Cost of Living · Updated June 2026
State-by-state cost of living index comparison
The spread between America's cheapest and most expensive states is wider than most country gaps: Mississippi-tier states index in the high 80s while California reaches 134 and Massachusetts 127 (US = 100, 2026). The full table below ranks every covered state with its tax regime attached.
State indexes hide metro variance – Texas at 92 contains both $1,250-rent San Antonio-class metros and pricier Austin – so treat the state number as the screening filter and the city pages as the decision layer.
Cost of living calculator
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Composite 2026 index incl. centre rent (NYC = 100). Salary figures are gross – taxes not included; pair with the salary after tax calculator.
Key insights
Key insights
- State indexes span ~88 to 134 (US = 100) in 2026.
- Housing drives ~70% of the spread.
- No-tax states cluster cheap-to-middle on the index.
- Property tax outliers claw back "no tax" savings for owners.
- 25–40 point drops are realistic without leaving major metros.
| State | COL index | Income tax | Sales tax | Property tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 90 | None | 9.6% | 0.48% |
| Indiana | 91 | 2.95% flat | 7.0% | 0.84% |
| Michigan | 91 | 4.25% flat | 6.0% | 1.24% |
| Texas | 92 | None | 8.2% | 1.58% |
| Ohio | 92 | 2.75% flat | 7.2% | 1.59% |
| Georgia | 92 | 5.19% flat | 7.4% | 0.72% |
| Illinois | 94 | 4.95% flat | 8.9% | 2.11% |
| Pennsylvania | 95 | 3.07% flat | 6.3% | 1.41% |
| South Carolina | 95 | ≤ 6.2% | 7.5% | 0.46% |
| North Carolina | 96 | 3.99% flat | 7.0% | 0.63% |
| Minnesota | 97 | ≤ 9.85% | 8.0% | 0.98% |
| Nevada | 101 | None | 8.2% | 0.55% |
| Florida | 102 | None | 7.0% | 0.79% |
| Virginia | 102 | ≤ 5.75% | 5.8% | 0.72% |
| Utah | 103 | 4.55% flat | 7.3% | 0.55% |
| Arizona | 103 | 2.5% flat | 8.4% | 0.56% |
| Colorado | 105 | 4.4% flat | 7.8% | 0.55% |
| Oregon | 110 | ≤ 9.9% | 0.0% | 0.86% |
| Maryland | 113 | ≤ 5.75% | 6.0% | 0.95% |
| Washington | 114 | None | 9.4% | 0.84% |
| New Jersey | 115 | ≤ 10.75% | 6.6% | 1.77% |
| Connecticut | 116 | ≤ 6.99% | 6.3% | 1.78% |
| New York | 123 | ≤ 10.9% | 8.5% | 1.54% |
| Massachusetts | 127 | 5% flat | 6.3% | 1.04% |
| California | 134 | ≤ 13.3% | 8.8% | 0.75% |
What moves a state's index
Housing explains ~70% of inter-state variance: median homes run from ~$240k (Ohio) to $800k (California). Energy, insurance (Florida's hurricane premiums, Texas hail), and grocery logistics fill most of the rest.
Taxes ride alongside the index rather than inside it: no-income-tax states cluster in the cheap-to-middle band, but high-property-tax outliers (Texas 1.58%, Illinois 2.11%) claw back part of the advertised saving for owners.
Using state indexes well
Screen with the index, then verify three states deep: target metro costs, your specific tax exposure (wage vs investment vs retirement income), and insurance realities for the housing you'd buy.
Movers from coastal premium states can usually drop 25–40 index points without sacrificing metro amenities – the structural arbitrage that powers most interstate migration since 2020.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which states have the lowest cost of living?
Among covered states in 2026: Tennessee (90), Michigan and Indiana (91), Ohio/Texas/Georgia (92) – all pairing sub-95 indexes with median homes under $350k.
Which are the most expensive?
California (134), Massachusetts (127), New York (123), Connecticut (116), New Jersey (115), Washington (114) – coastal housing markets dominate the top.
Is a no-income-tax state automatically cheaper?
No. Texas pairs 0% income tax with a 1.58% property tax and big insurance bills; renters capture the saving more cleanly than owners.
How much does the index understate metro differences?
By a lot – major metros run 10–30 points above their state average. Use state pages to screen and city pages to decide.
What index base does MovingCal use for states?
US average = 100, built from housing, groceries, utilities, transport, and insurance with 2026 data (cities use NYC = 100 separately).
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