Cost of Living — MoneyStats

What this tracks

Cost-of-living indices by city and state — housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, and everyday prices, compared side by side.

Why it matters to you

Two workers with the same paycheck can end up in very different places, based only on where they live. Knowing the real cost of a place before you move — or before you plan a retirement — is one of the highest-impact money decisions you can make.

For example

An electrician earning the same rate in two states could keep hundreds more a month in the lower-cost one — money that goes straight to savings instead of rent.

Cost of living, by state

100 = the U.S. average, so 112 means about 12% costlier than average. Search for yours, or tap a state on the map.

Hover or tab through the states to see each rate.

Below 90 (cheapest)
90–100
100–110
110–125
125–150
150+ (priciest)

		vs. U.S. average
Alabama	88	12% below average
Alaska	125	25% above averageHigh transport/energy costs.
Arizona	108	8% above average
Arkansas	90	10% below average
California	145	45% above averageWide range; coastal metros far higher.
Colorado	105	5% above averageDenver/Boulder well above the state figure.
Connecticut	113	13% above average
Delaware	102	2% above average
District of Columbia	150	50% above averageDistrict; among the highest in the U.S.
Florida	103	3% above average
Georgia	91	9% below averageAtlanta above the state figure.
Hawaii	186	86% above averageThe highest in the U.S.
Idaho	98	2% below average
Illinois	95	5% below averageChicago above the state figure.
Indiana	91	9% below average
Iowa	90	10% below average
Kansas	87	13% below average
Kentucky	92	8% below average
Louisiana	93	7% below average
Maine	111	11% above average
Maryland	116	16% above average
Massachusetts	148	48% above averageBoston metro drives this.
Michigan	91	9% below average
Minnesota	95	5% below average
Mississippi	85	15% below averageAmong the lowest in the U.S.
Missouri	89	11% below average
Montana	103	3% above average
Nebraska	91	9% below average
Nevada	101	1% above average
New Hampshire	109	9% above average
New Jersey	114	14% above average
New Mexico	94	6% below average
New York	125	25% above averageNYC far above the state figure.
North Carolina	96	4% below average
North Dakota	94	6% below average
Ohio	92	8% below average
Oklahoma	86	14% below average
Oregon	113	13% above averagePortland above the state figure.
Pennsylvania	97	3% below average
Rhode Island	110	10% above average
South Carolina	96	4% below average
South Dakota	92	8% below average
Tennessee	90	10% below average
Texas	93	7% below averageAustin/major metros above the state figure.
Utah	103	3% above average
Vermont	115	15% above average
Virginia	101	1% above averageNorthern Virginia far above the state figure.
Washington	116	16% above averageSeattle metro drives this.
West Virginia	88	12% below average
Wisconsin	96	4% below average
Wyoming	94	6% below average

Cost-of-living index, 2025, where 100 is the U.S. average. Cost of living varies widely within a state — a major metro can run far above its state figure — so treat this as a broad signal, not a precise local number. Educational, not financial advice.

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