Advertiser Disclosure

Here’s the Cost of Living in Every State

July 30, 2025

8 min Read

Written by Andrew Lisa

Edited by Melanie Grafil, M.A., CHFC™

Commitment to Our Readers

GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.

20 YearsHelping You Live Richer

Reviewed by Experts

Trusted by Millions of Readers

The last few years have been more expensive for Americans than in decades due to severe inflation and ever-rising cost of living. People living on tighter budgets or more frugal lifestyles may be looking to move to other, cheaper states.

Some states will let you spread your dollars more than others. Using data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, GOBankingRates determined the cost-of-living index in each state compared to the overall national average. The study included costs associated with six categories: housing, utilities, groceries, healthcare, transportation and miscellaneous expenses.

Here’s the cost of living in all 50 states, and you can also check out the most livable city in every state.

Alabama

Average annual cost of living: $68,006
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 5
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 69.5
Highest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 100

Alaska

Average annual cost of living: $95,673
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 47
Lowest cost-of-living index: Transportation, 114.3
Highest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 152.8

Arizona

Average annual cost of living: $86,167
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 36
Lowest cost-of-living index: Health, 92.7
Highest cost-of-living index: Housing, 131.9

Arkansas

Average annual cost of living: $68,547
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 6
Lowest cost-of-living index: Health, 85.7
Highest cost-of-living index: Misc., 96.7

California

Average annual cost of living: $111,901
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 48
Lowest cost-of-living index: Health, 107.7
Highest cost-of-living index: Housing, 208.7

Colorado

Average annual cost of living: $78,826
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 32
Lowest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 89.3
Highest cost-of-living index: Housing, 107.7

Connecticut

Average annual cost of living: $86,785
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 40
Lowest cost-of-living index: Grocery, 102.6
Highest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 135.9

Delaware

Average annual cost of living: $77,898
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 5
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 97.4
Highest cost-of-living index: Misc., 102.9

Florida

Average annual cost of living: $79,444
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 34
Lowest cost-of-living index: Transportation, 98.8
Highest cost-of-living index: Housing, 108.1

Georgia

Average annual cost of living: $70,557
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 12
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 79.2
Highest cost-of-living index: Health, 100.4

Hawaii

Average annual cost of living: $144,436
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 50
Lowest cost-of-living index: Health, 121.1
Highest cost-of-living index: Housing, 310

Idaho

Average annual cost of living: $78,826
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 33
Lowest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 77.9
Highest cost-of-living index: Transportation, 109.6

Illinois

Average annual cost of living: $72,952
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 21
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 83.3
Highest cost-of-living index: Transportation, 103.4

Indiana

Average annual cost of living: $69,938
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 10
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 77.1
Highest cost-of-living index: Transportation, 98.7

Iowa

Average annual cost of living: $69,320
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 8
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 74.8
Highest cost-of-living index: Transportation, 97.6

Kansas

Average annual cost of living: $67,234
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 3
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 72.4
Highest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 98.7

Kentucky

Average annual cost of living: $71,870
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 17
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 78.7
Highest cost-of-living index: Health, 106.6

Louisiana

Average annual cost of living: $71,252
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 14
Lowest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 78.5
Highest cost-of-living index: Misc., 99.4

Maine

Average annual cost of living: $86,631
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 38
Lowest cost-of-living index: Groceries, 101.5
Highest cost-of-living index: Housing, 128.7

Maryland

Average annual cost of living: $89,104
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 45
Lowest cost-of-living index: Health, 100.9
Highest cost-of-living index: Housing, 135.8

Massachusetts

Average annual cost of living: $112,752
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 49
Lowest cost-of-living index: Groceries, 104.4
Highest cost-of-living index: Housing, 218.8

Michigan

Average annual cost of living: $69,861
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 5
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 73.7
Highest cost-of-living index: Transportation, 99.6

Minnesota

Average annual cost of living: $73,493
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 23
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 80.9
Highest cost-of-living index: Groceries, 102.1

