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.

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.

Statistics for moving services in lando'lakes including costs, move sizes, and other relevant data as of September 2025.

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.

A comprehensive dataset of average residential, commercial, and combined electricity rates in cents per kWh for all 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C.

A dataset listing the 20 richest counties in Florida for 2024, including information on rank, county, population, average income, and median income.

California and Florida were some of the states with the most expensive luxury attached homes in the United States. The median sales price of luxury homes in Ft. Lauderdale, FL was over *** million U.S. dollars in July 2024, while in San Francisco, CA, it was *** million U.S. dollars. Nevertheless, Manhattan, NY, registered the highest median price at **** million U.S. dollars.

In January 2025, apartment rents recorded an annual growth in most U.S. states. Nevertheless, the national average rent declined by about *** percent. West Virginia was the state with the largest rental increase, while Colorado measured the largest decline. California, one of the most expensive states to rent an apartment, such as California, saw an increase of about *** percent from the previous year. How much should you earn to afford to rent an apartment in different states in the U.S.? Both employment opportunities and the living costs vary widely across the country. In California, which is among the most competitive housing markets in the U.S., the hourly wage needed to afford a two-bedroom apartment rental was roughly ** U.S. dollars, more than twice higher than in North Carolina, Louisiana, or Michigan in 2024. When it comes to the median household income, on the other hand, California does not even make it in the top ten states. How much should you earn to afford a home in some of U.S. largest metros? In 2022, the annual salary needed to buy a median-priced home in the U.S. was ****** U.S. dollars. However, in some of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States, where housing prices are up to two or three times higher, homebuyers would have to earn more than 100,000 U.S. dollars to afford a home. In San Jose, which was the most expensive metro, the annual salary needed for a median-priced home was approximately ******* U.S. dollars.

The monthly median asking rent for unfurnished apartments in the United States rose by about 51 U.S. dollars in 2024. In the third quarter of 2024, the median rent amounted to 1,847 U.S. dollars, up from 1,796 U.S. dollars in 2023. This increase was in line with a decade of steady growth, interrupted only in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2023. The U.S. rental market As rental apartment vacancy rates fall, rents are on the rise. This makes it more difficult for Americans to, first, find an apartment to rent, and second, find an apartment which they can afford. Nevertheless, renting has become much more common in recent years, with the number of renter households having substantially increased in the past two decades. In 2024, there were approximately 45.5 million renter households in the U.S. Rents in different states Of course, rents vary from state to state. The most expensive rents are found in Hawaii, California, District of Colombia, New Jersey, and Florida. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, growth was the strongest in the Sun Belt states, and especially in states with lower costs of living, such as Texas. In Austin, TX, the average rent soared by nearly 26 percent in 2021, and remained elevated, despite a slight decline in 2023.

The monthly median asking rent for unfurnished apartments in the United States in the first quarter of 2025 amounted to ***** U.S. dollars. This was an increase of about *** U.S. dollars in just five years. In 2020, the median rent stood at ***** U.S. dollars. The U.S. rental market As rental apartment vacancy rates fall, rents are on the rise. This makes it more difficult for Americans to, first, find an apartment to rent, and second, find an apartment which they can afford. Nevertheless, renting has become much more common in recent years, with the number of renter households having substantially increased in the past two decades. In 2025, there were approximately **** million renter households in the U.S. Rents in different states Of course, rents vary from state to state. The most expensive rents are found in Hawaii, California, District of Colombia, New Jersey, and Florida. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, growth was the strongest in the Sun Belt states, and especially in states with lower costs of living, such as Texas. In Austin, TX, the average rent soared by nearly ** percent in 2021, and remained elevated, despite a slight decline in 2023.

The District of Columbia holds the record for the highest price per ounce of high quality marijuana in the United States, as of January 2025, with an average price of some 590 U.S. dollars per ounce. Recreational cannabis use Recreational cannabis is not legal in all U.S. states; however, many consumers use the drug illicitly. A recent survey indicated that over half of U.S. adults think that cannabis should be legalized and taxed like alcohol and tobacco. Recreational cannabis is often used by consumers for relaxation, stress relief, and creativity, to name a few. Surveys have shown that a majority of recreation users use marijuana for relaxation. Legal marijuana market potential It is projected that by 2025 the sales of legal cannabis in the U.S. will generate approximately 25 billion dollars in revenue. The regulation of marijuana includes the taxation of all sales. There is potential for the U.S. cannabis market to generate significant taxes and boost the economy. It is estimated that the taxes from legal marijuana sales would exceed the taxes earned from U.S. sales taxes by a significant amount.

The monthly rent of mobile homes in the U.S. has gradually increased since 2010, peaking in 2024. In the third quarter of that year, the average monthly rent for manufactured homes was *** U.S. dollars. Similarly, apartment rents also soared in 2022, followed by a slight decline in the next two years. Where in the U.S. are manufactured homes most popular? States with a growing economy and large population provide the best opportunities for manufactured housing. In September 2023, Texas had the highest number of mobile homes in the United States. Other states with a high number of mobile homes were North Carolina and Florida. Moreover, Texas also boasted the highest number of manufactured home production plants. Affordability of mobile homes across the U.S. Manufactured homes are considerably less expensive than regular homes, which makes them an attractive option for people looking to purchase property without breaking the bank. Mobile homes are cheaper because manufacturers benefit from economies of scale due to large-scale production, which allows them to lower costs per unit. Additionally, mobile homes lose value faster than traditional homes, which can make them more affordable to purchase initially. The average sales price for a new mobile home has been on the rise, but during the housing boom in 2021, it increased dramatically.