What is the top 5 cheapest states to live in?

The top cheapest states to live in generally include Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Alabama, with West Virginia, Missouri, and South Dakota also frequently appearing due to low housing, groceries, and utilities, but rankings vary slightly by source, emphasizing overall low cost of living, housing, and taxes.

What is the #1 cheapest state to live in?

Below is a detailed breakdown of the ten most affordable states to live in 2025:

• Arkansas. Arkansas continues to be one of the most affordable states in the U.S., especially for those looking to buy property. ...
• Mississippi. ...
• Oklahoma. ...
• New Mexico. ...
• Missouri. ...
• Tennessee. ...
• Michigan. ...
• Texas.

What is the #1 best state to live in?

There's no single "best" state, as it depends on priorities, but recent studies from WalletHub (Aug 2025) and U.S. News (May 2025) frequently place Massachusetts, Idaho, New Jersey, and Utah at the top for overall quality of life, balancing strong economies, good education, healthcare, and low crime. Massachusetts excels in education/healthcare, while Idaho and Utah are praised for economic growth and stability, and New Hampshire for safety. 

What are the top 10 states for cost of living?

The top 10 most expensive states for living consistently include Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, New York, and Alaska, often followed by Maryland, New Jersey, Washington, Colorado, and Connecticut/Vermont/Oregon, with rankings varying slightly by source and year, driven primarily by high housing, transportation, and general goods costs, especially in coastal/tech areas. Hawaii is usually #1, while D.C. often appears as a highly expensive locale even though it's a district.
 

Where is the cheapest but nicest place to live in the US?

The cheapest, best places to live in the U.S. often involve the Midwest and South, with cities like Wichita (KS), Fort Wayne (IN), Dayton (OH), and Knoxville (TN) offering low housing costs and good value, while states like West Virginia, Mississippi, and Oklahoma consistently rank as most affordable overall. Key factors are low housing prices and a cost of living significantly below the national average, with some top contenders being Decatur (IL), Enid (OK), and Brownsville (TX), but "best" depends on balancing budget with lifestyle needs like jobs, culture, and amenities. 

TOP 10 CHEAPEST STATES to Live in America

What is a $1 dollar house in the US?

The One-Dollar Homeownership Program is an unprecedented partnership between NACA and cities and towns across the nation to create affordable homeownership for low to moderate income homebuyers in underserved communities. Community residents can purchase a vacant house or lot from the city for only one dollar.

Where is the cheapest place to start a new life?

Most Affordable Places to Live in the U.S. in 2025-2026

• Decatur, IL.
• Enid, OK.
• Springfield, IL.
• Mission, TX.
• Bay City, MI.
• Eagle Pass, TX.

What is the happiest state to live in?

According to WalletHub's 2025 study, Hawaii is the happiest state in the U.S., ranking first for its strong emotional/physical well-being, work environment, and community/environment factors, with residents showing high life satisfaction, low depression, and long life expectancy, followed by Maryland and Nebraska in the top three. 

What states have no state income tax?

As of 2025, there are nine states that don't collect any state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy?

In many U.S. cities, renting is the smarter financial choice as homeownership costs far exceed long-term rental expenses. Many of these cities are in California, where high home prices and property taxes make renting more practical.

What are the top 3 safest states to live in?

Based on recent 2025 analyses, the top three safest states in the U.S. are consistently Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, often followed closely by Maine, with these Northeastern states leading due to low violent crime, good healthcare access, and lower disaster risks. These rankings consider factors like crime rates, financial security, and natural disaster prevalence, with New Hampshire often ranking #1 for public safety by specific metrics, while Vermont leads overall in some studies. 

What's the prettiest state to live in?

The most beautiful states to live in often feature diverse landscapes, with California, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah, and Colorado consistently topping lists for stunning coasts, mountains, deserts, and national parks, alongside the raw wilderness of Alaska, Montana, and Wyoming, and the unique charm of New Mexico, Maine, and Vermont, offering everything from red rocks to lush forests.
 

Where are people moving to in 2026?

In 2026, people are continuing to move towards the Sun Belt (South & Southwest U.S.) for warmer climates, lower costs, and job growth, with states like Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina leading, alongside international destinations like Canada, Germany, and Australia for economic opportunity, while some are leaving colder regions like West Virginia for better prospects. 

Where is rent the cheapest in the US?

Rent is cheapest in states like West Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Kansas, often found in the Midwest and South, with cities like Wichita (KS), Toledo (OH), Oklahoma City (OK), and Cedar Rapids (IA) offering some of the lowest averages, especially for smaller apartments, driven by lower demand and ample land for development. 

Which state is most unaffordable?

California is generally considered the most unaffordable state due to extremely high housing costs, driving up overall expenses, though Hawaii often leads in housing expense relative to income, and states like Montana also face severe affordability crises due to housing shortages and population influx. Rankings vary slightly depending on the metric (cost of living, housing cost vs. income, monthly bills), but California consistently ranks near the very bottom for affordability.
 

What state has the worst taxes?

Here are the current states with the highest state taxes, including states with the highest top rates or flat rates:

• California (12.3%, with 1% tax on income in excess of $1 million)
• Hawaii (11%)
• New York (10.9%)
• New Jersey (10.75%)
• District of Columbia (10.75%)
• Oregon (9.9%)
• Minnesota (9.85%)

How much an hour is $70,000 a year after taxes?

Quick Answer: $33.65 Per Hour

A $70,000 annual salary equals $33.65 per hour in California before taxes. After federal and state deductions, your take-home pay ranges from $43,500 to $52,000 annually ($3,625-$4,333 monthly).

What state has no property tax?

Sadly for investors, the answer is no, there are no states without property tax. This is because property tax is a useful way for local governments to fund public services such as schools, fire and police departments, infrastructure and libraries. There is a caveat to this though.

What is the most stressful state to live in?

New Mexico tops the list of most stressed states in the U.S. as of 2025, with a stress score of 60.52 out of 100. This ranking considers stress factors related to work, money, family, and health and safety.

What state is #1 in quality of life?

There isn't one single answer, as different reports rank states differently, but Vermont is frequently cited as #1 for Quality of Life (CNBC), while Massachusetts often leads overall livability/best state rankings (WalletHub), and Utah ranks high overall for Best States (U.S. News). These rankings vary by the specific metrics used, such as health, safety, environment, education, or economic opportunity. 

What is the #1 happiest country?

Finland is the world's happiest country, holding the top spot for the eighth consecutive year in the 2025 World Happiness Report, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands, with high rankings attributed to strong social support, freedom, low corruption, and high living standards.
 

Where am I supposed to live if I can't afford rent?

Explore Government Assistance Programs

Local state and federal programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provide housing that includes units with rents affordable to low-income tenants and vouchers that help offset rent payments at privately owned housing.

Where can you live on $1200 a month?

5 Best Countries Where You Can Live on $1,200 a Month

• Albania. If Mediterranean living without the high price tag is what you're seeking, check out Albania. ...
• Cambodia. Cambodia, located in Southeast Asia, is another country where expats can live on a limited budget. ...
• Peru. ...
• Colombia. ...
• Vietnam.

What country can you live like a king for cheap?

For a luxurious, low-cost lifestyle, look to Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia), Latin America (Mexico, Colombia, Argentina), and parts of Southern Europe (Portugal, Spain), where your money stretches further for amazing food, culture, and comfortable living, often under $2,000/month for a very high standard, especially outside capital cities, with countries like Vietnam and Thailand often cited as top contenders.