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.

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.

United States CPI U: sa: Housing: Fuel & Utility data was reported at 239.712 1982-1984=100 in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 241.914 1982-1984=100 for May 2018. United States CPI U: sa: Housing: Fuel & Utility data is updated monthly, averaging 103.700 1982-1984=100 from Jan 1953 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 786 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 242.720 1982-1984=100 in Feb 2018 and a record low of 22.100 1982-1984=100 in Jan 1953. United States CPI U: sa: Housing: Fuel & Utility data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.I006: Consumer Price Index: Urban: sa.

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) is the most important resource for creating affordable housing in the United States today. The LIHTC database, created by HUD and available to the public since 1997, contains information on 48,672 projects and 3.23 million housing units placed in service since 1987. Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Qualified Census Tracts must have 50 percent of households with incomes below 60 percent of the Area Median Gross Income (AMGI) or have a poverty rate of 25 percent or more. Difficult Development Areas (DDA) are areas with high land, construction and utility costs relative to the area median income and are based on Fair Market Rents, income limits, the 2010 census counts, and 5-year American Community Survey (ACS) data.

United States - Personal consumption expenditures: Services: Housing and utilities: Housing (chain-type price index) was 135.26500 Index 2009=100 in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Personal consumption expenditures: Services: Housing and utilities: Housing (chain-type price index) reached a record high of 135.26500 in January of 2024 and a record low of 6.52500 in January of 1934. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Personal consumption expenditures: Services: Housing and utilities: Housing (chain-type price index) - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

United States CPI U: Housing: Fuel & Utility: Water, Sewer, Trash (WS) data was reported at 238.936 Dec1997=100 in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 238.512 Dec1997=100 for Sep 2018. United States CPI U: Housing: Fuel & Utility: Water, Sewer, Trash (WS) data is updated monthly, averaging 150.069 Dec1997=100 from Dec 1997 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 251 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 238.936 Dec1997=100 in Oct 2018 and a record low of 100.000 Dec1997=100 in Dec 1997. United States CPI U: Housing: Fuel & Utility: Water, Sewer, Trash (WS) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.I002: Consumer Price Index: Urban.

United States CPI UW: Housing: Fuel & Utility: Water, Sewer, Trash (WS) data was reported at 1.072 % in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.071 % for May 2018. United States CPI UW: Housing: Fuel & Utility: Water, Sewer, Trash (WS) data is updated monthly, averaging 0.936 % from Jan 1998 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 246 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.259 % in Dec 2015 and a record low of 0.854 % in Jun 2002. United States CPI UW: Housing: Fuel & Utility: Water, Sewer, Trash (WS) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.I010: Consumer Price Index: Urban: Weights.

United States CPI U: sa: Housing: Fuel & Utility: WS: Water & Sewerage Maintenance data was reported at 550.617 1982-1984=100 in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 548.436 1982-1984=100 for May 2018. United States CPI U: sa: Housing: Fuel & Utility: WS: Water & Sewerage Maintenance data is updated monthly, averaging 241.100 1982-1984=100 from Jan 1986 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 390 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 550.617 1982-1984=100 in Jun 2018 and a record low of 116.700 1982-1984=100 in Jan 1986. United States CPI U: sa: Housing: Fuel & Utility: WS: Water & Sewerage Maintenance data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.I006: Consumer Price Index: Urban: sa.

