10 Most Expensive States to Live in America

People migrating for work, moving to another city, or simply planning a vacation can benefit from knowing the most expensive states to live in America. Understanding how much it costs to live in a town and why it costs so much can make or break a movie.  

There’s no denying that a country like the United States of America brings together several states, each with its educational levels, professional options, and, of course, living prices. Have you ever wondered if the State where you live is one of the costliest in the country?  

It may seem self-evident, but it’s critical to consider the type of life you’ll be leading there when deciding where to live. Expats should constantly consider the cost index when deciding where to live in the world, which is why we compiled a list of the top 10 most costly cities in the world. 

For individuals who want to remain in their native country, we’ve created a list of the ten most costly states to reside in the United States. The states were rated based on average pricing data from the Council for Community and Economic Research’s C2ER Cost of Living Index published in 2013.  

Based on official survey data on spending patterns, this index measures relative pricing levels for consumer products and services in participating locations, considering comparable costs. The average price shown for each item compares three preceding pricing periods, providing context when assessing the evolution of each State. So let’s check the countdown of the most expensive states to live in America.  

10 Most Expensive States to Live in America 

1. Hawaii: 

The most expensive State of living in America is Hawaii. The magical attraction of Hawaii is defined by palm-fringed, sandy beaches, a sweltering cultural melting pot, and breathtakingly stunning flora and animals. All of these luxuries, however, come at a high cost. Are you looking to purchase a home in Hawaii?  

A loaf of bread will set you back more than $5, or twice as much as it would in Kansas. In Kokomo, Indiana, a five-pound sack of potatoes costs four times as much. 

On average, this will set you back $1 million. And that’s not all: a two-bedroom apartment will set you back nearly $3000, with a monthly energy bill of $455.51, roughly three times what you’d pay in some of California’s leafy suburbs. 

2. New York: 

The Empire State is chiming in second place. That shouldn’t come as a surprise in a state where the typical home costs $1.6 million (yes, you read that right)—looking for a place to rent? Forget it; the average monthly rent for a decent two-bedroom apartment is $4200. Of course, because New York is so large, uneven recovery/growth is a factor.  

Although unemployment rates have improved since the recession, New York struggles with aging infrastructure and disparate growth rates. However, in places like Rochester (where the average property price is $287000), living is shockingly simpler than in Manhattan.

Nonetheless, your monthly energy bill would be more than $160 there. 

There are also 10 Most Expensive Houses In The US in 2022 not just cities. Check them out.

3. California: 

California is, unsurprisingly, one of the most expensive states in the country. High housing costs have long made this State one of the most costly, but population growth is also worrying.

The average price of a property in metro San Francisco is around $1 million, making it the third most expensive.  

California is also the poorest state in the U.S., owing $1.6 billion in debt. Although California has only 12% of the American population, it accounts for roughly one-third of all assistance recipients. 

4. Massachusetts: 

Massachusetts is the fourth most expensive state to live in America. Massachusetts’s grocery and healthcare expenditures are much higher than the national norm, with healthcare costs exceeding the national average by 25.9% and food costs by around 15.7 percent.

Boston is one of the country’s top tourist attractions. Boston is one of the country’s top tourist attractions with a robust higher education environment, a growing tech economy that rivals Silicon Valley, and historical sites dating back to the original colonies.

All of this adds up to a 6.8% unemployment rate in Boston and the surrounding areas by December 2020, yet city residents pay a high price to live there.

The median home value is $685,000, while the median household income is $71,115. A family of four requires $76,034 in revenue to make ends meet. 

5. Washinton D.C.: 

The high expense of living in Washington, D.C. is due to its status as the capital of the world’s most powerful nation. Numerous federal agencies think tanks, lobbying firms, and a thriving tourism industry all contribute to the city’s abundance of government and private-sector jobs.  

The District’s median home value is $692,000, while the median household income is around $86,420. In Washington, D.C., four families require $79,696 in income to make ends meet, similar to Boston. 

6. Maryland:  

If you reside in Maryland, you’ll undoubtedly agree with us when we say that your living expenses are enormous.

A family of four in Maryland requires slightly over $76,000 on average to make a good life and avoid having to seek relatives, friends, or the government for help.  

