Most Expensive States to Live In

Map

Table

Introduction

Many factors interplay to determine how expensive it is to live in a particular state. Things like local and state taxes, the number of people living in a particular area, and the cost of travel and energy greatly influence how expensive or cheap one’s living accommodations are. If a person is planning to move to a different state, how expensive it is to live in the prospective area of their choice within that state is something they should take into consideration. 

One of the greatest factors that determines the cost to live in any state is taxes. Not all states procure an equal portion of income tax or sales tax. Some states have incredibly high income tax, so that the percentage of a person’s take-home pay is much lower than it would otherwise be. On the other hand, some states don’t have an income or sales tax, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be less expensive to live in. 

Although taxes play a primarily role in determining the cost of living in any particular state, the cost of energy plays an almost equal role. The primary energy sources that most people pay for are gas, electricity, and water. The cost of electricity varies significantly from state to state, and if someone lives in a state that experiences four seasons, the electricity bills that people see may shrink or expand depending on how they heat and cool their homes. 

To learn more about the most expensive states to live in, scroll the charts.

#StateAverage Living WageMinimum WageMedian Household Income
1District of Columbia$23.13$10.5$90,640
2Hawaii$21.99$10.1$82,199
3New York$21.99$13.2$72,920
4Massachusetts$21.88$14.25$86,566
5California$21.82$14$81,575
6New Jersey$20.57$13$88,559
7Maryland$19.74$12.5$97,332
8Oregon$19.51$13.5$81,855
9Virginia$19.4$11$80,268
10Colorado$19.16$12.56$84,954
11Connecticut$19$14$80,958
12Washington$18.54$14.49$87,648
13Illinois$18.16$12$79,253
14Maine$17.88$12.75$71,139
15Vermont$17.81$12.55$76,079
16Rhode Island$17.8$12.25$74,982
17Delaware$17.74$15.2$68,687
18Minnesota$17.74$10.33$80,441
19Georgia$17.64$7.25$61,497
20South Carolina$17.47$7.25$62,542
21Arizona$17.43$12.8$70,821
22New Hampshire$17.32$7.25$88,841
23Florida$17.24$10$59,734
24North Carolina$17.14$7.25$62,891
25Utah$16.98$7.25$87,649
26Alaska$16.72$10.34$81,133
27Pennsylvania$16.67$7.25$72,627
28Nebraska$16.6$9$78,109
29Texas$16.41$7.25$67,404
30Wisconsin$16.4$7.25$69,943
31Kansas$16.38$7.25$75,979
32Michigan$16.36$9.87$64,488
33Montana$16.32$9.2$64,999
34Missouri$16.29$11.15$63,594
35New Mexico$16.25$11.5$53,463
36Nevada$16.24$10.5$64,340
37Iowa$16.18$7.25$72,429
38Idaho$16.16$7.25$76,918
39Louisiana$16.15$7.25$57,206
40Alabama$15.91$7.25$56,929
41Indiana$15.79$7.25$70,190
42Oklahoma$15.75$7.25$60,096
43Mississippi$15.66$7.25$46,637
44Ohio$15.61$9.3$62,689
45Arkansas$15.55$11$50,784
46Kentucky$15.46$7.25$55,629
47Tennessee$15.45$7.25$62,166
48West Virginia$15.45$8.75$46,836
49North Dakota$15.37$7.25$68,882
50Wyoming$15.25$7.25$71,052
51South Dakota$14.85$9.95$73,893

Average Living Wage by State

Alabama

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Average Living Wage

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$15.91

Ranked in the US

#40

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#32

Ranked in the US

#46

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Alaska

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$16.72

Ranked in the US

#26

$10.34

Ranked in the US

#22

Ranked in the US

#12

Average Living Wage

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Median Household Income

Arizona

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$17.43

Ranked in the US

#21

$12.8

Ranked in the US

#9

Ranked in the US

#28

Average Living Wage

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Median Household Income

Arkansas

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$15.55

Ranked in the US

#45

Ranked in the US

#18

Ranked in the US

#49

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Median Household Income

California

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$21.82

Ranked in the US

#5

Ranked in the US

#4

Ranked in the US

#11

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Median Household Income

Colorado

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$19.16

Ranked in the US

#10

$12.56

Ranked in the US

#11

Ranked in the US

#8

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Median Household Income

Connecticut

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$19

Ranked in the US

#11

Ranked in the US

#5

Ranked in the US

#13

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Median Household Income

Delaware

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$17.74

Ranked in the US

#17

$15.2

Ranked in the US

#1

Ranked in the US

#32

Average Living Wage

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Median Household Income

District of Columbia

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$23.13

Ranked in the US

#1

$10.5

Ranked in the US

#20

Ranked in the US

#2

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Florida

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$17.24

Ranked in the US

#23

Ranked in the US

#25

Ranked in the US

#44

Average Living Wage

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Median Household Income

Georgia

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$17.64

Ranked in the US

#19

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#33

Ranked in the US

#42

With price levels being 5.56% lower than the overall national price level, Georgia is the twenty-fifth cheapest in the nation. Georgia residents pay less for housing than the national average and have lower food costs than most other states. Transportation costs are also quite reasonable compared to other states. Furthermore, Georgia's sheer abundance of natural beauty and pleasant climate make it an attractive place to reside for many people looking for a cheaper cost of living.

