West Virginia and Kansas had the lowest cost of living across all U.S. states, with composite costs being half of those found in Hawaii. This was according to a composite index that compares prices for various goods and services on a state-by-state basis. In West Virginia, the cost of living index amounted to **** — well below the national benchmark of 100. Virginia— which had an index value of ***** — was only slightly above that benchmark. Expensive places to live included Hawaii, Massachusetts, and California. Housing costs in the U.S. Housing is usually the highest expense in a household’s budget. In 2023, the average house sold for approximately ******* U.S. dollars, but house prices in the Northeast and West regions were significantly higher. Conversely, the South had some of the least expensive housing. In West Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana, the median price of the typical single-family home was less than ******* U.S. dollars. That makes living expenses in these states significantly lower than in states such as Hawaii and California, where housing is much pricier. What other expenses affect the cost of living? Utility costs such as electricity, natural gas, water, and internet also influence the cost of living. In Alaska, Hawaii, and Connecticut, the average monthly utility cost exceeded *** U.S. dollars. That was because of the significantly higher prices for electricity and natural gas in these states.

This statistic shows the most affordable metro areas in the Unites States in 2017, by share of income spent on living expenses. In 2017, Omaha was the second most affordable metro area because ***** percent of the median blending annual household income was spent on the average cost of owning or renting a home as well the average cost of utilities and taxes.

Graph and download economic data for Average Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States (ASPUS) from Q1 1963 to Q1 2025 about sales, housing, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States from Q1 1963 to Q1 2025 about sales, median, housing, and USA.

In the United States, Hawaii was the state with the most expensive housing, with the typical value of single-family homes in the 35th to 65th percentile range exceeding ******* U.S. dollars. Unsurprisingly, Hawaii also ranked top as the state with the highest cost of living. Meanwhile, a property was the least expensive in West Virginia, where it cost under ******* U.S. dollars to buy the typical single-family home. Single-family home prices increased across most states in the United States between December 2023 and December 2024, except in Louisiana, Florida, and the District of Colombia. According to the Federal Housing Association, house appreciation in 13 states exceeded **** percent in 2023.

Single Family Home Prices in the United States increased to 422800 USD in May from 414000 USD in April of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Existing Single Family Home Prices- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about House Prices Growth

• US house prices grew 5.2% YoY in Dec 2024, following an increase of 5.4% YoY in the previous quarter.
• YoY growth data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1992 to Dec 2024, with an average growth rate of 5.4%.
• House price data reached an all-time high of 17.7% in Sep 2021 and a record low of -12.4% in Dec 2008.

Graph and download economic data for Real Residential Property Prices for United States (QUSR628BIS) from Q1 1970 to Q1 2025 about residential, HPI, housing, real, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

The ACCRA Cost of Living Index (COLI) is a measure of living cost differences among urban areas compiled by the Council for Community and Economic Research. Conducted quarterly, the index compares the price of goods and services among approximately 300 communities in the United States and Canada. This Microsoft Excel file contains the average prices of goods and services published in the ACCRA Cost of Living Index since 1990.

Average House Prices in the United States increased to 522200 USD in May from 511200 USD in April of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United States New Home Average Sales Price.

In 2023, Alaska reported the highest rent for public housing among all the states in the United States. The average monthly rent in Alaska amounted to 715 U.S. dollars for government-subsidized housing. California, New York, and Hawaii were some of the states with the highest average rent, with rental costs above 550 U.S. dollars. On the other hand, Puerto Rico offered the most affordable public housing with the lowest rent among all states, coming in at just 121 U.S. dollars. Some other affordable states for low-income families were Arkansas, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Ohio, all costing less than 320 U.S. dollars.

Alaska, Hawaii, and Connecticut were the states with the highest average monthly utility costs in the United States in 2023. Residents paid about ****** U.S. dollars for their electricity bills in Hawaii, while the average monthly bill for natural gas came to *** U.S. dollars. This was significantly higher than in any other state. Bigger homes have higher utility costs Despite regional variations, single-family homes in the United States have grown bigger in size since 1975. This trend also means that, unless homeowners invest in energy savings measures, they will have to pay more for their utility costs. Which are the most affordable states to live in? According to the cost of living index, the three most affordable states to live in are Mississippi, Kansas, and Oklahoma. At the other end of the scale are Hawaii, District of Columbia, and New York. The index is based on housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services. To buy a median priced home in Kansas City, a prospective home buyer will have to earn an annual salary of about ****** U.S. dollars.

Graph and download economic data for All-Transactions House Price Index for the United States (USSTHPI) from Q1 1975 to Q1 2025 about appraisers, HPI, housing, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for All-Transactions House Price Index for Texas (TXSTHPI) from Q1 1975 to Q1 2025 about appraisers, HPI, TX, housing, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Housing Index in the United States decreased to 434.90 points in April from 436.70 points in March of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States House Price Index MoM Change - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Graph and download economic data for Housing Inventory: Median Listing Price in Massachusetts (MEDLISPRIMA) from Jul 2016 to Jun 2025 about MA, listing, median, price, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for All-Transactions House Price Index for Utah (UTSTHPI) from Q1 1975 to Q1 2025 about UT, appraisers, HPI, housing, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Of the most populous cities in the U.S., San Jose, California had the highest annual income requirement at ******* U.S. dollars annually for homeowners to have an affordable and comfortable life in 2024. This can be compared to Houston, Texas, where homeowners needed an annual income of ****** U.S. dollars in 2024.

House Price Index YoY in the United States decreased to 3 percent in April from 3.90 percent in March of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United States FHFA House Price Index YoY.

CPI Housing Utilities in the United States increased to 345.94 points in May from 344.80 points in April of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Cpi Housing- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.