However, we may compare Maryland to Maryland in several areas. If you live in Hagerstown, it appears that $76,000 will suffice.  

You won’t be partying, but you also won’t be broken. Just enough to treat yourself to something fun now and then. If you live in Worcester County, you can now get by far less – around $72k per year. If you are a Baltimore resident, you will need more.  

See Also: 10 Most Expensive Cities in the World to live in

7. Alaska:  

Alaska, the moose state, is a newbie to this list, but it provides unrivaled natural beauty and close-knit culture that you won’t find anywhere else. With only 760 farms, it’s hardly surprising that most vegetables and food are sent in from other states.  

Furthermore, this has a cascading effect on a slew of other expenses. Anchorage, a loaf of bread that costs $1.79 in Iowa, will set you back $4.68. But this is Alaska, after all, the place of incredible wildlife. Paying utility payments ($201.39 for energy) and medical expenditures are also not easy. 

8. Connecticut: 

Connecticut is next on our list of most expensive states to live in America. Prescription medicine prices in the Nutmeg State are among the highest in the country. Insulin costs about twice as much in Stamford, Connecticut, as it does in portions of Tennessee, according to C2ER researchers.  

A doctor’s appointment costs roughly twice as much as Tupelo, Mississippi. Sure, places like Bridgeport or New Haven will be significantly less expensive than Greenwich, where a comfortable lifestyle costs around $110,000 per year. 

9. New Jersey: 

Where is the second most expensive place to live in the United States? That would be New Jersey, the Garden State. The average expense of the primary six — food, child care, cars, housing, medical care, and taxes – are all in the top five in Jersey. Costs of health care, in particular.  

At almost $7,700 per year for a household of four, New Jersey is tied with Massachusetts for the highest annual healthcare costs. So long as you don’t become sick, you should be fine. Housing expenditures are also not to be taken lightly, especially renting.  

Expect to pay around $900 per month each if you want to share a two-bedroom apartment in Jersey. Did you know that New Jersey has the 6th highest income tax and the 6th highest property tax in the country? What’s the first highest? Is there such a thing as a word? 

In New Jersey, you and your spouse would need to earn around $75,000 each year, or $18.25 per person, to live in the lower middle class. Working as a small engine mechanic or a dental assistant would be your option.

See Also: 10 Most Expensive Houses in Texas | 2022 

10. Alaska: 

Last on our list of most expensive states to live in America is Alaska. Extreme weather, long winter nights, and some genuinely stratospheric Alaska living costs provide distinct obstacles for residents of the Last Frontier.

Expect to pay more than five times as much for energy in Fairbanks as you would in Oklahoma City. Even a can of tuna in Fort Wayne, Indiana, will set you back nearly twice as much. 

We have both good and bad news in Alaska. The bad news is that if you plan on having numerous children in Alaska, your child care bills will skyrocket.

In Alaska, just one child costs more than $10,000 per year, making it the third most expensive State for child care in the country. Of course, many Alaskans prefer to raise their children at home. 

For whatever reason, the cost of owning a car in Alaska is around $4,200 per year, which is also the third-highest rate in the United States. Although you do not need to possess a car in Alaska, you will need to find a method to get around, right?  

The good news is that Alaska has no income tax, which is fantastic. As a result, Alaska has the lowest overall tax burden of any state we’ll study. Furthermore, everyone in Alaska receives a check from the government due to oil profits. 

The Alaska Permanent Fund is what it’s called. When oil prices were high a few years ago, some four families received approximately $10,000! 

Conclusion

In conclusion, that concludes our journey to the most expensive states to live in America. After all, the dust had settled, and the analysis was completed, we crowned Hawaii as the most expensive state to live in America for 2022. 

If you live in one of the states mentioned above, you probably work hard but don’t have anything to show for it. But, hey, as long as you’re secure, healthy, and have a glass of wine to take the edge off, everything will be OK. 

However, when you think about it, being costly is probably a good thing because it indicates that people want to live there and that the economy is functioning well.  

FAQ  on 10 Most Expensive States to Live in America

Irvine, CA, and San Jose, CA, have the best cost of living in America.  

The cheapest State in America is Mississippi, with an average 15% lower than the average national cost.  

The most expensive State of living in America is Hawaii, with a cost index of 196.3.  

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