There’s a vast spectrum of wealth and cost in America, and knowing where each state falls in terms of cost of living can help you determine which would be most financially comfortable for your household. Half of America’s states have annual total expenditures of approximately $75,000 or less, the other half stretch from $76,000 to well over $100,000.
To determine the cost of living in every state in America in 2026, GOBankingRates analyzed cost-of-living indexes from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center, as well as the Bureau of Labor Statistics. From that matrix of information, GOBankingRates was able to not only assess the average annual household total expenditures of each state, but also each state’s overall cost-of-living index score. A score of 100 indicates the national average, with 31 states falling below 100, and 29 going beyond it.
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Curious where your state falls on the cost index? Want to know where your dream retirement location will cost you? Keep reading to find out.
Also see the cost of living in 50 majors cities and their main suburbs.
Key Findings
- In America’s three most expensive states, housing breaks wallets: In Hawaii, Massachusetts, California, housing is by far the costliest expense, with indexes of 298.6, 232.9 and 191.8, respectively.
- There is a vast disparity between the country’s most expensive and least expensive states: The annual average expenditures in America’s most expensive state is $141,127 — more than twice the annual expenses of Oklahoma, which are an inexpensive $66,284.
- Virginia’s cost of living is closest to the national average: With an overall cost of living index score of 100.1, Virginia’s annual total expenditures are roughly the national average, at $78,614. That ranks Virginia 32nd out of 50 in America.
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1. Oklahoma
- Annual average expenditures: $66,284
- Cost-of-living index: 84.4
- Most expensive index: Utilities (98.6)
- Cheapest index: Housing (67.9)
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2. Mississippi
- Annual average expenditures: $67,147
- Cost-of-living index: 85.5
- Most expensive index: Groceries (94.3)
- Cheapest index: Housing (70.2)
3. Alabama
- Annual average expenditures: $69,032
- Cost-of-living index: 87.9
- Most expensive index: Groceries (97.7)
- Cheapest index: Housing (71.1)
4. West Virginia
- Annual average expenditures: $69,189
- Cost-of-living index: 88.1
- Most expensive index: Transportation (97.7)
- Cheapest index: Housing (70.8)
5. Kansas
- Annual average expenditures: $69,818
- Cost-of-living index: 88.9
- Most expensive index: Utilities (97.7)
- Cheapest index: Housing (77.5)
6. Missouri
- Annual average expenditures: $69,896
- Cost-of-living index: 89
- Most expensive index: Healthcare (96.6)
- Cheapest index: Housing (77.8)
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7. Arkansas
- Annual average expenditures: $70,132
- Cost-of-living index: 89.3
- Most expensive index: Utilities (95.7)
- Cheapest index: Housig (77.9)
8. Iowa (tie)
- Annual average expenditures: $70,917
- Cost-of-living index: 90.3
- Most expensive index: Transportation (101.3)
- Cheapest index: Housing (77.2)
8. Tennessee (tie)
- Annual average expenditures: $70,917
- Cost-of-living index: 90.3
- Most expensive index: Groceries (96.8)
- Cheapest index: Housing (83)
10. Indiana
- Annual average expenditures: $71,153
- Cost-of-living index: 90.6
- Most expensive index: Healthcare (100.7)
- Cheapest index: Housing (76.2)
11. Texas
- Annual average expenditures: $71,310
- Cost-of-living index: 90.8
- Most expensive index: Utilities (101.9)
- Cheapest index: Housing (78.7)
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12. North Dakota
- Annual average expenditures: $71,702
- Cost-of-living index: 91.3
- Most expensive index: Healthcare (109.2)
- Cheapest index: Housing (76.5)
13. Nebraska
- Annual average expenditures: $71,938
- Cost-of-living index: 91.6
- Most expensive index: Healthcare (100.9)
- Cheapest index: Housing (79)
14. Georgia (tie)
- Annual average expenditures: $72,095
- Cost-of-living index: 91.8
- Most expensive index: Utilities (99.5)
- Cheapest index: Housing (78.8)
14. South Dakota (tie)
- Annual average expenditures: $72,095
- Cost-of-living index: 91.8
- Most expensive index: Healthcare (110.1)
- Cheapest index: Housing (84.9)
16. Kentucky
- Annual average expenditures: $72,174
- Cost-of-living index: 91.9
- Most expensive index: Grocery (99.7)
- Cheapest index: Housing (75)
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17. New Mexico (tie)
- Annual average expenditures: $72,645
- Cost-of-living index: 92.5
- Most expensive index: Healthcare (101.4)
- Cheapest index: Utilities (83.7)
17. South Carolina (tie)
- Annual average expenditures: $72,645
- Cost-of-living index: 92.5
- Most expensive index: Grocery (100)
- Cheapest index: Housing (79.8)
19. Louisiana
- Annual average expenditures: $72,802
- Cost-of-living index: 92.7
- Most expensive index: Transportation (96)
- Cheapest index: Housing (84.1)
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20. Ohio
- Annual average expenditures: $72,880
- Cost-of-living index: 92.8
- Most expensive index: Utilities (100.3)
- Cheapest index: Housing (84.4)
21. Minnesota
- Annual average expenditures: $73,980
- Cost-of-living index: 94.2
- Most expensive index: Healthcare (103.9)
- Cheapest index: Housing (80.6)
22. Michigan
- Annual average expenditures: $74,373
- Cost-of-living index: 94.7
- Most expensive index: Groceries (99.1)
- Cheapest index: Housing (85.4)