This layer shows housing costs as a percentage of household income. This is shown by tract, county, and state boundaries. This service is updated annually to contain the most currently released American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year data, and contains estimates and margins of error. There are also additional calculated attributes related to this topic, which can be mapped or used within analysis. Income is based on earnings in past 12 months of survey. This layer is symbolized to show the percent of renter households that spend 30.0% or more of their household income on gross rent (contract rent plus tenant-paid utilities). To see the full list of attributes available in this service, go to the "Data" tab, and choose "Fields" at the top right. Current Vintage: 2019-2023ACS Table(s): B25070, B25091 Data downloaded from: Census Bureau's API for American Community Survey Date of API call: December 12, 2024National Figures: data.census.govThe United States Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS):About the SurveyGeography & ACSTechnical DocumentationNews & UpdatesThis ready-to-use layer can be used within ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, its configurable apps, dashboards, Story Maps, custom apps, and mobile apps. Data can also be exported for offline workflows. For more information about ACS layers, visit the FAQ. Please cite the Census and ACS when using this data.Data Note from the Census:Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted as providing a 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value. In addition to sampling variability, the ACS estimates are subject to nonsampling error (for a discussion of nonsampling variability, see Accuracy of the Data). The effect of nonsampling error is not represented in these tables.Data Processing Notes:This layer is updated automatically when the most current vintage of ACS data is released each year, usually in December. The layer always contains the latest available ACS 5-year estimates. It is updated annually within days of the Census Bureau's release schedule. Click here to learn more about ACS data releases.Boundaries come from the US Census TIGER geodatabases, specifically, the National Sub-State Geography Database (named tlgdb_(year)_a_us_substategeo.gdb). Boundaries are updated at the same time as the data updates (annually), and the boundary vintage appropriately matches the data vintage as specified by the Census. These are Census boundaries with water and/or coastlines erased for cartographic and mapping purposes. For census tracts, the water cutouts are derived from a subset of the 2020 Areal Hydrography boundaries offered by TIGER. Water bodies and rivers which are 50 million square meters or larger (mid to large sized water bodies) are erased from the tract level boundaries, as well as additional important features. For state and county boundaries, the water and coastlines are derived from the coastlines of the 2023 500k TIGER Cartographic Boundary Shapefiles. These are erased to more accurately portray the coastlines and Great Lakes. The original AWATER and ALAND fields are still available as attributes within the data table (units are square meters).The States layer contains 52 records - all US states, Washington D.C., and Puerto RicoCensus tracts with no population that occur in areas of water, such as oceans, are removed from this data service (Census Tracts beginning with 99).Percentages and derived counts, and associated margins of error, are calculated values (that can be identified by the "_calc_" stub in the field name), and abide by the specifications defined by the American Community Survey.Field alias names were created based on the Table Shells file available from the American Community Survey Summary File Documentation page.Negative values (e.g., -4444...) have been set to null, with the exception of -5555... which has been set to zero. These negative values exist in the raw API data to indicate the following situations:The margin of error column indicates that either no sample observations or too few sample observations were available to compute a standard error and thus the margin of error. A statistical test is not appropriate.Either no sample observations or too few sample observations were available to compute an estimate, or a ratio of medians cannot be calculated because one or both of the median estimates falls in the lowest interval or upper interval of an open-ended distribution.The median falls in the lowest interval of an open-ended distribution, or in the upper interval of an open-ended distribution. A statistical test is not appropriate.The estimate is controlled. A statistical test for sampling variability is not appropriate.The data for this geographic area cannot be displayed because the number of sample cases is too small.

United States - Personal consumption expenditures: Housing, utilities, and fuels (chain-type price index) was 134.95400 Index 2009=100 in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Personal consumption expenditures: Housing, utilities, and fuels (chain-type price index) reached a record high of 134.95400 in January of 2024 and a record low of 6.34800 in January of 1934. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Personal consumption expenditures: Housing, utilities, and fuels (chain-type price index) - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

United States CPI UW: Housing: Fuel & Utility: WS: Water & Sewerage Maintenance data was reported at 0.810 % in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.810 % for May 2018. United States CPI UW: Housing: Fuel & Utility: WS: Water & Sewerage Maintenance data is updated monthly, averaging 0.693 % from Jan 1998 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 246 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.979 % in Dec 2015 and a record low of 0.631 % in Apr 2002. United States CPI UW: Housing: Fuel & Utility: WS: Water & Sewerage Maintenance data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.I010: Consumer Price Index: Urban: Weights.

