Guide 50 States
Cost of Living by State Rankings
The cost of living index measures relative price levels across states, with 100 as the national average. States below 100 are cheaper than average; above 100 are more expensive. Housing is typically the biggest factor.
Verified Data
Ranked by COL Index
Editorially Reviewed
Updated
Key Takeaways
- Mississippi ranks #1 with the lowest col index at 83.3.
- Hawaii ranks last at 193.3 — the highest among all states.
- The top 5 states are Mississippi, West Virginia, Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama.
- All data is sourced from verified government databases and updated for 2026.
Top 3 States
1
Mississippi
Lowest COL Index
COL Index 83.3
Median Home Price $165,000
Median Income $48,610
2
West Virginia
Lowest COL Index
COL Index 84.1
Median Home Price $135,000
Median Income $48,850
3
Kansas
Lowest COL Index
COL Index 86.3
Median Home Price $215,000
Median Income $64,521
All 50 States Ranked
Lowest to highest by col index
Scroll horizontally to see all columns
| # | State | COL Index | Median Home Price | Median Income | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | 83.3 | $165,000 | $48,610 | COL Calculator |
| 2 | West Virginia | 84.1 | $135,000 | $48,850 | COL Calculator |
| 3 | Kansas | 86.3 | $215,000 | $64,521 | COL Calculator |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 86.6 | $195,000 | $55,826 | COL Calculator |
| 5 | Alabama | 88.1 | $210,000 | $56,929 | COL Calculator |
| 6 | Arkansas | 89 | $185,000 | $52,528 | COL Calculator |
| 7 | Tennessee | 89.7 | $310,000 | $56,071 | COL Calculator |
| 8 | Missouri | 89.8 | $235,000 | $60,905 | COL Calculator |
| 9 | Iowa | 90.1 | $205,000 | $65,573 | COL Calculator |
| 10 | Kentucky | 90.3 | $195,000 | $55,573 | COL Calculator |
| 11 | Indiana | 90.5 | $225,000 | $61,944 | COL Calculator |
| 12 | Nebraska | 90.8 | $240,000 | $66,644 | COL Calculator |
| 13 | Ohio | 90.8 | $205,000 | $58,642 | COL Calculator |
| 14 | Louisiana | 91.1 | $195,000 | $52,295 | COL Calculator |
| 15 | Michigan | 91.4 | $235,000 | $63,202 | COL Calculator |
| 16 | North Dakota | 92.5 | $250,000 | $68,131 | COL Calculator |
| 17 | South Dakota | 92.6 | $270,000 | $63,920 | COL Calculator |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 93.3 | $260,000 | $67,125 | COL Calculator |
| 19 | Georgia | 93.4 | $320,000 | $65,030 | COL Calculator |
| 20 | Texas | 93.9 | $310,000 | $67,321 | COL Calculator |
| 21 | New Mexico | 94.6 | $285,000 | $54,020 | COL Calculator |
| 22 | South Carolina | 95 | $280,000 | $56,227 | COL Calculator |
| 23 | North Carolina | 95.1 | $315,000 | $60,516 | COL Calculator |
| 24 | Wyoming | 95.2 | $310,000 | $65,003 | COL Calculator |
| 25 | Illinois | 96.4 | $255,000 | $72,205 | COL Calculator |
| 26 | Minnesota | 96.8 | $330,000 | $77,706 | COL Calculator |
| 27 | Idaho | 97.7 | $420,000 | $63,377 | COL Calculator |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | 98.7 | $265,000 | $67,587 | COL Calculator |
| 29 | Utah | 101.3 | $470,000 | $79,449 | COL Calculator |
| 30 | Delaware | 101.5 | $330,000 | $72,724 | COL Calculator |
| 31 | Montana | 101.6 | $425,000 | $60,560 | COL Calculator |
| 32 | Arizona | 102.2 | $380,000 | $72,581 | COL Calculator |
| 33 | Florida | 102.8 | $400,000 | $67,917 | COL Calculator |
| 34 | Virginia | 103.7 | $380,000 | $80,615 | COL Calculator |
| 35 | Nevada | 104.2 | $420,000 | $66,274 | COL Calculator |
| 36 | Colorado | 105.1 | $530,000 | $82,254 | COL Calculator |
| 37 | Rhode Island | 107.8 | $410,000 | $71,169 | COL Calculator |
| 38 | Maine | 109.4 | $340,000 | $64,767 | COL Calculator |
| 39 | Washington | 110.7 | $560,000 | $82,228 | COL Calculator |
| 40 | New Hampshire | 112.6 | $430,000 | $83,449 | COL Calculator |
| 41 | Connecticut | 112.8 | $380,000 | $83,771 | COL Calculator |
| 42 | Oregon | 113.1 | $480,000 | $70,084 | COL Calculator |
| 43 | Vermont | 114.5 | $350,000 | $65,792 | COL Calculator |
| 44 | New Jersey | 115.2 | $470,000 | $89,296 | COL Calculator |
| 45 | Maryland | 115.4 | $395,000 | $90,203 | COL Calculator |
| 46 | New York | 123.8 | $420,000 | $74,314 | COL Calculator |
| 47 | Alaska | 125.9 | $330,000 | $77,790 | COL Calculator |
| 48 | Massachusetts | 135 | $580,000 | $89,645 | COL Calculator |
| 49 | California | 142.2 | $785,000 | $91,905 | COL Calculator |
| 50 | Hawaii | 193.3 | $830,000 | $84,857 | COL Calculator |
Methodology
How we collected and ranked the data
Cost of living index from Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities. Index of 100 = national average. Housing, food, transportation, and other goods/services are weighted.
Government data sources
Updated annually
Editorially reviewed
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the lowest cost of living?
Mississippi consistently ranks as the most affordable state, with a cost of living index well below 100. Oklahoma, Kansas, and Alabama are also very affordable.
What does a cost of living index of 90 mean?
A COL index of 90 means that state is 10% cheaper than the national average. You'd need $90,000 in that state to match the buying power of $100,000 nationally.