Which state has the lowest cost of living?

Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas consistently rank as having the lowest cost of living in the U.S., primarily driven by significantly lower housing, grocery, and utility costs, though wages tend to be lower there too. Mississippi often holds the top spot as the most affordable, with extremely low housing prices and transportation costs, making money stretch further.


What state is the cheapest to live in?

The cheapest state to live in consistently ranks as Mississippi, followed closely by West Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Alabama, primarily due to significantly lower housing costs, affordable groceries, and overall low expenses, though lower wages are a common trade-off. These states offer substantial savings on housing (median home prices well below national average) and everyday costs, making them ideal for budget-conscious living. 

Where is the nicest, cheapest place to live in the USA?

The cheapest best places to live in the U.S. often combine low housing costs with good amenities, with consistently affordable areas in states like Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio, featuring cities such as Decatur (IL), Enid (OK), Fort Wayne (IN), Brownsville (TX), and Dayton (OH), offering lower expenses and decent quality of life, though "best" depends on lifestyle needs like job markets and culture. 


Which state is worth moving to?

Top states to move to often include Utah, New Hampshire, Idaho, Massachusetts, and Florida, depending on your priorities, with Utah shining for job growth, New Hampshire and Massachusetts for overall quality/family, and Florida for retirement, but affordability varies, with places like North Dakota and Iowa offering lower housing costs. The "best" state depends on your needs: strong economy (Utah, North Carolina), affordability (North Dakota, Iowa), family life (Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire), or retirement (Florida, Wyoming, New Hampshire). 

What is the cheapest but safest state to live in?

The cheapest and safest states often overlap in the Midwest and South, with Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, and West Virginia frequently cited for low living costs (housing, groceries) and safety, while states like Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts rank high in overall safety but can have slightly higher costs, so a balance is key, with Mississippi often leading affordability and Iowa/Kansas offering great blends. 


States With The Lowest Cost Of Living Index, Grocery, Housing, Utilities, And Transportation Index



What is the easiest state to live in financially?

The easiest states financially often combine low taxes, affordable housing, and stable job markets, with Tennessee, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Florida frequently topping lists for ease of saving and low cost of living due to factors like no state income tax (TN), low property taxes (MS), and strong economies. Other affordable contenders include West Virginia (lowest overall cost of living) and Arkansas, though job diversity can vary. 

Where can I live that is warm and cheap?

Best affordable warm states with soaring home prices
  • Texas. Texas is ideal for millennials and Gen Z buyers who want affordable housing, strong job opportunities, and a good quality of life without the sky-high prices of coastal cities. ...
  • Florida. ...
  • Arizona. ...
  • Georgia. ...
  • South Carolina.


Which state pays you to move there?

Alaska has one of the longest-running incentive programs in the country: the Permanent Dividend Fund. Started in 1976, it pays every resident an annual stipend as long as they lived in Alaska during the previous calendar year. The amount depends on the state's annual revenue, but averages around $1,600.


What is the #1 happiest state in the US?

Hawaii is consistently ranked as the #1 happiest state in the U.S. in recent reports, particularly in WalletHub's 2025 analysis, due to high life satisfaction, low depression rates, strong physical well-being, long life expectancy, and good work-life balance, despite other factors like cost of living. Other top contenders often include Maryland, Nebraska, and New Jersey, while West Virginia is frequently cited as the least happy.
 

What is the #1 state people are leaving?

The state most people are leaving depends on the metric, but New Jersey often tops lists for the highest percentage of outbound moves due to high costs and taxes, while California and New York consistently see the largest net population loss (more people leaving than arriving), driven by severe housing affordability issues and high taxes, with many moving to states like Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas for better value and space. Illinois also ranks high in both percentage and net loss, also citing taxes and job opportunities.
 

What is a $1 dollar house in the US?

A $1 house in the U.S. isn't truly a giveaway; it's usually a city-sponsored program selling blighted, vacant properties for a nominal fee to incentivise revitalization, requiring buyers to commit to significant renovations, residency (often 3-5 years), and fulfilling strict codes, while also covering closing costs and potential tax liens, turning a "$1 house" into a costly but community-beneficial project. 