United States - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Services: Household Consumption Expenditures: Housing and Utilities (chain-type price index) was 4.30000 % Chg. from Preceding Period in January of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Services: Household Consumption Expenditures: Housing and Utilities (chain-type price index) reached a record high of 12.30000 in October of 1979 and a record low of -0.30000 in January of 1959. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Services: Household Consumption Expenditures: Housing and Utilities (chain-type price index) - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

United States - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Services: Household Consumption Expenditures: Housing and Utilities (chain-type price index) was 5.10000 % Chg. from Preceding Period in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Services: Household Consumption Expenditures: Housing and Utilities (chain-type price index) reached a record high of 11.00000 in January of 1981 and a record low of -9.30000 in January of 1932. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Services: Household Consumption Expenditures: Housing and Utilities (chain-type price index) - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Although the American Community Survey (ACS) produces population, demographic and housing unit estimates, the decennial census is the official source of population totals for April 1st of each decennial year. In between censuses, the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities, and towns and estimates of housing units for states and counties..Information about the American Community Survey (ACS) can be found on the ACS website. Supporting documentation including code lists, subject definitions, data accuracy, and statistical testing, and a full list of ACS tables and table shells (without estimates) can be found on the Technical Documentation section of the ACS website.Sample size and data quality measures (including coverage rates, allocation rates, and response rates) can be found on the American Community Survey website in the Methodology section..Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates.Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing a 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value. In addition to sampling variability, the ACS estimates are subject to nonsampling error (for a discussion of nonsampling variability, see ACS Technical Documentation). The effect of nonsampling error is not represented in these tables..The 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) data generally reflect the March 2020 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) delineations of metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas. In certain instances the names, codes, and boundaries of the principal cities shown in ACS tables may differ from the OMB delineations due to differences in the effective dates of the geographic entities..Estimates of urban and rural populations, housing units, and characteristics reflect boundaries of urban areas defined based on 2020 Census data. As a result, data for urban and rural areas from the ACS do not necessarily reflect the results of ongoing urbanization..Explanation of Symbols:- The estimate could not be computed because there were an insufficient number of sample observations. For a ratio of medians estimate, one or both of the median estimates falls in the lowest interval or highest interval of an open-ended distribution. For a 5-year median estimate, the margin of error associated with a median was larger than the median itself.N The estimate or margin of error cannot be displayed because there were an insufficient number of sample cases in the selected geographic area. (X) The estimate or margin of error is not applicable or not available.median- The median falls in the lowest interval of an open-ended distribution (for example "2,500-")median+ The median falls in the highest interval of an open-ended distribution (for example "250,000+").** The margin of error could not be computed because there were an insufficient number of sample observations.*** The margin of error could not be computed because the median falls in the lowest interval or highest interval of an open-ended distribution.***** A margin of error is not appropriate because the corresponding estimate is controlled to an independent population or housing estimate. Effectively, the corresponding estimate has no sampling error and the margin of error may be treated as zero.