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Hawaii

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$21.99

Ranked in the US

#2

$10.1

Ranked in the US

#24

Ranked in the US

#9

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Idaho

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$16.16

Ranked in the US

#38

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#34

Ranked in the US

#18

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Illinois

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$18.16

Ranked in the US

#13

Ranked in the US

#15

Ranked in the US

#16

Average Living Wage

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Median Household Income

Indiana

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$15.79

Ranked in the US

#41

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#35

Ranked in the US

#29

Average Living Wage

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Median Household Income

Iowa

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$16.18

Ranked in the US

#37

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#36

Ranked in the US

#25

Average Living Wage

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Median Household Income

Kansas

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$16.38

Ranked in the US

#31

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#37

Ranked in the US

#20

Average Living Wage

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Median Household Income

Kentucky

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$15.46

Ranked in the US

#46

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#38

Ranked in the US

#47

Average Living Wage

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Median Household Income

Louisiana

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$16.15

Ranked in the US

#39

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#39

Ranked in the US

#45

Average Living Wage

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Median Household Income

Maine

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$17.88

Ranked in the US

#14

$12.75

Ranked in the US

#10

Ranked in the US

#26

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Maryland

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$19.74

Ranked in the US

#7

$12.5

Ranked in the US

#13

Ranked in the US

#1

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Massachusetts

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$21.88

Ranked in the US

#4

$14.25

Ranked in the US

#3

Ranked in the US

#7

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Michigan

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$16.36

Ranked in the US

#32

$9.87

Ranked in the US

#27

Ranked in the US

#35

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Minnesota

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$17.74

Ranked in the US

#18

$10.33

Ranked in the US

#23

Ranked in the US

#14

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Mississippi

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$15.66

Ranked in the US

#43

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#40

Ranked in the US

#51

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Missouri

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$16.29

Ranked in the US

#34

$11.15

Ranked in the US

#17

Ranked in the US

#37

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Montana

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$16.32

Ranked in the US

#33

$9.2

Ranked in the US

#29

Ranked in the US

#34

Average Living Wage

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Median Household Income

Nebraska

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$16.6

Ranked in the US

#28

Ranked in the US

#30

Ranked in the US

#17

Average Living Wage

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Median Household Income

Nevada

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$16.24

Ranked in the US

#36

$10.5

Ranked in the US

#21

Ranked in the US

#36

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

New Hampshire

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$17.32

Ranked in the US

#22

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#41

Ranked in the US

#3

Average Living Wage

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Median Household Income

New Jersey

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$20.57

Ranked in the US

#6

Ranked in the US

#8

Ranked in the US

#4

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

New Mexico

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$16.25

Ranked in the US

#35

$11.5

Ranked in the US

#16

Ranked in the US

#48

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

New York

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$21.99

Ranked in the US

#3

$13.2

Ranked in the US

#7

Ranked in the US

#23

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

North Carolina

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$17.14

Ranked in the US

#24

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#42

Ranked in the US

#38

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

North Dakota

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$15.37

Ranked in the US

#49

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#43

Ranked in the US

#31

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Ohio

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$15.61

Ranked in the US

#44

$9.3

Ranked in the US

#28

Ranked in the US

#39

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Oklahoma

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$15.75

Ranked in the US

#42

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#44

Ranked in the US

#43

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Oregon

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$19.51

Ranked in the US

#8

$13.5

Ranked in the US

#6

Ranked in the US

#10

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Pennsylvania

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$16.67

Ranked in the US

#27

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#45

Ranked in the US

#24

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Rhode Island

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$17.8

Ranked in the US

#16

$12.25

Ranked in the US

#14

Ranked in the US

#21

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

South Carolina

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$17.47

Ranked in the US

#20

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#46

Ranked in the US

#40

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

South Dakota

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$14.85

Ranked in the US

#51

$9.95

Ranked in the US

#26

Ranked in the US

#22

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Tennessee

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$15.45

Ranked in the US

#47

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#47

Ranked in the US

#41

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Texas

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$16.41

Ranked in the US

#29

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#48

Ranked in the US

#33

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Utah

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$16.98

Ranked in the US

#25

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#49

Ranked in the US

#5

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Vermont

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$17.81

Ranked in the US

#15

$12.55

Ranked in the US

#12

Ranked in the US

#19

Average Living Wage

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Median Household Income

Virginia

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$19.4

Ranked in the US

#9

Ranked in the US

#19

Ranked in the US

#15

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Washington

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$18.54

Ranked in the US

#12

$14.49

Ranked in the US

#2

Ranked in the US

#6

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

West Virginia

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$15.45

Ranked in the US

#48

$8.75

Ranked in the US

#31

Ranked in the US

#50

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Wisconsin

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$16.4

Ranked in the US

#30

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#50

Ranked in the US

#30

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income

Wyoming

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$15.25

Ranked in the US

#50

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#51

Ranked in the US

#27

Average Living Wage

Minimum Wage

Median Household Income