Cost of living by state
Compare price levels across all 50 U.S. states using Bureau of Economic Analysis data. See which states cost less or more than the national average, then explore housing and income before choosing where to move.
Price indexes: 2024. Housing and income: Census 2020–2024 estimates.
Explore costs across the country
Choose a category, then select a state for a closer look. The map shows all 50 states.
The BEA overall index measures broad state price levels. U.S. average = 100. It is a published index, not a simple average of the category indexes.
Category: Overall cost of living | 50 of 50 states shown
The two ends of the price range
Overall cost of living · lowest and highest price levels across all 50 states, using BEA 2024 indexes.
Lower price levels
- 186.9
- 287.0
- 387.8
- 487.8
- 588.2
Higher price levels
- 1110.7
- 2110.0
- 3108.8
- 4107.9
- 5107.0
Compare all 50 states
Search for a state or change the row order. Select a state name to see its detail panel. Price rank 1 always means the lowest index in the selected category.
50 of 50 states shown. Rank 1 is the lowest overall price index; ranks always refer to all 50 states.
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.| Price rank | State | Overall index | Versus U.S. | Median monthly rent | Median home value | Median annual household income | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 86.9 | 13.1% below | $947 | $188,000 | $60,773 | Compare → | |
| 2 | 87.0 | 13.0% below | $954 | $169,800 | $56,447 | Compare → | |
| 3 | 87.8 | 12.2% below | $972 | $208,000 | $75,059 | Compare → | |
| 4 | 87.8 | 12.2% below | $1,014 | $199,800 | $65,039 | Compare → | |
| 5 | 88.2 | 11.8% below | $1,064 | $216,500 | $60,756 | Compare → | |
| 6 | 88.6 | 11.4% below | $946 | $257,400 | $75,081 | Compare → | |
| 7 | 88.8 | 11.2% below | $1,007 | $209,900 | $63,999 | Compare → | |
| 8 | 89.0 | 11.0% below | $954 | $249,900 | $76,657 | Compare → | |
| 9 | 89.5 | 10.5% below | $872 | $162,600 | $59,608 | Compare → | |
| 10 | 90.1 | 9.9% below | $1,060 | $217,200 | $74,275 | Compare → | |
| 11 | 90.1 | 9.9% below | $1,072 | $238,600 | $76,475 | Compare → | |
| 12 | 90.2 | 9.8% below | $967 | $205,600 | $63,726 | Compare → | |
| 13 | 90.8 | 9.2% below | $1,033 | $230,300 | $70,702 | Compare → | |
| 14 | 91.9 | 8.1% below | $1,189 | $286,700 | $69,595 | Compare → | |
| 15 | 92.2 | 7.8% below | $1,067 | $248,100 | $64,059 | Compare → | |
| 16 | 92.7 | 7.3% below | $992 | $309,700 | $76,176 | Compare → | |
| 17 | 92.8 | 7.2% below | $1,034 | $214,800 | $71,389 | Compare → | |
| 18 | 93.3 | 6.7% below | $1,062 | $218,200 | $71,957 | Compare → | |
| 19 | 93.7 | 6.3% below | $1,180 | $259,000 | $69,324 | Compare → | |
| 20 | 94.1 | 5.9% below | $1,087 | $266,500 | $77,485 | Compare → | |
| 21 | 94.3 | 5.7% below | $1,228 | $288,900 | $72,388 | Compare → | |
| 22 | 94.6 | 5.4% below | $1,081 | $375,800 | $72,509 | Compare → | |
| 23 | 95.5 | 4.5% below | $1,238 | $418,600 | $77,800 | Compare → | |
| 24 | 96.2 | 3.8% below | $1,129 | $231,600 | $72,875 | Compare → | |
| 25 | 96.3 | 3.7% below | $1,393 | $303,300 | $77,353 | Compare → | |
| 26 | 97.0 | 3.0% below | $1,139 | $296,600 | $74,733 | Compare → | |
| 27 | 97.1 | 2.9% below | $1,403 | $283,800 | $78,476 | Compare → | |
| 28 | 97.6 | 2.4% below | $1,209 | $254,500 | $77,971 | Compare → | |
| 29 | 98.0 | 2.0% below | $1,234 | $316,600 | $81,203 | Compare → | |
| 30 | 98.6 | 1.4% below | $1,280 | $329,300 | $89,062 | Compare → | |
| 31 | 98.9 | 1.1% below | $1,496 | $489,400 | $95,166 | Compare → | |
| 32 | 99.8 | 0.2% below | $1,401 | $352,000 | $84,954 | Compare → | |
| 33 | 100.0 | At the | $1,274 | $263,300 | $83,390 | Compare → | |
| 34 | 100.0 | At the | $1,597 | $435,400 | $78,260 | Compare → | |
| 35 | 100.7 | 0.7% above | $1,543 | $394,500 | $79,964 | Starting state | |
| 36 | 101.1 | 1.1% above | $1,579 | $383,700 | $93,170 | Compare → | |
| 37 | 102.3 | 2.3% above | $1,342 | $404,200 | $87,796 | Compare → | |
| 38 | 102.4 | 2.4% above | $1,419 | $352,900 | $92,788 | Compare → | |
| 39 | 103.1 | 3.1% above | $1,761 | $539,400 | $95,470 | Compare → | |
| 40 | 103.4 | 3.4% above | $1,525 | $477,600 | $83,011 | Compare → | |
| 41 | 103.4 | 3.4% above | $1,669 | $359,000 | $74,568 | Compare → | |
| 42 | 103.6 | 3.6% above | $1,488 | $366,900 | $95,781 | Compare → | |
| 43 | 104.2 | 4.2% above | $1,491 | $402,500 | $99,031 | Compare → | |
| 44 | 105.0 | 5.0% above | $1,705 | $419,900 | $103,678 | Compare → | |
| 45 | 105.8 | 5.8% above | $1,762 | $562,100 | $103,960 | Compare → | |
| 46 | 107.0 | 7.0% above | $1,760 | $564,600 | $98,141 | Compare → | |
| 47 | 107.9 | 7.9% above | $1,621 | $423,800 | $85,974 | Compare → | |
| 48 | 108.8 | 8.8% above | $1,720 | $454,400 | $103,556 | Compare → | |