Where is rent the cheapest in the US?

The cheapest rent in America is typically found in cities like Wichita, Kansas; Toledo, Ohio; Akron, Ohio; Shreveport, Louisiana; and El Paso, Texas, with median 1-bedroom rents often below $800-$900, and in states such as Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Arkansas. These locations offer significantly lower costs compared to national averages, driven by strong job markets in sectors like healthcare, aviation, and manufacturing, alongside abundant outdoor activities, says ApartmentAdvisor.com and Apartments.com. 

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.


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

If you can't afford rent, explore government assistance like Section 8 vouchers or public housing via HUD.gov, contact 211 for local help, consider shared housing, find work-exchange roles (caretaker, farmhand), or look into alternatives like tiny homes, RVs, or hostels. Focus on low-cost strategies like finding a roommate, renting a room, or live-in caretaking to significantly reduce expenses. 


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

The cheapest best places to live in the U.S. often combine low housing costs with good amenities, with consistently affordable areas in states like Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio, featuring cities such as Decatur (IL), Enid (OK), Fort Wayne (IN), Brownsville (TX), and Dayton (OH), offering lower expenses and decent quality of life, though "best" depends on lifestyle needs like job markets and culture. 

Which 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.

What state is #1 in quality of life?

There isn't one single answer, as it depends on the ranking organization, but Massachusetts often ranks #1 overall for best states to live due to health/education (WalletHub), while Vermont frequently takes the top spot specifically for Quality of Life (CNBC) for its low crime, good air, and inclusion. Other top contenders include Idaho, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, highlighting strong showings in the Northeast and Midwest for overall livability.
 


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.

Which state has the nicest people?

There's no single "nicest" state, but studies and surveys consistently rank Minnesota, Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, and Wyoming as having some of the friendliest and most welcoming people, often based on tourist surveys and cultural perceptions like "Minnesota Nice" or Southern hospitality. Other states frequently mentioned for their friendly populations include Indiana, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and even Hawaii, noted for its community feel.
 

Which states have the best job opportunities?

  • Vermont. #1 in Employment. #7 in Best States Overall. ...
  • South Dakota. #2 in Employment. #8 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Utah. #3 in Employment. #1 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Virginia. #4 in Employment. #16 in Best States Overall. ...
  • North Dakota. #5 in Employment. ...
  • Texas. #6 in Employment. ...
  • Connecticut. #7 in Employment. ...
  • Oklahoma. #8 in Employment.


How to relocate when you have no money?

Moving out with no money requires extreme budgeting, downsizing, finding free housing (friends, family, house-sitting), leveraging community/government aid, and securing quick income through side gigs or remote work while focusing on essential items only to minimize moving costs. The core strategy is to reduce expenses to near zero, find temporary shelter, and build a small cash buffer before making the leap, possibly by selling belongings or taking short-term gigs like food delivery. 

Where can you live on $1200 a month?

Varna, Bulgaria—one of the cities highlighted in a new report on the world's most affordable places to live or retire for as little as $1,200 a month. That financial reality has more people exploring the idea of moving abroad—whether for retirement, remote work or a lifestyle change.

What city in the US is 70 degrees year-round?

No U.S. city is exactly 70 degrees year-round, but coastal Southern California cities like San Diego and Santa Barbara offer consistently mild weather, often in the 60s to low 70s F, with very stable temperatures and low humidity, making them the closest to your ideal. While averages hover around 70°F for high temps in these areas, daily weather still varies slightly, with cooler winters and warmer summers, but without extreme heat or cold.
 


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

The best and cheapest places to live blend affordability with quality of life, with top contenders often including Vietnam, Portugal, Mexico, Thailand, Colombia, and Bali (Indonesia), offering low costs for housing, food (especially street food), and healthcare, alongside rich culture, good weather, and beautiful scenery, though "best" depends on individual priorities like safety (Iceland, Singapore are safe but pricier) or specific amenities.