Compare rent, income, taxes, and home prices across all 50 states. Find where your salary goes furthest.
| State | COL Index ↕ | Med. Income ↕ | Avg Rent ↕ | State Tax ↕ | Avg Home ↕ | Details |
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Use our free calculators to see your take-home pay in any state and how much home you can actually afford.
💵 Paycheck Calculator — All 50 States 🏡 Home Affordability CalculatorThe cost of living varies dramatically across the United States. Mississippi has the lowest cost of living index at 82 — meaning everyday life costs 18% less than the national average. Hawaii sits at the other extreme at 193, where residents pay nearly double the national average for housing, groceries, and utilities.
The cost of living index compares each state's prices to the national average of 100. A score above 100 means that state is more expensive than average. A score below 100 means it's cheaper. The index covers housing, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. Data comes from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) using Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and U.S. Census Bureau sources.
The five most affordable states are Mississippi (82), West Virginia (84), Arkansas (85), Iowa (87), and Kansas (87). These states offer very low housing costs and modest everyday expenses, though median incomes are also generally lower than coastal states.
Hawaii (193), Massachusetts (152), California (142), New York (139), and New Jersey (130) are the five most expensive states. High demand for housing, elevated taxes, and premium costs for everyday goods drive prices in these areas.
Nine states have no state income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. This can significantly boost take-home pay, especially for higher earners. Use our free paycheck calculator to see exactly how state taxes affect your salary.
All data is approximate and for informational purposes only. Always verify with official government sources before making financial or relocation decisions.