What does this cost of living ranking show?

It orders states by Cost of living. It is a comparison of this one published measure, not an overall ranking of where to live.

Where do these figures come from?

MERIC supplies this measure. States without a comparable published value are shown as not ranked rather than estimated.

How should I use this ranking?

Use it to narrow a search, then open a state or county profile for the underlying figures, source dates and caveats. A statewide number may not describe every neighbourhood.

Rankings · Money

The cheapest states to live in

Cost of living.

MERIC/C2ER index, US avg 100, 2025

How to read this ranking

Oklahoma has the lowest published cost of living in this comparison, at 86. The next states shown are Mississippi (87.3) and West Virginia (88.3).

The table orders 51 states by cost of living. It describes one published measure, not an overall judgment about where to live.

Use the result as a starting point, then compare the underlying source, dates, and local county figures before making a decision. MERIC/C2ER index, US avg 100, 2025

1Oklahoma86
2Mississippi87.3
3West Virginia88.3
4Alabama88.6
5Kansas88.8
6Missouri89
7Arkansas89.6
8Iowa89.7
9Michigan90.1
10Tennessee90.3
11Indiana91
12North Dakota91.4
13South Dakota91.9
14Texas92.1
15Louisiana92.3
16Georgia92.5
17Kentucky92.5
18Nebraska92.6
19New Mexico93.7
20Wyoming93.7
21Ohio94.3
22Minnesota94.6
23Illinois94.7
24South Carolina94.7
25Montana95.5
26Pennsylvania97.2
27Wisconsin97.7
28North Carolina97.8
29Idaho99.9
30Nevada100.2
31Virginia100.8
32Delaware101.9
33Florida102.2
34Utah102.2
35Colorado102.7
36Rhode Island110.6
37Arizona110.7
38New Hampshire111.4
39Oregon111.8
40Connecticut112.7
41Maine113
42Vermont113.6
43Washington114.1
44New Jersey115.1
45Maryland115.4
46Alaska124.9
47New York125.1
48District of Columbia138.8
49Massachusetts141.2
50California142.3
51Hawaii185

Related money rankings

Use this in a move shortlist

These guides combine this measure with other clearly named inputs; they are not overall state verdicts.

Frequently asked questions

What does this ranking show?: It orders states by Cost of living. It is one measure, not an overall verdict on where to live.
Where do the figures come from?: MERIC. States without a comparable published figure are listed as not ranked rather than estimated.
How should I use it?: Use it to narrow your search, then open a state or county profile for the source date, caveats and local context.

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Free to use. The chart names its source and links back, so it stays honest wherever it ends up.

<iframe src="https://movermath.com/embed/cost-of-living" width="100%" height="420" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Cost of living by state"></iframe>

Source: MERIC. · How this is built

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