Cost of living rankings
How every U.S. state and county ranks for affordability, cost and value.
Find the most affordable states and counties.
Cheapest state: Arkansas ($2,553/mo)
See where costs are highest.
Top: District of Columbia ($5,029/mo)
Where local salaries stretch furthest.
Top: Summit County, UT (68.1%)
Counties with the lowest crime rates.
Crime data coming soon.
Counties with the highest reported crime.
Crime data coming soon.
At a glance
- Cheapest state: Arkansas ($2,553/mo)
- Most expensive state: District of Columbia ($5,029/mo)
- Cheapest county (5,000+ residents): Kusilvak Census Area, AK ($2,247/mo)
- Most expensive county (5,000+ residents): San Jose, CA ($5,823/mo)
- Best value county (10,000+ residents): Summit County, UT (68.1% of income remains after essentials)
Frequently asked questions
About U.S. cost-of-living rankings.
What is the cheapest state to live in?
Arkansas has the lowest average monthly cost at $2,553/mo for a single person. See the full ranking on /rankings/cheapest.
What is the most expensive state to live in?
District of Columbia has the highest average monthly cost at $5,029/mo for a single person. See the full ranking on /rankings/most-expensive.
Where does your salary go furthest in the US?
Summit County, UT tops the best-value ranking, with approximately 68.1% of a typical household's income remaining after essential costs. See /rankings/best-value for the full list.
How are these rankings calculated?
All figures come from official U.S. government sources: the Census Bureau (American Community Survey), HUD Fair Market Rents, the Energy Information Administration and the Tax Foundation. Monthly cost is an estimate combining rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare and taxes. Full details in our methodology.
About this data
All rankings draw from official U.S. government sources. Each county profile shows its full breakdown with sourcing on every figure.