What Is the No. 1 Household Expense in Every State?

From the majestic mountains of Montana to the delectable crabs in Maryland (don’t forget the Old Bay, hon), the surfing in Hawaii to the gorgeous fall foliage of Vermont, every state is known for the perks it offers residents.

Daily life, no matter where you live, involves far more than crab feasts, beach days and amazing hikes. Everyday bills and expenditures, from housing to utilities to grocery bills, impact our quality of life and cost of living.

To determine the largest household expenses in every state, as well as the District of Columbia, GOBankingRates analyzed the cost of living indexes across several categories, including groceries, healthcare, utilities, and transportation, as well as miscellaneous costs, comparing them to the national average cost of expenditures.

Let’s dig a little deeper into each state’s biggest household expense:

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 102.4
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $109.18
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 2.4%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 157.9
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $2,633.87
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 57.9%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 124.1
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $3,496.19
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 24.1%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Miscellaneous
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 97.7
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$23.21
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -2.3%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 198.8
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $14,332.92
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 98.8%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 113.6
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $1,972.95
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 13.6%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 130.4
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $1,382.90
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 30.4%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Miscellaneous
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 104.5
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $45.41
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 4.5%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 237.7
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $19,976.14
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 137.7%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 106.3
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $913.94
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 6.3%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 100.3
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $17.55
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 0.3%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 313.1
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $30,914.42
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 213.1%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Transportation
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 105.2
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $361.61
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 5.2%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Transportation
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 103.0
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $208.62
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 3%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 106.7
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $304.78
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 6.7%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 99.4
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$35.10
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -0.6%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 106.6
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $300.23
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 6.60%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 104.4
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $200.16
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 4.4%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 98.7
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$76.05
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -1.3%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 117.4
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $2,524.22
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 17.4%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 146.4
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $6,731.25
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 46.4%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 218.5
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $17,190.80
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 118.5%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 101.1
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $50.04
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 1.1%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 109.2
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $538.20
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 9.2%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 98.4
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$93.60
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -1.6%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 98.6
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$63.69
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -1.4%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Transportation
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 109.0
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $625.86
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 9%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Transportation
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 100
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $0
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 0%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Transportation
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 116.6
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $1,154.36
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 16.6%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 131.0
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $1,410.19
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 31%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 135.8
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $5,193.51
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 35.8%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 99.3
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -40.95
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -0.7%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 176.0
• Difference from the National Average in Dollars: $11,025.32
• Difference from the National Average in Percentage: 76%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 108.1
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $473.85
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 8.1%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 111.2
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $655.20
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 11.2%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Grocery
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 101.4
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $79.84
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 1.4%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 98.2
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$81.88
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -1.8%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 136.6
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $5,266.04
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 36.3%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 107.3
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $332.08
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 7.3%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 116.8
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $2,437.18
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 16.8%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 106.5
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $295.69
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 6.5%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 97.9
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$122.85
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -2.10%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Grocery
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 97.7
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$131.17
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -2.3%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 104.0
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $181.96
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 4%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 110.7
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $1,552.25
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 10.7%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 133.1
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $4,801.82
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 33.1%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 105.7
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $826.90
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 5.7%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 128.7
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $4,163.51
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 28.7%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Grocery
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 98.4
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$91.25
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -1.6%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 112.3
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $719.55
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 12.3%

• Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Grocery
• Highest Cost of Living Index: 102.3
• Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $131.17
• Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 2.3%

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the cost of living indexes across various expenditure categories including; [1] Grocery cost of living index, [2] Healthcare cost of living index, [3] Utilities cost of living index, [4] Transportation cost of living index, [5] Miscellaneous cost of living index all sourced from Missouri Economic Research Institute Center. The highest and lowest cost of living expenditure indexes were kept for each state and using the [6] Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Survey for all consumers, the average expenditure cost can be calculated for each state. The data was sorted by largest difference in percents between the highest cost of living expenditure and the national average cost of living expenditure. All data was collected and is up to date as of June 7, 2024.