Cost of Living Index 2024: State-by-State Breakdown

Admin

3 months ago

Coupon Snake is announcing its 2024 cost of living index. This reveals the most expensive states in the United States as Hawaii, California and New York respectively, at a time when workforces are becoming more mobile and able to select the most cost-effective place to live, work and raise children. The top-three most cost-effective states are Nebraska, North Dakota and Pennsylvania, followed by Texas, Wyoming and New Mexico.

“As the post-covid shift towards remote work continues, it has become easier for workers to select where they want to live and work. This makes it possible for families to consider relocating to states where housing, healthcare and groceries are less expensive. Our 2024 Cost of Living Index provides Americans with the information they need to decide on the most affordable states to live in, and provides an incentive for lawyers to make their states more inviting,” says Mafe Aclado, general manager at CouponSnake.com.

Key Findings

Housing Costs

Highest Housing Costs: Hawaii, California, New York
Lowest Housing Costs: Mississippi, Arkansas, West Virginia

Groceries and Dining

Highest Food Costs: Hawaii, Alaska, California
Lowest Food Costs: Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama

Healthcare

Highest Healthcare Costs: Alaska, California, Massachusetts
Lowest Healthcare Costs: Mississippi, Arkansas, Arkansas

Transportation

Highest Transportation Costs: California, Alaska, Hawaii
Lowest Transportation Costs: Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama

Utilities

Highest Utility Costs: Hawaii, California, Alaska
Lowest Utility Costs: Mississippi, Arkansas, Mississippi

Rank	State	Housing ($)	Groceries	Healthcare	Transportation	Utilities
50	Hawaii	800000	1.30	1.15	1.25	1.20
49	California	750000	1.25	1.20	1.30	1.10
48	New York	680000	1.20	1.18	1.25	1.08
47	Massachusetts	550000	1.15	1.20	1.18	1.10
46	Alaska	400000	1.25	1.22	1.30	1.18
45	Maryland	350000	1.12	1.10	1.15	1.10
44	Connecticut	350000	1.15	1.18	1.10	1.12
43	Oregon	400000	1.12	1.15	1.10	1.08
42	New Jersey	400000	1.12	1.15	1.20	1.10
41	Rhode Island	350000	1.12	1.15	1.10	1.08
40	Washington	400000	1.12	1.15	1.10	1.08
39	Vermont	320000	1.10	1.12	1.10	1.05
38	New Hampshire	340000	1.10	1.15	1.10	1.05
37	Nevada	320000	1.08	1.12	1.10	1.05
36	Maine	300000	1.12	1.15	1.10	1.08
35	Colorado	400000	1.10	1.12	1.12	1.05
34	Arizona	300000	1.05	1.10	1.08	1.03
33	Delaware	300000	1.08	1.10	1.10	1.06
32	Virginia	300000	1.08	1.10	1.08	1.05
31	Florida	310000	1.10	1.12	1.10	1.05
30	Utah	350000	1.08	1.10	1.08	1.04
29	Montana	320000	1.10	1.10	1.05	1.04
28	Minnesota	300000	1.05	1.07	1.06	1.03
27	South Carolina	250000	0.95	0.93	0.93	0.95
26	Tennessee	240000	0.96	0.94	0.93	0.95
25	South Dakota	230000	0.95	0.93	0.92	0.94
24	North Carolina	250000	0.95	0.94	0.94	0.95
23	Kentucky	180000	0.95	0.92	0.93	0.94
22	Kansas	175000	0.94	0.92	0.92	0.95
21	Iowa	185000	0.95	0.93	0.93	0.93
20	Indiana	180000	0.95	0.92	0.92	0.94
19	Illinois	270000	0.98	0.96	0.95	0.95
18	Idaho	280000	0.95	0.92	0.94	0.95
17	Georgia	250000	0.95	0.93	0.93	0.94
16	Missouri	180000	0.94	0.93	0.92	0.94
15	Michigan	200000	0.95	0.94	0.93	0.94
14	Louisiana	200000	0.94	0.95	0.92	0.93
13	Ohio	175000	0.94	0.92	0.93	0.92
12	Oklahoma	170000	0.93	0.92	0.92	0.91
11	Wisconsin	230000	0.95	0.94	0.93	0.92
10	West Virginia	160000	0.92	0.90	0.89	0.90
9	Mississippi	150000	0.90	0.88	0.89	0.90
8	Arkansas	155000	0.91	0.89	0.89	0.91
7	Alabama	170000	0.92	0.90	0.89	0.91
6	New Mexico	220000	0.95	0.92	0.92	0.91
5	Wyoming	220000	0.95	0.92	0.91	0.91
4	Texas	250000	0.94	0.93	0.93	0.94
3	Pennsylvania	270000	0.95	0.94	0.92	0.93
2	North Dakota	230000	0.95	0.94	0.91	0.94
1	Nebraska	185000	0.95	0.93	0.93	0.93

References:

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) – BLS Regional Price Parities

Zillow Real Estate Market Reports – Zillow Research

Numbeo Cost of Living Database – Numbeo Cost of Living

Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) – HCUP

AAA Gas Prices – AAA Gas Prices

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) – EIA

U.S. Census Bureau – Census Bureau

MIT Living Wage Calculator – Living Wage Calculator