Mississippi

Average annual cost of living: $67,929
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 4
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 73.9
Highest cost-of-living index: Health, 99.3

Missouri

Average annual cost of living: $68,547
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 7
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 77.8
Highest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 98.8

Montana

Average annual cost of living: $73,338
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 22
Lowest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 83.3
Highest cost-of-living index: Transportation, 109.7

Nebraska

Average annual cost of living: $71,948
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 18
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 80.0
Highest cost-of-living index: Misc., 100.6

Nevada

Average annual cost of living: $78,285
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 31
Lowest cost-of-living index: Health, 87.1
Highest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 103.9

New Hampshire

Average annual cost of living: $87,017
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 41
Lowest cost-of-living index: Groceries, 99.9
Highest cost-of-living index: Housing, 117.5

New Jersey

Average annual cost of living: $88,563
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 44
Lowest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 100.6
Highest cost-of-living index: Housing, 136.9

New Mexico

Average annual cost of living: $72,102
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 19
Lowest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 84.3
Highest cost-of-living index: Health, 102.7

New York

Average annual cost of living: $95,286
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 46
Lowest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 99.7
Highest cost-of-living index: Housing, 168

North Carolina

Average annual cost of living: $75,580
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 28
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 93.3
Highest cost-of-living index: Health, 104.7

North Dakota

Average annual cost of living: $71,020
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 13
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 80.1
Highest cost-of-living index: Health, 108.2

Ohio

Average annual cost of living: $72,798
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 20
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 85.7
Highest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 99.3

Oklahoma

Average annual cost of living: $66,229
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 2
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 68.6
Highest cost-of-living index: Health, 96.6

Oregon

Average annual cost of living: $86,554
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 37
Lowest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 89.7
Highest cost-of-living index: Housing, 133.3

Pennsylvania

Average annual cost of living: $73,493
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 24
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 84.3
Highest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 106

Rhode Island

Average annual cost of living: $86,708
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 39
Lowest cost-of-living index: Transportation, 96.3
Highest cost-of-living index: Misc., 114.2

South Carolina

Average annual cost of living: $74,112
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 26
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 86.7
Highest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 102.3

South Dakota

Average annual cost of living: $71,252
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 15
Lowest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 83.5
Highest cost-of-living index: Health, 101

Tennessee

Average annual cost of living: $69,938
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 11
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 83.2
Highest cost-of-living index: Groceries, 97.1

Texas

Average annual cost of living: $71,639
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 16
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 82
Highest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 105.3

Utah

Average annual cost of living: $81,067
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 35
Lowest cost-of-living index: Health, 88.4
Highest cost-of-living index: Housing, 116.8

Vermont

Average annual cost of living: $88,408
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 43
Lowest cost-of-living index: Transportation, 95.8
Highest cost-of-living index: Housing, 129.7

Virginia

Average annual cost of living: $77,821
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 29
Lowest cost-of-living index: Transportation, 94.9
Highest cost-of-living index: Health, 105

Washington

Average annual cost of living: $88,254
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 42
Lowest cost-of-living index: Utilities, 92.6
Highest cost-of-living index: Housing, 126.9

West Virginia

Average annual cost of living: $64,992
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 1
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 59.9
Highest cost-of-living index: Groceries, 99

Wisconsin

Average annual cost of living: $74,962
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 27
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 91.6
Highest cost-of-living index: Health, 106.4

Wyoming

Average annual cost of living: $73,802
U.S. rank (1 is cheapest): 25
Lowest cost-of-living index: Housing, 88.6
Highest cost-of-living index: Health, 104.3

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed each state by looking at the cost-of-living indexes, as sourced from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center’s 2024 overall cost of living indexes. Using the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey, GOBankingRates calculated average costs by looking at factors such as (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” + “other vehicle expenses”) expenditures, (6) annual healthcare expenditures and (7) annual miscellaneous expenditures. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Feb. 25, 2025.

More From GOBankingRates