Although the American Community Survey (ACS) produces population, demographic and housing unit estimates, the decennial census is the official source of population totals for April 1st of each decennial year. In between censuses, the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities, and towns and estimates of housing units and the group quarters population for states and counties..Information about the American Community Survey (ACS) can be found on the ACS website. Supporting documentation including code lists, subject definitions, data accuracy, and statistical testing, and a full list of ACS tables and table shells (without estimates) can be found on the Technical Documentation section of the ACS website.Sample size and data quality measures (including coverage rates, allocation rates, and response rates) can be found on the American Community Survey website in the Methodology section..Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates.ACS data generally reflect the geographic boundaries of legal and statistical areas as of January 1 of the estimate year. For more information, see Geography Boundaries by Year..Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing a 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value. In addition to sampling variability, the ACS estimates are subject to nonsampling error (for a discussion of nonsampling variability, see ACS Technical Documentation). The effect of nonsampling error is not represented in these tables..Users must consider potential differences in geographic boundaries, questionnaire content or coding, or other methodological issues when comparing ACS data from different years. Statistically significant differences shown in ACS Comparison Profiles, or in data users' own analysis, may be the result of these differences and thus might not necessarily reflect changes to the social, economic, housing, or demographic characteristics being compared. For more information, see Comparing ACS Data..Estimates of urban and rural populations, housing units, and characteristics reflect boundaries of urban areas defined based on 2020 Census data. As a result, data for urban and rural areas from the ACS do not necessarily reflect the results of ongoing urbanization..Explanation of Symbols:- The estimate could not be computed because there were an insufficient number of sample observations. For a ratio of medians estimate, one or both of the median estimates falls in the lowest interval or highest interval of an open-ended distribution. For a 5-year median estimate, the margin of error associated with a median was larger than the median itself.N The estimate or margin of error cannot be displayed because there were an insufficient number of sample cases in the selected geographic area. (X) The estimate or margin of error is not applicable or not available.median- The median falls in the lowest interval of an open-ended distribution (for example "2,500-")median+ The median falls in the highest interval of an open-ended distribution (for example "250,000+").** The margin of error could not be computed because there were an insufficient number of sample observations.*** The margin of error could not be computed because the median falls in the lowest interval or highest interval of an open-ended distribution.***** A margin of error is not appropriate because the corresponding estimate is controlled to an independent population or housing estimate. Effectively, the corresponding estimate has no sampling error and the margin of error may be treated as zero.

United States CPI U: AW: Housing: Fuel & Utility: WS: Water & Sewerage Maintenance data was reported at 0.898 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.885 % for 2016. United States CPI U: AW: Housing: Fuel & Utility: WS: Water & Sewerage Maintenance data is updated yearly, averaging 0.687 % from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2017, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.979 % in 2015 and a record low of 0.640 % in 2002. United States CPI U: AW: Housing: Fuel & Utility: WS: Water & Sewerage Maintenance data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.I011: Consumer Price Index: Urban: Weights (Annual).

United States CPI U: AW: Housing: Fuel & Utility: Fuel: FOO: Others data was reported at 0.094 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.088 % for 2016. United States CPI U: AW: Housing: Fuel & Utility: Fuel: FOO: Others data is updated yearly, averaging 0.095 % from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2017, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.122 % in 2007 and a record low of 0.070 % in 2002. United States CPI U: AW: Housing: Fuel & Utility: Fuel: FOO: Others data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.I011: Consumer Price Index: Urban: Weights (Annual).

United States CPI W: Housing: Fuel & Utility: Fuel: GE: Utility Natural Gas data was reported at 172.324 1982-1984=100 in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 173.548 1982-1984=100 for May 2018. United States CPI W: Housing: Fuel & Utility: Fuel: GE: Utility Natural Gas data is updated monthly, averaging 66.050 1982-1984=100 from Mar 1935 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 914 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 292.916 1982-1984=100 in Jul 2008 and a record low of 12.100 1982-1984=100 in Nov 1946. United States CPI W: Housing: Fuel & Utility: Fuel: GE: Utility Natural Gas data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.I012: Consumer Price Index: Urban Wage and Clerical Workers.

United States CPI UW: Housing: Fuel & Utility: Fuel: FOO: Others data was reported at 0.073 % in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.074 % for May 2018. United States CPI UW: Housing: Fuel & Utility: Fuel: FOO: Others data is updated monthly, averaging 0.093 % from Jan 1998 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 246 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.126 % in Feb 2014 and a record low of 0.064 % in Aug 2002. United States CPI UW: Housing: Fuel & Utility: Fuel: FOO: Others data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.I010: Consumer Price Index: Urban: Weights.

United States CPI U: AW: Housing: Fuel & Utility data was reported at 5.019 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.954 % for 2016. United States CPI U: AW: Housing: Fuel & Utility data is updated yearly, averaging 5.069 % from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2017, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.431 % in 2008 and a record low of 4.469 % in 2002. United States CPI U: AW: Housing: Fuel & Utility data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.I011: Consumer Price Index: Urban: Weights (Annual).