The (Minimum) Emergency Savings Needed in Every State

The ever-popular saying, “Expect the unexpected,” certainly relates to life’s expenses. Having an emergency fund can offer you financial protection when things don’t go according to plan. But how much money is enough to really pad your savings? The general rule of thumb is three to six months’ worth of living expenses.

A recent GOBankingRates’ survey found that 58% of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings, which isn’t a whole lot when it comes to cost-of-living expenses. The average total annual expenditures per year in the U.S. is a whopping $61,224, according to the 2018 Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Survey. Having a rainy day fund is crucial — if you have no money stowed away, you’ll have to finance your emergency with credit cards, and your hard-earned cash will go toward this debt instead of providing a larger cushion for your savings. You can’t avoid the unexpected repairs or purchases, but you can certainly prepare for the inevitable.

To determine how much emergency savings are needed in every state, GOBankingRates multiplied the national estimate of average annual expenditures, according to the BLS, by the average cost-of-living index for each state, per the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. Estimates were calculated to determine how much in savings an individual would need for three, four, five and six months if they wanted to maintain an “average” lifestyle. The states are ranked from the lowest to the highest amount needed in emergency savings.

Due to cost of living and annual expenditures in the region alone, you can gather that residents in the Northeast would need significantly larger emergency funds if they wanted to keep living comfortably. Meanwhile, those in the South or Midwest likely contribute to emergency funds that are much more manageable in size. Think about an emergency fund as it relates to your spending habits and less about your annual income — where are you spending the most money? Find out how much you need to save for your emergency fund in every state.

Last updated: March 5, 2020 

1. Mississippi

• Total annual expenditures: $51,918
  • Cost-of-living index: 84.8
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $12,979
    • 4 months: $17,306
    • 5 months: $21,632
    • 6 months: $25,959

2. Oklahoma

• Total annual expenditures: $52,959
  • Cost-of-living index: 86.5
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $13,240
    • 4 months: $17,653
    • 5 months: $22,066
    • 6 months: $26,479

3. Arkansas

• Total annual expenditures: $53,326
  • Cost-of-living index: 87.1
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $13,332
    • 4 months: $17,775
    • 5 months: $22,219
    • 6 months: $26,663

4. New Mexico

• Total annual expenditures: $54,000
  • Cost-of-living index: 88.2
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $13,500
    • 4 months: $18,000
    • 5 months: $22,500
    • 6 months: $27,000

5. Kansas

• Total annual expenditures: $54,183
  • Cost-of-living index: 88.5
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $13,546
    • 4 months: $18,061
    • 5 months: $22,576
    • 6 months: $27,092

6. Missouri

• Total annual expenditures: $54,183
  • Cost-of-living index: 88.5
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $13,546
    • 4 months: $18,061
    • 5 months: $22,576
    • 6 months: $27,092

7. Tennessee

• Total annual expenditures: $54,244
  • Cost-of-living index: 88.6
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $13,561
    • 4 months: $18,081
    • 5 months: $22,602
    • 6 months: $27,122

8. Alabama

• Total annual expenditures: $54,612
  • Cost-of-living index: 89.2
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $13,653
    • 4 months: $18,204
    • 5 months: $22,755
    • 6 months: $27,306

9. Georgia

• Total annual expenditures: $54,612
  • Cost-of-living index: 89.2
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $13,653
    • 4 months: $18,204
    • 5 months: $22,755
    • 6 months: $27,306

10. Michigan

• Total annual expenditures: $54,979
  • Cost-of-living index: 89.8
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $13,745
    • 4 months: $18,326
    • 5 months: $22,908
    • 6 months: $27,490

11. Indiana

• Total annual expenditures: $55,653
  • Cost-of-living index: 90.9
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $13,913
    • 4 months: $18,551
    • 5 months: $23,189
    • 6 months: $27,826

12. West Virginia

• Total annual expenditures: $55,653
  • Cost-of-living index: 90.9
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $13,913
    • 4 months: $18,551
    • 5 months: $23,189
    • 6 months: $27,826

13. Nebraska

• Total annual expenditures: $56,081
  • Cost-of-living index: 91.6
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $14,020
    • 4 months: $18,694
    • 5 months: $23,367
    • 6 months: $28,041

