816
Cost-of-living index: 117.3
10. Rhode Island
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,687
- Annual housing expenditures: $15,459
- Annual utility expenditures: $5,009
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,465
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,296
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,142
Total annual expenditures: $72,550
Cost-of-living index: 118.5
9. New Jersey
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,893
- Annual housing expenditures: $19,065
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,061
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,460
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,057
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,102
Total annual expenditures: $76,163
Cost-of-living index: 124.4
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8. Connecticut
- Annual grocery expenditures: $4,839
- Annual housing expenditures: $16,411
- Annual utility expenditures: $5,219
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,654
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,559
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,221
Total annual expenditures: $76,652
Cost-of-living index: 125.2
7. Alaska
- Annual grocery expenditures: $5,933
- Annual housing expenditures: $16,011
- Annual utility expenditures: $6,320
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,758
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $7,382
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,104
Total annual expenditures: $78,061
Cost-of-living index: 127.5
6. Maryland
- Annual grocery expenditures: $5,303
- Annual housing expenditures: $21,039
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,381
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,360
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $4,258
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,075
Total annual expenditures: $79,285
Cost-of-living index: 129.5
5. Massachusetts
- Annual grocery expenditures: $5,076
- Annual housing expenditures: $19,653
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,183
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,390
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $6,131
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,184
Total annual expenditures: $79,775
Cost-of-living index: 130.3
4. New York
- Annual grocery expenditures: $5,026
- Annual housing expenditures: $23,083
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,191
- Annual transportation expenditures: $5,152
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,052
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,114
Total annual expenditures: $82,652
Cost-of-living index: 135.0
3. Oregon
- Annual grocery expenditures: $5,120
- Annual housing expenditures: $21,838
- Annual utility expenditures: $3,523
- Annual transportation expenditures: $6,275
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,703
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,218
Total annual expenditures: $83,877
Cost-of-living index: 137.0
2. California
- Annual grocery expenditures: $5,263
- Annual housing expenditures: $23,212
- Annual utility expenditures: $4,790
- Annual transportation expenditures: $6,384
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,629
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,106
Total annual expenditures: $85,591
Cost-of-living index: 139.8
1. Hawaii
- Annual grocery expenditures: $7,178
- Annual housing expenditures: $40,774
- Annual utility expenditures: $7,499
- Annual transportation expenditures: $6,742
- Annual healthcare expenditures: $5,977
- Annual miscellaneous expenditures: $1,247
Total annual expenditures: $123,244
Cost-of-living index: 201.3
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Methodology: GOBankingRates analyzed the cost of living in every state across America by looking at the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center’s cost-of-living indices from the third quarter of 2019 and factoring them out using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2018 Consumer Expenditure Survey across seven factors: (1) total annual expenditures, (2) annual grocery (“food at home”) expenditures, (3) annual housing (“shelter”) expenditures, (4) annual utilities (“utilities, fuel and public services”) expenditures, (5) annual transportation (“Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil” and “other vehicle expenses”) expenditures, (6) annual healthcare expenditures and (7) annual miscellaneous expenditures. Only factor No. 1 was used to determine the final ranking. All data used to conduct this study was compiled and verified on Jan. 14, 2020, and is subject to change.
About the Author
Erica Corbin
Erica joined GOBankingRates in 2018. Previously, she worked as an editor at Nasdaq’s wire service GlobeNewswire. She’s had the pleasure of creating content for several products, companies and outlets over the years, primarily lifestyle- and entertainment-related. If asked, she would say the highlight of her career thus far has probably been interviewing some immensely talented people — Glenn Close, Bill Hader, Mary J. Blige and Michael Ironside are personal favorites.
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