Mapped: The Most and Least Expensive U.S. States

Dorothy Neufeld
2025-06-18 08:12:00
www.visualcapitalist.com

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app.

Mapped: The Most and Least Expensive U.S. States

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

Key Takeaways

California stands as the nation’s most expensive state, with a regional price parity (RPP) of 113 when indexed against the U.S. average of 100.
Following in second is Washington D.C., with a RPP of 111—driven significantly by housing costs.
Arkansas ranks as the least expensive state, with costs 13% lower than the national average.

How much do prices actually differ across America?

When factoring the price of food, bills, gas, and a host of other living costs, one clue lies in regional price parity. In short, it compiles all of these data points into one to show the real prices of goods compared to the U.S. average.

In this graphic, we show the most and least expensive states in America, based on data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Southern States Have the Lowest Cost of Living

Adjusted for inflation, California is the nation’s most expensive state—with prices 13% higher than the national average in 2023.

Meanwhile, real prices in New Jersey are 9% higher overall, given the states limited housing supply, high utility bills, and rising grocery prices. Among the factors driving up food costs are real estate expenses and labor costs.

State	Regional Price Parity (U.S. = 100)
California	113
Washington DC	111
New Jersey	109
Hawaii	109
Washington	109
Massachusetts	108
New York	108
New Hampshire	105
Oregon	105
Maryland	104
Connecticut	104
Florida	104
Alaska	102
Rhode Island	101
Colorado	101
Arizona	101
Virginia	101
Delaware	99
Illinois	99
Minnesota	98
Pennsylvania	98
Texas	97
Maine	97
Nevada	97
Georgia	97
Vermont	97
Utah	95
Michigan	94
North Carolina	94
South Carolina	93
Wisconsin	93
Tennessee	93
Indiana	92
Ohio	92
Missouri	92
Idaho	91
Wyoming	91
Kentucky	91
New Mexico	90
Nebraska	90
Montana	90
Alabama	90
Kansas	90
West Virginia	90
Iowa	89
North Dakota	89
Louisiana	88
Oklahoma	88
South Dakota	88
Mississippi	87
Arkansas	87

By contrast, the least expensive states are Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma.

Owing to its affordability and job prospects, more Americans moved to Arkansas than any other state in 2024. Notably, the median listing price in Arkansas was $285,000 compared to $585,000 in Washington D.C.

Meanwhile, prices in states like Texas and Nevada fall just under the national average. For Texas in particular, its favorable tax climate and construction boom has helped mitigate cost pressures. Moreover, an influx of new residents and corporate headquarters are relocating to the state thanks to its diverse economy.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic from an affordability perspective, check out this graphic on home affordability scores by U.S. state.

Source Link

Keep your files stored safely and securely with the SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD. With over 69,505 ratings and an impressive 4.6 out of 5 stars, this product has been purchased over 8K+ times in the past month. At only $129.99, this Amazon’s Choice product is a must-have for secure file storage.

Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256-bit AES hardware encryption. Order now for just $129.99 on Amazon!

Unlock unlimited streaming with a free Amazon Prime trial!
Sign up today!

Help Power Techcratic’s Future – Scan To Support

If Techcratic’s content and insights have helped you, consider giving back by supporting the platform with crypto. Every contribution makes a difference, whether it’s for high-quality content, server maintenance, or future updates. Techcratic is constantly evolving, and your support helps drive that progress.

As a solo operator who wears all the hats, creating content, managing the tech, and running the site, your support allows me to stay focused on delivering valuable resources. Your support keeps everything running smoothly and enables me to continue creating the content you love. I’m deeply grateful for your support, it truly means the world to me! Thank you!

BITCOIN

Bitcoin Logo