Cheapest States To Live In

Cost of Living Index
Cost of Living Index
1.MississippiMississippi85
2.OklahomaOklahoma85.8
3.KansasKansas87.5
4.AlabamaAlabama88.1
5.GeorgiaGeorgia88.6
6.MissouriMissouri89.1
7.IowaIowa89.2
8.IndianaIndiana89.9
9.West VirginiaWest Virginia90
10.TennesseeTennessee90.2
11.ArkansasArkansas90.6
12.NebraskaNebraska91.9
13.OhioOhio91.9
14.MichiganMichigan92.2
15.TexasTexas92.5
16.WyomingWyoming92.5
17.IllinoisIllinois92.6
18.LouisianaLouisiana93.6
19.New MexicoNew Mexico94
20.South CarolinaSouth Carolina94.3
21.South DakotaSouth Dakota94.5
22.KentuckyKentucky94.9
23.WisconsinWisconsin95.5
24.North CarolinaNorth Carolina95.7
25.North DakotaNorth Dakota97.1
26.MinnesotaMinnesota97.5
27.PennsylvaniaPennsylvania98.2
28.IdahoIdaho99.6
29.FloridaFlorida102.8
30.UtahUtah102.8
31.VirginiaVirginia102.8
32.NevadaNevada103.2
33.ColoradoColorado104.6
34.MontanaMontana104.8
35.DelawareDelaware105.6
36.ArizonaArizona105.8
37.New JerseyNew Jersey112.4
38.Rhode IslandRhode Island112.9
39.WashingtonWashington114.2
40.MaineMaine115.3
41.VermontVermont115.9
42.New HampshireNew Hampshire116.1
43.ConnecticutConnecticut116.8
44.OregonOregon121.2
45.MarylandMaryland124
46.AlaskaAlaska126.6
47.New YorkNew York134.5
48.CaliforniaCalifornia137.6
49.MassachusettsMassachusetts149.7
50.HawaiiHawaii184

Introduction

According to the data provided by the Cost of Living Index, the vast divergence in the cost of living across states becomes apparent. The data reveals quite a bit about the economic landscape of the United States and provides insights into regions where your dollar could go the furthest.

  • The economic landscape of the United States is vastly diverse, with the cost of living index ranging from 85 in Mississippi to an exorbitant 184 in Hawaii. This difference underscores the disparity in economic conditions and the cost of basic needs across the country.
  • The data indicates a clear regional pattern, with Southern and Midwestern states like Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama, and Georgia topping the list as the states with the lowest cost of living.
  • Conversely, the most expensive states to live in include the Northeastern states and the Pacific Coast, as well as non-contiguous states like Hawaii and Alaska, making these areas less affordable for many American families.
  • A noticeable uptick in the cost of living index appears as we shift from the Midwest and Southern states to the coastal regions and non-contiguous states. Florida marks the point where the cost of living begins to exceed the national average, with an index of 102.8.

10 Cheapest States to Live In

Topping the list is Mississippi with a Cost of Living Index at a meager 85. This means that the residents enjoy costs that are 15% lower than the national average. Being the cheapest state to live in, a dollar spent here would stretch further compared to many other states. Following closely at second is Oklahoma with a Cost of Living Index at 85.8. Kansas holds the third position with a Cost of Living Index at 87.5, suggesting that the cost of living in this state is 12.5% cheaper than the national average. Alabama is next in line, ranking fourth, with a Cost of Living Index at 88.1. Ranking fifth is Georgia with an index at 88.6. Missouri and Iowa follow with indexes at 89.1 and 89.2 respectively. Indiana and West Virginia fill up the eighth and ninth positions with indexes at 89.9 and 90. Rounding up the list of ten is Tennessee with a Cost of Living Index at 90.2. Top 10 Cheapest States to Live In:

  1. Mississippi - 85
  2. Oklahoma - 85.8
  3. Kansas - 87.5
  4. Alabama - 88.1
  5. Georgia - 88.6
  6. Missouri - 89.1
  7. Iowa - 89.2
  8. Indiana - 89.9
  9. West Virginia - 90
  10. Tennessee - 90.2

By Region

Alabama

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Alabama

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Alaska

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Alaska

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Arizona

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Arkansas

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California

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California

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Colorado

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Connecticut

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Connecticut

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Delaware

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Delaware

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Florida

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Florida

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Georgia

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Georgia

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Hawaii

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Hawaii

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Idaho

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Idaho

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Illinois

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Illinois

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Indiana

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Indiana

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Iowa

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Iowa

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Kansas

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Kansas

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Kentucky

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Kentucky

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Louisiana

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Louisiana

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Maine

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Maine

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Maryland

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Maryland

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Massachusetts

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Massachusetts

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Michigan

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Michigan

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Minnesota

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Minnesota

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Mississippi

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Mississippi

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Missouri

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Missouri

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Montana

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Montana

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Nebraska

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Nebraska

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Nevada

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Nevada

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New Hampshire

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New Hampshire

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New Jersey

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New Mexico

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New Mexico

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New York

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New York

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North Carolina

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North Carolina

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North Dakota

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Ohio

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Ohio

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Oklahoma

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Oklahoma

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Oregon

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Oregon

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Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania

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Rhode Island

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Rhode Island

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South Carolina

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South Carolina

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South Dakota

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South Dakota

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Tennessee

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Tennessee

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Texas

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Texas

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Utah

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Utah

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Vermont

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Vermont

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Virginia

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Virginia

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Washington

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Washington

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West Virginia

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West Virginia

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Wisconsin

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Wisconsin

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Wyoming

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Wyoming

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Table

Region ↕Cost of Living Index ↕
Alabama iconAlabama88.1
Alaska iconAlaska126.6
Arizona iconArizona105.8
Arkansas iconArkansas90.6
California iconCalifornia137.6
Colorado iconColorado104.6
Connecticut iconConnecticut116.8
Delaware iconDelaware105.6
Florida iconFlorida102.8
Georgia iconGeorgia88.6
Hawaii iconHawaii184
Idaho iconIdaho99.6
Illinois iconIllinois92.6
Indiana iconIndiana89.9
Iowa iconIowa89.2
Kansas iconKansas87.5
Kentucky iconKentucky94.9
Louisiana iconLouisiana93.6
Maine iconMaine115.3
Maryland iconMaryland124
Massachusetts iconMassachusetts149.7
Michigan iconMichigan92.2
Minnesota iconMinnesota97.5
Mississippi iconMississippi85
Missouri iconMissouri89.1
Montana iconMontana104.8
Nebraska iconNebraska91.9
Nevada iconNevada103.2
New Hampshire iconNew Hampshire116.1
New Jersey iconNew Jersey112.4
New Mexico iconNew Mexico94
New York iconNew York134.5
North Carolina iconNorth Carolina95.7
North Dakota iconNorth Dakota97.1
Ohio iconOhio91.9
Oklahoma iconOklahoma85.8
Oregon iconOregon121.2
Pennsylvania iconPennsylvania98.2
Rhode Island iconRhode Island112.9
South Carolina iconSouth Carolina94.3
South Dakota iconSouth Dakota94.5
Tennessee iconTennessee90.2
Texas iconTexas92.5
Utah iconUtah102.8
Vermont iconVermont115.9
Virginia iconVirginia102.8
Washington iconWashington114.2
West Virginia iconWest Virginia90
Wisconsin iconWisconsin95.5
Wyoming iconWyoming92.5
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