Introduction
Americans have long acknowledged that the cost of living will differ from state to state, even though all states strive to lower the cost of living of their citizens. The cost of living refers to the amount of money needed to cover basic necessities; cost of living is typically calculated by the overall price of goods and services. Often, the cost of living is the standard used by the government and employers when determining wages or social safety nets. States attempt to lower the cost of living either by lowering costs or increasing benefits to citizens and consumers.
States like Florida have chosen the former method to lower the cost of living. H.B. 7071, which went into effect July 1, 2022, includes several “tax holidays”, waiving taxes for various goods such as gasoline, children’s books, baby and toddler clothes, back-to-school products, tools and home improvement goods. On the other hand, states like New York have introduced legislation that would increase the amount of money retirees receive.
Compare for yourself how the cost of living differs between various states by looking at the data in the charts.
| # | State | Cost of Living Index | Living Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | 85 | $15.66 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 85.8 | $15.75 |
| 3 | Kansas | 87.5 | $16.38 |
| 4 | Alabama | 88.1 | $15.91 |
| 5 | Georgia | 88.6 | $17.64 |
| 6 | Missouri | 89.1 | $16.29 |
| 7 | Iowa | 89.2 | $16.18 |
| 8 | Indiana | 89.9 | $15.79 |
| 9 | West Virginia | 90 | $15.45 |
| 10 | Tennessee | 90.2 | $15.45 |
| 11 | Arkansas | 90.6 | $15.55 |
| 12 | Nebraska | 91.9 | $16.6 |
| 13 | Ohio | 91.9 | $15.61 |
| 14 | Michigan | 92.2 | $16.36 |
| 15 | Texas | 92.5 | $16.41 |
| 16 | Wyoming | 92.5 | $15.25 |
| 17 | Illinois | 92.6 | $18.16 |
| 18 | Louisiana | 93.6 | $16.15 |
| 19 | New Mexico | 94 | $16.25 |
| 20 | South Carolina | 94.3 | $17.47 |
| 21 | South Dakota | 94.5 | $14.85 |
| 22 | Kentucky | 94.9 | $15.46 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 95.5 | $16.4 |
| 24 | North Carolina | 95.7 | $17.14 |
| 25 | North Dakota | 97.1 | $15.37 |
| 26 | Minnesota | 97.5 | $17.74 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | 98.2 | $16.67 |
| 28 | Idaho | 99.6 | $16.16 |
| 29 | Florida | 102.8 | $17.24 |
| 30 | Utah | 102.8 | $16.98 |
| 31 | Virginia | 102.8 | $19.4 |
| 32 | Nevada | 103.2 | $16.24 |
| 33 | Colorado | 104.6 | $19.16 |
| 34 | Montana | 104.8 | $16.32 |
| 35 | Delaware | 105.6 | $17.74 |
| 36 | Arizona | 105.8 | $17.43 |
| 37 | New Jersey | 112.4 | $20.57 |
| 38 | Rhode Island | 112.9 | $17.8 |
| 39 | Washington | 114.2 | $18.54 |
| 40 | Maine | 115.3 | $17.88 |
| 41 | Vermont | 115.9 | $17.81 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | 116.1 | $17.32 |
| 43 | Connecticut | 116.8 | $19 |
| 44 | Oregon | 121.2 | $19.51 |
| 45 | Maryland | 124 | $19.74 |
| 46 | Alaska | 126.6 | $16.72 |
| 47 | New York | 134.5 | $21.99 |
| 48 | California | 137.6 | $21.82 |
| 49 | Massachusetts | 149.7 | $21.88 |
| 50 | District of Columbia | 152.2 | $23.13 |
| 51 | Hawaii | 184 | $21.99 |
Cost of Living Index by State
Alabama
Ranked in the US
#4
Living Wage
$15.91
Ranked in the US
#12
Alaska
126.6
Ranked in the US
#46
Living Wage
$16.72
Ranked in the US
#26
Arizona
105.8
Ranked in the US
#36
Living Wage
$17.43
Ranked in the US
#31
Arkansas
Ranked in the US
#11
Living Wage
$15.55
Ranked in the US
