US Costly States
We have gathered a range of data, from healthcare and funeral costs to the average monthly cost of gym memberships to reveal which US states will cost you the most money to live in. Here’s what we found.
New York takes the title of the most costly US state, with an overall score of 9.05 /10
New York
New York sees millions of visitors yearly, but living here will cost you a pretty penny - evidenced by its overall score of 9.05 /10. Some factors contributing to this US state’s top-place ranking on our list are the $31 average monthly gym membership cost and the $10,355 average funeral cost.
9.05
Total score /10
2
Alaska
Next up on our list, with an overall score of 8.33 /10, is Alaska. This US state may not have the highest overall score, but it does boast the highest average cost of health insurance of any US state in our top five, totaling $822. As well as this, you should expect to pay more for groceries and gas, with the average cost of these being $483.24 and $4.31, respectively.
8.33
Total score /10
3
Vermont
Despite having the lowest cost of living index score in our top five, totaling 114.9, Vermont appears third on our list of the most costly US states. Some of the other factors which make up this US state’s 7.21 /10 overall score is the expensive average grocery spend of almost $500 per person.
7.21
Total score /10
4
Hawaii
Hawaii appears fourth on our list of the most costly US states, with an overall score of 7.11 /10. Even though this location has just missed out on the top three, it shouldn’t be underestimated in terms of expense. As well as having the most pricey average grocery shop per person, Hawaii also has the most expensive funeral cost of any US state, averaging more than $15,000.
7.11
Total score /10
5
Massachusetts
Completing our top five list of the most costly US states, with an overall score of 7.08 /10, is Massachusetts. Although it is still costly, Massachusetts falls short in areas where some other entries in this ranking have clocked up expensive averages, including its average gas price and health insurance.
7.08
Total score /10
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Note : States with the same total score share the same ranking
US states with the highest average funeral cost
Hawaii
Hawaii is the US state with the highest average funeral cost, totaling $15,203. The high price of land is a massive contributor to funeral costs in Hawaii, so if you or your loved ones are seeking to be buried in this US state, you can expect to pay a pretty penny.
$15,203
Average funeral cost
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Note : States with the same total score share the same ranking
US states with the highest average gas prices
Washington
Washington has recently put in place a CO2 tax in an attempt to reduce the number of carbon emissions in the area. Unfortunately for customers, this has led to increased gas prices which is likely why this US state is charging $4.95 on average for gas - more than any other state in the country.
$4.95
Average gas prices
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Note : States with the same total score share the same ranking
US states with the highest average monthly cost of groceries per person
Hawaii
Making another appearance on one of our lists is Hawaii, this time as the US state with the highest average grocery cost. Located miles from the mainland, food here is more expensive to transport than in other areas of the country. This, paired with the increased cost of living, has resulted in an average monthly grocery cost of $556.76 per person.
$556.76
Average monthly cost of groceries per person
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Note : States with the same total score share the same ranking
US states with the highest cost of living score
Hawaii
With a cost of living index score totaling 179, it is Hawaii that takes the top spot on our list. As an island, the transportation of resources is much more costly than in other US states. This, paired with a housing shortage, is likely why the cost of living in Hawaii is higher than anywhere else in the US.
179
Cost of living index score
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US State |
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Note : States with the same total score share the same ranking
US states with the highest average cost of health insurance
Wyoming
Of all the US states, Wyoming has the highest average cost of health insurance, totaling $882. The extortionate healthcare costs in Wyoming have even resulted in some residents deliberately avoiding the opportunity to receive medical treatment - something which nobody should have to consider.
$882
Average cost of health insurance
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Note : States with the same total score share the same ranking
US states with the highest average cost of a monthly gym membership
North Dakota
North Dakota is known for being an affordable place to live when it comes to the general cost of living. Having said this, if you are keen to join a gym here, then you may have to splash some extra cash as this US state has the highest average monthly gym membership cost, amounting to $33.2 per month.
$33.20
Average cost of monthly gym membership
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Note : States with the same total score share the same ranking
Methodology
We used World Population Review to find the average funeral cost in each US state as of 2023.
We used AAA to find the average gas price in each US state. The data was collected on 14/07/2023.
We used Zippia to find the average monthly cost of groceries per person for each US state as of 2023.
We used MERIC to find the cost of living index score for each US state as of 2023.
We used Value Penguin to find the average cost of health insurance for each US state as of 2023.
We used Statista to find the average monthly gym membership cost in each US state as of 2021.
Finally, we used the costly factors (funeral cost, gas price, monthly grocery cost, average cost of living, average cost of health insurance, and monthly gym membership cost) and normalized each factor out of 10 before taking an average of those scores to get our overall ‘costly score’.
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