Which states are most expensive to live in?

Hawaii, California, and Massachusetts consistently rank as the most expensive states to live in the U.S., driven primarily by extremely high housing costs, followed by high prices for groceries, transportation, and utilities, with California and Hawaii especially impacted by logistics and demand. Other states like New Jersey, Maryland, and Alaska also appear on lists due to high costs across various categories, though often not as high as the top three.

What are the top 10 most expensive states to live in?

Hawaii, Massachusetts, and California consistently rank as the top three most expensive states due to soaring housing costs, high taxes, and transportation expenses for goods, with New York, Alaska, Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington also frequently appearing in the top 10 most costly states for living in 2025. 

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 are the 10 most expensive cities to live in in the US?

The income you need to live comfortably in the 10 most expensive U.S. cities—it's over $200,000 in No. 1

• San Jose, California. Average single-family home value: $1,529,160. ...
• San Francisco. Average single-family home value: $1,410,552. ...
• San Diego. ...
• Los Angeles. ...
• New York City. ...
• Long Beach, California. ...
• Seattle, Washington. ...
• Boston.

What is the #1 most expensive city?

Most expensive cities in the world

• The most expensive city in the world is Zurich, according to Numbeo's 2025 cost of living index.
• The most expensive cities in the US are New York City (New York), Los Angeles (California), San Francisco (California), Honolulu (Hawaii) and Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia).

States With Highest Cost of Living - Is Your State One of the 10 Most Expensive? (2025)

What is the unhappiest state in the US?

Based on recent studies, particularly WalletHub's 2025 analysis, Louisiana and West Virginia consistently rank as the unhappiest states, often swapping the bottom spots, with Louisiana frequently cited as the absolute least happy due to factors like high depression rates, long work hours, low sleep quality, and high divorce rates, while West Virginia struggles with high adult depression and poor sleep. Other states often in the bottom ranks include Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee. 

What state is #1 in quality of life?

There isn't one single answer, as it depends on the study, but recent reports often name Massachusetts, Vermont, or New Jersey as #1 for Quality of Life, with Massachusetts leading in overall metrics (health, education) and Vermont shining in specific areas like low crime and natural environment. Other top contenders include Idaho, Minnesota, and New York, highlighting that rankings vary based on whether they emphasize healthcare, economy, safety, or environment. 

What is the hardest US state to live in?

These states are America's worst for quality of life in 2025:

• Arkansas.
• Alabama.
• Georgia.
• Louisiana.
• Utah.
• Indiana.
• Texas.
• Tennessee.

What is the happiest state to live in?

Hawaii is consistently ranked as the happiest U.S. state, largely due to high life satisfaction, long life expectancy, low depression rates, and good physical/emotional well-being, despite being expensive; other top contenders often include Maryland, praised for strong work environments, and Nebraska, noted for economic security and low divorce rates, according to recent WalletHub studies. 

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. 

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 is the most overpriced state?

Hawaii maintains its position as the most expensive state by a wide margin, with living costs nearly twice the national average. The cost of living index for Hawaii sits between 182.3 and 193.3, depending on the specific island and community.

Which state has the nicest homes?

There's no single "best" state for houses, as it depends on your priorities (affordability, investment, luxury, lifestyle), but Connecticut, New Jersey, and Massachusetts are top for overall market health; Florida & California for valuable markets; Montana & Nevada for investment potential; and states like Indiana, Missouri, and Pennsylvania for affordability, with each offering unique housing environments from coastal luxury to affordable family homes. 

What are the top 3 cheapest states to live in?

West Virginia tops the list of the cheapest places to live in the U.S., with a cost of living 15.9% below the national average. Southern and Midwestern states like Oklahoma, Kansas and Mississippi consistently offer low-priced housing.

Which state has the nicest people?

There's no single "nicest" state, but studies and surveys often point to Minnesota, Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, and Wyoming as top contenders for friendliness, based on factors like tourist impressions and acts of kindness. Other states like Hawaii, Iowa, and parts of the South (like Kentucky, North Carolina) are also frequently praised for their welcoming and kind residents, though perceptions of niceness can vary by individual and region.
 

What is the safest state to live in?

The safest states to live in consistently rank high for low crime (violent and property), strong financial health, and good emergency preparedness, with Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine frequently appearing at the top of 2025 lists from sources like WalletHub and World Population Review. Other top contenders often include Massachusetts, Utah, Idaho, and Connecticut, while factors like cybercrime rates and road safety also play a role in overall safety scores. 

Which state is worth moving to?

The study found the best states to move to are Utah, New Hampshire, Idaho and Virginia. According to the list, worst states to move to are California, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oregon.

What is the unhealthiest state to live in?

While rankings vary slightly by study, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Kentucky consistently appear as the most unhealthy U.S. states, often due to high rates of obesity, smoking, chronic disease, substance abuse, poor nutrition, mental distress, and lower life expectancies, with many of these top contenders located in the South.
 

What is the most loved state in the USA?

Hawaii is consistently ranked as America's favorite state in recent surveys, leading in overall favorability and net positive perception due to its beauty, warm weather, and perceived well-being, followed by states like North Carolina, Alaska, Tennessee, and Colorado in positive ratings. However, "most liked" varies by survey criteria, with other rankings highlighting states like Utah or Nebraska for overall livability, but Hawaii generally wins popularity contests. 

What is the least fun state in the US?

There's no single "least interesting" state, as it's subjective, but surveys and opinions often point to West Virginia, Mississippi, Delaware, and North Dakota as having fewer entertainment/recreation options by some metrics, while states like Kansas, Nebraska, and Idaho are sometimes cited as less engaging for driving due to flatness or remoteness, though all states offer unique spots. 

What city is the safest to live in the US?

The top 10 safest cities in the United States, according to WalletHub, are:

• Burlington, Vermont.
• Juneau, Alaska.
• Yonkers, New York.
• Casper, Wyoming.
• South Burlington, Vermont.
• Columbia, Maryland.
• Lewiston, Maine.
• Salem, Oregon.

What is the most unaffordable city in America?

At the very bottom of the list sit a large number of cities found in California. In fact, 25 of the bottom 30 are California cities. Ranking as the most 'unaffordable' city in the country is Santa Barbara, where the average price per square foot for a home is $1,300.

Which 10 states have the highest cost of living?

Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland consistently rank as the top 5 most expensive states, driven by soaring housing costs, high taxes, and increased prices for daily goods, with other costly states often including Washington, New York, Connecticut, Colorado, and New Hampshire, due to unique regional factors like island isolation, tech hubs, or coastal living expenses.