14. Texas

• Total annual expenditures: $56,265
  • Cost-of-living index: 91.9
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $14,066
    • 4 months: $18,755
    • 5 months: $23,444
    • 6 months: $28,132

15. Iowa

• Total annual expenditures: $56,265
  • Cost-of-living index: 91.9
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $14,066
    • 4 months: $18,755
    • 5 months: $23,444
    • 6 months: $28,132

16. Ohio

• Total annual expenditures: $56,816
  • Cost-of-living index: 92.8
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $14,204
    • 4 months: $18,939
    • 5 months: $23,673
    • 6 months: $28,408

17. Louisiana

• Total annual expenditures: $57,000
  • Cost-of-living index: 93.1
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $14,250
    • 4 months: $19,000
    • 5 months: $23,750
    • 6 months: $28,500

18. Kentucky

• Total annual expenditures: $57,000
  • Cost-of-living index: 93.1
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $14,250
    • 4 months: $19,000
    • 5 months: $23,750
    • 6 months: $28,500

19. Idaho

• Total annual expenditures: $57,122
  • Cost-of-living index: 93.3
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $14,280
    • 4 months: $19,041
    • 5 months: $23,801
    • 6 months: $28,561

20. Illinois

• Total annual expenditures: $58,102
  • Cost-of-living index: 94.9
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $14,525
    • 4 months: $19,367
    • 5 months: $24,209
    • 6 months: $29,051

21. North Carolina

• Total annual expenditures: $58,163
  • Cost-of-living index: 95.0
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $14,541
    • 4 months: $19,388
    • 5 months: $24,235
    • 6 months: $29,081

22. Wisconsin

• Total annual expenditures: $59,020
  • Cost-of-living index: 96.4
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $14,755
    • 4 months: $19,673
    • 5 months: $24,592
    • 6 months: $29,510

23. South Carolina

• Total annual expenditures: $59,081
  • Cost-of-living index: 96.5
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $14,770
    • 4 months: $19,694
    • 5 months: $24,617
    • 6 months: $29,541

24. Utah

• Total annual expenditures: $59,632
  • Cost-of-living index: 97.4
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $14,908
    • 4 months: $19,877
    • 5 months: $24,847
    • 6 months: $29,816

25. North Dakota

• Total annual expenditures: $59,877
  • Cost-of-living index: 97.8
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $14,969
    • 4 months: $19,959
    • 5 months: $24,949
    • 6 months: $29,939

26. Florida

• Total annual expenditures: $60,122
  • Cost-of-living index: 98.2
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $15,030
    • 4 months: $20,041
    • 5 months: $25,051
    • 6 months: $30,061

27. Arizona

• Total annual expenditures: $60,979
  • Cost-of-living index: 99.6
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $15,245
    • 4 months: $20,326
    • 5 months: $25,408
    • 6 months: $30,490

28. South Dakota

• Total annual expenditures: $61,653
  • Cost-of-living index: 100.7
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $15,413
    • 4 months: $20,551
    • 5 months: $25,689
    • 6 months: $30,826

29. Virginia

• Total annual expenditures: $62,081
  • Cost-of-living index: 101.4
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $15,520
    • 4 months: $20,694
    • 5 months: $25,867
    • 6 months: $31,041

30. Minnesota

• Total annual expenditures: $62,142
  • Cost-of-living index: 101.5
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $15,536
    • 4 months: $20,714
    • 5 months: $25,893
    • 6 months: $31,071

31. Wyoming

• Total annual expenditures: $62,265
  • Cost-of-living index: 101.7
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $15,566
    • 4 months: $20,755
    • 5 months: $25,944
    • 6 months: $31,132

32. Pennsylvania

• Total annual expenditures: $62,693
  • Cost-of-living index: 102.4
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $15,673
    • 4 months: $20,898
    • 5 months: $26,122
    • 6 months: $31,347

33. Colorado

• Total annual expenditures: $64,163
  • Cost-of-living index: 104.8
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $16,041
    • 4 months: $21,388
    • 5 months: $26,734
    • 6 months: $32,081

34. Montana

• Total annual expenditures: $65,081
  • Cost-of-living index: 106.3
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $16,270
    • 4 months: $21,694
    • 5 months: $27,117
    • 6 months: $32,541

35. Delaware

• Total annual expenditures: $66,061
  • Cost-of-living index: 107.9
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $16,515
    • 4 months: $22,020
    • 5 months: $27,525
    • 6 months: $33,030

