Cost of Living Comparison Calculator

Cost of living varies significantly between states, with factors like housing, utilities, transportation, groceries, healthcare, and taxes all playing a role. States like Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Kansas have the lowest overall costs, while Hawaii, California, and New York are among the most expensive. Housing typically accounts for the largest difference between states.

States with the lowest overall cost of living typically include Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama, and Missouri. These states offer lower housing costs, utilities, and general expenses. However, you should also consider factors like job market, quality of life, climate, and proximity to family when deciding where to relocate.

To calculate equivalent salary, you adjust your current income by the cost of living difference between states. If you earn $75,000 in Texas and move to California where costs are 20% higher, you would need approximately $90,000 to maintain the same standard of living. Our calculator performs this calculation automatically based on comprehensive cost of living data.

Beyond cost of living, consider: state income tax rates (some states have no income tax), property tax rates, job market for your skills, quality of schools if you have children, healthcare availability, climate preferences, distance from family, and overall quality of life. A lower cost of living state may not be the best choice if job opportunities are limited.

Nine states have no state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (limited to interest and dividends), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Moving to one of these states can result in significant tax savings, though they may have higher property or sales taxes to compensate.

Our calculator uses data from MERIC (Missouri Economic Research and Information Center) which provides quarterly cost of living indices based on actual pricing data across multiple categories. While individual experiences may vary based on lifestyle choices and specific cities within a state, this data provides a reliable baseline for comparing states.

Our calculator compares seven key categories: housing (28% weight), taxes (25% weight), transportation (12%), miscellaneous goods and services (12%), grocery (10%), utilities (8%), and healthcare (5%). Housing and taxes typically have the largest impact on overall cost of living differences between states.