#7
California
137.6
Ranked in the US
#48
Living Wage
$21.82
Ranked in the US
#47
Colorado
104.6
Ranked in the US
#33
Living Wage
$19.16
Ranked in the US
#42
Connecticut
116.8
Ranked in the US
#43
Living Wage
$19
Ranked in the US
#41
Delaware
105.6
Ranked in the US
#35
Living Wage
$17.74
Ranked in the US
#34
District of Columbia
152.2
Ranked in the US
#50
Living Wage
$23.13
Ranked in the US
#51
Florida
102.8
Ranked in the US
#29
Living Wage
$17.24
Ranked in the US
#29
Georgia
Ranked in the US
#5
Living Wage
$17.64
Ranked in the US
#33
Hawaii
Ranked in the US
#51
Living Wage
$21.99
Ranked in the US
#49
Idaho
Ranked in the US
#28
Living Wage
$16.16
Ranked in the US
#14
Illinois
Ranked in the US
#17
Living Wage
$18.16
Ranked in the US
#39
Indiana
Ranked in the US
#8
Living Wage
$15.79
Ranked in the US
#11
Iowa
Ranked in the US
#7
Living Wage
$16.18
Ranked in the US
#15
Kansas
Ranked in the US
#3
Living Wage
$16.38
Ranked in the US
#21
Kentucky
Ranked in the US
#22
Living Wage
$15.46
Ranked in the US
#6
Louisiana
Ranked in the US
#18
Living Wage
$16.15
Ranked in the US
#13
Maine
115.3
Ranked in the US
#40
Living Wage
$17.88
Ranked in the US
#38
Maryland
Ranked in the US
#45
Living Wage
$19.74
Ranked in the US
#45
Massachusetts
149.7
Ranked in the US
#49
Living Wage
$21.88
Ranked in the US
#48
Michigan
Ranked in the US
#14
Living Wage
$16.36
Ranked in the US
#20
Minnesota
Ranked in the US
#26
Living Wage
$17.74
Ranked in the US
#35
Mississippi
Ranked in the US
#1
Living Wage
$15.66
Ranked in the US
#9
Missouri
Ranked in the US
#6
Living Wage
$16.29
Ranked in the US
#18
Montana
104.8
Ranked in the US
#34
Living Wage
$16.32
Ranked in the US
#19
Nebraska
Ranked in the US
#12
Living Wage
$16.6
Ranked in the US
#24
Nevada
103.2
Ranked in the US
#32
Living Wage
$16.24
Ranked in the US
#16
New Hampshire
116.1
Ranked in the US
#42
Living Wage
$17.32
Ranked in the US
#30
New Jersey
112.4
Ranked in the US
#37
Living Wage
$20.57
Ranked in the US
#46
New Mexico
Ranked in the US
#19
Living Wage
$16.25
Ranked in the US
#17
New York
134.5
Ranked in the US
#47
Living Wage
$21.99
Ranked in the US
#50
North Carolina
Ranked in the US
#24
Living Wage
$17.14
Ranked in the US
#28
North Dakota
Ranked in the US
#25
Living Wage
$15.37
Ranked in the US
#3
Ohio
Ranked in the US
#13
Living Wage
$15.61
Ranked in the US
#8
Oklahoma
Ranked in the US
#2
Living Wage
$15.75
Ranked in the US
#10
Oregon
121.2
Ranked in the US
#44
Living Wage
$19.51
Ranked in the US
#44
Pennsylvania
Ranked in the US
#27
Living Wage
$16.67
Ranked in the US
#25
Rhode Island
112.9
Ranked in the US
#38
Living Wage
$17.8
Ranked in the US
#36
South Carolina
Ranked in the US
#20
Living Wage
$17.47
Ranked in the US
#32
South Dakota
Ranked in the US
#21
Living Wage
$14.85
Ranked in the US
#1
Tennessee
Ranked in the US
#10
Living Wage
$15.45
Ranked in the US
#4
Texas
Ranked in the US
#15
Living Wage
$16.41
Ranked in the US
#23
Utah
102.8
Ranked in the US
#30
Living Wage
$16.98
Ranked in the US
#27
Vermont
115.9
Ranked in the US
#41
Living Wage
$17.81
Ranked in the US
#37
Virginia
102.8
Ranked in the US
#31
Living Wage
$19.4
Ranked in the US
#43
Washington
114.2
Ranked in the US
#39
Living Wage
$18.54
Ranked in the US
#40
West Virginia
Ranked in the US
#9
Living Wage
$15.45
Ranked in the US
#5
Wisconsin
Ranked in the US
#23
Living Wage
$16.4
Ranked in the US
#22
Wyoming
Ranked in the US
#16
Living Wage
$15.25
Ranked in the US
#2