Cost of living by state
Compare cost of living, taxes and earnings across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive states is wider than most people expect. A single person spends about $2,553 a month in Arkansas, against about $5,029 in District of Columbia. Tax rates vary just as much, from no income tax in states like Texas and Florida to a top rate of 13.3% in California. Use the search below to jump to any state, or scroll to browse them all.
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Frequently asked questions
Cross-state cost of living and tax basics.
Which states have the lowest cost of living?
Based on estimated single-person monthly costs, the cheapest U.S. states to live in are 1. Arkansas ($2,553/mo), 2. South Dakota ($2,562/mo), 3. Wyoming ($2,615/mo), 4. West Virginia ($2,635/mo), 5. Missouri ($2,649/mo).
Which states have the highest cost of living?
The most expensive U.S. states are 1. District of Columbia ($5,029/mo), 2. Hawaii ($4,174/mo), 3. New Jersey ($3,876/mo), 4. Maryland ($3,759/mo), 5. California ($3,721/mo).
Which states have no income tax?
9 U.S. states have no state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming.
Which states have the highest income tax?
The states with the highest top marginal income tax rates are 1. California (13.3%), 2. Hawaii (11%), 3. New York (10.9%), 4. District of Columbia (10.75%), 5. New Jersey (10.75%).
What is the average rent in the US?
The average one-bedroom rent across U.S. states is approximately $1,006 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data. Rent varies significantly by state and county; see individual state pages for details.
About this data
State averages are calculated from individual county figures. Source data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau, HUD, the Energy Information Administration, and the Tax Foundation.