| 49 | 110.0 | 10.0% above | $1,971 | $839,100 | $100,389 | Compare → | |
| 50 | 110.7 | 10.7% above | $2,036 | $734,700 | $99,122 | Compare → |
No matching states. Try the full name or two-letter abbreviation, or clear your search.
Ranks use unrounded indexes; figures that look equal after rounding can have different ranks. The rent, home-value and income columns keep their Census values when you change price category. This table ranks price levels, not overall quality of life.
Use the ranking to build a realistic shortlist
A lower price index can help you spot states worth exploring. It does not tell you what a particular home will cost or how much you will earn there. Start with the overall ranking, then check housing and utilities for your shortlist.
Next, compare your current state with a destination using the state-to-state cost comparison. Enter your own spending and income to see a broad price-adjusted scenario. Then replace those assumptions with local rent listings, insurance quotes, utility estimates and childcare prices.
Keep monthly living expenses separate from the cost of the move itself. The moving budget calculator helps plan travel, deposits, supplies and moving services. Our state guide directory shows which detailed arrival guides are available.
Sources, dates and calculation method
Dataset snapshot reviewed: September 29, 2026. The review date is separate from the data periods below.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024: overall, goods, housing rents, utilities and other services. Every category uses a U.S. average of 100.
- Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates: median gross rent, median owner-occupied home value and median household income. These describe the full five-year period.
How the ranking works: states are ordered by the selected BEA index, from lowest to highest. Exact ties share a rank. The difference from the U.S. average is (state index ÷ 100 − 1) × 100. The overall index is BEA’s published measure; OSG does not recreate it by averaging the four category indexes.
What the measures mean: gross rent includes rent and applicable tenant-paid utilities. Home value is an owner-reported estimate, not a current sale price. Household income can include multiple earners and is not an individual salary offer.
Limits: state figures can hide large city and neighborhood differences. Census estimates have sampling uncertainty; small differences may not be meaningful. A broad goods index is not a grocery-price list, and a services index does not predict your childcare bill. The ranking does not calculate personal taxes, take-home pay or household-specific affordability.
Questions about state cost-of-living rankings
Which state has the lowest overall cost-of-living index?
In the BEA 2024 data used here, Arkansas has the lowest overall price index among the 50 states, at 86.937. Mississippi is close behind at 86.953. The ranking uses the underlying unrounded values, while the table displays one decimal place. A small index difference should not decide where you move.
What does an index of 100 mean?
An index of 100 represents the U.S. average price level for the selected category. An index of 90 is 10% below that average; 110 is 10% above it. These figures compare places within the same year. They do not measure inflation over time.
Does the lowest-cost state offer the best value for my household?
Not necessarily. Your wages, housing choice, taxes, healthcare, childcare and transport needs affect affordability. Use the ranking to narrow your options, then compare the actual cities and homes you are considering.
Why do the rent and housing-index rankings differ?
The BEA housing-rent index and Census median gross rent use different methods. Gross rent includes rent and applicable tenant-paid utilities among occupied rental homes. Neither measure is a current apartment listing, and the housing-rent index does not measure home purchase prices.
Are the figures current-year prices?
The price indexes describe 2024. The rent, home-value and household-income figures are ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. OSG reviewed this dataset snapshot on September 29, 2026. A review date does not change the reference period of the data.
How can I compare a shortlisted state with where I live now?
Choose your starting state in the map detail panel, then use a Compare link in the table or panel. The comparison tool opens with both states selected. You can explore the category differences and enter your own budget assumptions there.
What will Print / Save PDF include?
Printing includes the selected category, map, state summary, highlights and the table rows matching your search. Clear the search or use Reset first if you want all 50 states. The source notes and questions are included as well.