36. Nevada

• Total annual expenditures: $66,367
  • Cost-of-living index: 108.4
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $16,592
    • 4 months: $22,122
    • 5 months: $27,653
    • 6 months: $33,183

37. New Hampshire

• Total annual expenditures: $66,428
  • Cost-of-living index: 108.5
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $16,607
    • 4 months: $22,143
    • 5 months: $27,678
    • 6 months: $33,214

38. Washington

• Total annual expenditures: $67,408
  • Cost-of-living index: 110.1
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $16,852
    • 4 months: $22,469
    • 5 months: $28,087
    • 6 months: $33,704

39. Vermont

• Total annual expenditures: $69,979
  • Cost-of-living index: 114.3
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $17,495
    • 4 months: $23,326
    • 5 months: $29,158
    • 6 months: $34,990

40. Maine

• Total annual expenditures: $71,387
  • Cost-of-living index: 116.6
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $17,847
    • 4 months: $23,796
    • 5 months: $29,745
    • 6 months: $35,694

41. Rhode Island

• Total annual expenditures: $72,673
  • Cost-of-living index: 118.7
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $18,168
    • 4 months: $24,224
    • 5 months: $30,280
    • 6 months: $36,336

42. New Jersey

• Total annual expenditures: $75,734
  • Cost-of-living index: 123.7
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $18,934
    • 4 months: $25,245
    • 5 months: $31,556
    • 6 months: $37,867

43. Connecticut

• Total annual expenditures: $77,448
  • Cost-of-living index: 126.5
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $19,362
    • 4 months: $25,816
    • 5 months: $32,270
    • 6 months: $38,724

44. Maryland

• Total annual expenditures: $78,122
  • Cost-of-living index: 127.6
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $19,530
    • 4 months: $26,041
    • 5 months: $32,551
    • 6 months: $39,061

45. Alaska

• Total annual expenditures: $78,550
  • Cost-of-living index: 128.3
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $19,638
    • 4 months: $26,183
    • 5 months: $32,729
    • 6 months: $39,275

46. Massachusetts

• Total annual expenditures: $79,652
  • Cost-of-living index: 130.1
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $19,913
    • 4 months: $26,551
    • 5 months: $33,189
    • 6 months: $39,826

47. Oregon

• Total annual expenditures: $82,040
  • Cost-of-living index: 134.0
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $20,510
    • 4 months: $27,347
    • 5 months: $34,183
    • 6 months: $41,020

48. New York

• Total annual expenditures: $84,061
  • Cost-of-living index: 137.3
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $21,015
    • 4 months: $28,020
    • 5 months: $35,025
    • 6 months: $42,030

49. California

• Total annual expenditures: $84,305
  • Cost-of-living index: 137.7
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $21,076
    • 4 months: $28,102
    • 5 months: $35,127
    • 6 months: $42,153

50. Hawaii

• Total annual expenditures: $117,428
  • Cost of living index: 191.8
  • Savings needed
    • 3 months: $29,357
    • 4 months: $39,143
    • 5 months: $48,928
    • 6 months: $58,714

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Methodology: GOBankingRates defined the minimum emergency savings needed in every state as the amount needed to afford 3-6 months’ living expenses. GOBankingRates created estimates of living expenses in every state in two ways: 1) Multiplying the national estimate of average annual expenditures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2018 Consumer Expenditure Survey by the overall 2019 average cost of living index value for each state from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. This estimate captures the minimum emergency savings needed in every state to continue living the “average” lifestyle for 3-6 months without cutting any expenses; 2) Selecting only the “necessity” expenses from the 2018 CES’s breakdown of annual expenditures and multiplying them by the corresponding category index value from MERIC. Necessities included groceries defined as “food at home” from the CES, housing defined as “shelter,” utilities defined as “utilities, fuels and public services,” transportation defined as “gasoline, other fuels and motor oil” plus “other vehicle expenses,” healthcare and miscellaneous expenses. This estimate captures the minimum emergency savings needed in every state to cover basic expenses for 3-6 months. States were then ranked by their necessary emergency savings, with the state requiring the least amount of money in emergency savings listed as No. 1 and the state requiring the most in emergency savings listed as No. 50. All data was compiled on and up to date as of Feb. 12, 2020.