23. Wyoming
- Annual average expenditures: $74,844
- Cost-of-living index: 95.3
- Most expensive index: Utilities (101.3) / Healthcare (101.3)
- Cheapest index: Housing (87.2)
24. Illinois
- Annual average expenditures: $75,315
- Cost-of-living index: 95.9
- Most expensive index: Transportation (103.8)
- Cheapest index: Housing (84.9)
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25. Pennsylvania
- Annual average expenditures: $76,257
- Cost-of-living index: 97.1
- Most expensive index: Utilities (108.8)
- Cheapest index: Housing (87)
26. North Carolina
- Annual average expenditures: $76,493
- Cost-of-living index: 97.4
- Most expensive index: Healthcare (107.1)
- Cheapest index: Housing (92.2)
27. Wisconsin
- Annual average expenditures: $76,729
- Cost-of-living index: 97.7
- Most expensive index: Healthcare (102.3)
- Cheapest index: Utilities (89.2)
28. Nevada
- Annual average expenditures: $77,436
- Cost-of-living index: 98.6
- Most expensive index: Transportation (117.1)
- Cheapest index: Utilities (82.8)
29. Idaho
- Annual average expenditures: $77,750
- Cost-of-living index: 99
- Most expensive index: Transportation (109.2)
- Cheapest index: Utilities (70.5)
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30. Utah
- Annual average expenditures: $77,828
- Cost-of-living index: 99.1
- Most expensive index: Housing (107.6)
- Cheapest index: Utilities (82.7)
31. Florida
- Annual average expenditures: $78,142
- Cost-of-living index: 99.5
- Most expensive index: Groceries (105.7)
- Cheapest index: Healthcare (94)
32. Virginia
- Annual average expenditures: $78,614
- Cost-of-living index: 100.1
- Most expensive index: Healthcare (103.9)
- Cheapest index: Utilities (98.4)
33. Colorado
- Annual average expenditures: $80,655
- Cost-of-living index: 102.7
- Most expensive index: Housing (106.8)
- Cheapest index: Utilities (87.8)
34. Delaware
- Annual average expenditures: $80,734
- Cost-of-living index: 102.8
- Most expensive index: Groceries (103.8)
- Cheapest index: Utilities (97.1)
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35. Arizona
- Annual average expenditures: $85,446
- Cost-of-living index: 108.8
- Most expensive index: Housing (125.3)
- Cheapest index: Healthcare (93.6)
36. New Hampshire
- Annual average expenditures: $85,760
- Cost-of-living index: 109.2
- Most expensive index: Housing (113.9)
- Cheapest index: Groceries (99.8)
37. Montana
- Annual average expenditures: $86,231
- Cost-of-living index: 109.8
- Most expensive index: Housing (123.3)
- Cheapest index: Utilities (83.6)
38. Oregon
- Annual average expenditures: $87,231
- Cost-of-living index: 111.8
- Most expensive index: Transportation (126.3)
- Cheapest index: Utilities (96.6)
39. Rhode Island
- Annual average expenditures: $89,059
- Cost-of-living index: 113.4
- Most expensive index: Utilities (127.8)
- Cheapest index: Transportation (102.5)
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40. Vermont
- Annual average expenditures: $89,294
- Cost-of-living index: 113.7
- Most expensive index: Housing (128.7)
- Cheapest index: Transportation (104.1)
41. Washington
- Annual average expenditures: $89,451
- Cost-of-living index: 113.9
- Most expensive index: Transportation (130.4)
- Cheapest index: Utilities (99.5)
42. Connecticut
- Annual average expenditures: $89,608
- Cost-of-living index: 114.1
- Most expensive index: Utilities (125)
- Cheapest index: Transportation (103.9)
43. Maine
- Annual average expenditures: $89,687
- Cost-of-living index: 114.2
- Most expensive index: Housing (139.6)
- Cheapest index: Transportation (102.1)
44. New Jersey
- Annual average expenditures: $90,001
- Cost-of-living index: 114.6
- Most expensive index: Housing (139.6)
- Cheapest index: Utilities (102.1)
45. Maryland
- Annual average expenditures: $93,378
- Cost-of-living index: 118.9
- Most expensive index: Housing (147.5)
- Cheapest index: Transportation (100)
46. New York
- Annual average expenditures: $99,425
- Cost-of-living index: 126.6
- Most expensive index: Housing (178.6)
- Cheapest index: Groceries (103.5)
47. Alaska
- Annual average expenditures: $100,289
- Cost-of-living index: 127.7
- Most expensive index: Utilities (155.5)
- Cheapest index: Transportation (120)
48. California
- Annual average expenditures: $107,357
- Cost-of-living index: 136.7
- Most expensive index: Housing (181.8)
- Cheapest index: Healthcare (104.1)
49. Massachusetts
- Annual average expenditures: $118,431
- Cost-of-living index: 150.8
- Most expensive index: Housing (232.9)
- Cheapest index: Groceries (102.4)
50. Hawaii
- Annual average expenditures: $141,127
- Cost-of-living index: 179.7
- Most expensive index: Housing (298.6)
- Cheapest index: Healthcare (128.1)
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed each state by looking at the cost of living indexes as sourced from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center’s 2025 Q3 cost-of-living indexes and calculating the average costs using the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 Consumer Expenditure Survey across multiple factors including; (1) total annual expenditures; (2) annual grocery (“food at home”) expenditures; (3) annual housing (“shelter”) expenditures; (4) annual utilities (“utilities, fuel and public services”) expenditures; (5) annual transportation (“Gasoline, other fuels and motor oil” + “other vehicle expenses”) expenditures; and (6) annual healthcare expenditures. Only factor (1) was used to determine final rankings. All data is up to date as of Jan. 28, 2026.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here’s the Cost of Living in Every State in 2026
