How it works
The Bureau of Economic Analysis measures how expensive each state is compared with the U.S. average, using regional price parities: a price level of 110 means prices are 10% above average, 90 means 10% below. To keep the same standard of living after a move, scale your pay by the ratio of the two price levels:
Equivalent salary = your salary × (new state's price level ÷ current state's price level)
Worked example
You earn $75,000 in Texas, where prices are 97.1 (U.S. = 100), and you're considering California, at 110.7. You'd need about $85,505 there for the same lifestyle, 14% more. Most of the gap is rent: housing costs are 154.3 in California against 96.5 in Texas.
Price levels by state, 2024
U.S. average = 100. States are sorted from most to least expensive.
| State | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| California | 110.7 | 154.3 |
| Hawaii | 110.0 | 125.3 |
| District of Columbia | 109.9 | 155.0 |
| New Jersey | 108.8 | 134.3 |
| New York | 107.9 | 122.2 |
| Washington | 107.0 | 126.0 |
| Massachusetts | 105.8 | 128.1 |
| Maryland | 105.0 | 121.1 |
| New Hampshire | 104.2 | 114.9 |
| Connecticut | 103.6 | 117.0 |
| Florida | 103.4 | 122.1 |
| Oregon | 103.4 | 108.6 |
| Colorado | 103.1 | 127.4 |
| Alaska | 102.4 | 93.8 |
| Rhode Island | 102.3 | 105.6 |
| Virginia | 101.1 | 106.8 |
| Arizona | 100.7 | 106.8 |
| Illinois | 100.0 | 93.9 |
| Nevada | 100.0 | 114.1 |
| Delaware | 99.8 | 102.0 |
| Utah | 98.9 | 107.8 |
| Minnesota | 98.6 | 91.3 |
| Vermont | 98.0 | 86.5 |
| Pennsylvania | 97.6 | 85.1 |
| Texas | 97.1 | 96.5 |
| Maine | 97.0 | 78.9 |
| Georgia | 96.3 | 88.7 |
| Michigan | 96.2 | 82.3 |
| Idaho | 95.5 | 90.0 |
| Montana | 94.6 | 84.6 |
| North Carolina | 94.3 | 81.4 |
| Wisconsin | 94.1 | 79.3 |
| South Carolina | 93.7 | 80.5 |
| Indiana | 93.3 | 73.9 |
| Ohio | 92.8 | 73.0 |
| Wyoming | 92.7 | 71.1 |
| New Mexico | 92.2 | 73.6 |
| Tennessee | 91.9 | 79.1 |
| Missouri | 90.8 | 69.9 |
| Kentucky | 90.2 | 64.3 |
| Kansas | 90.1 | 71.2 |
| Nebraska | 90.1 | 75.2 |
| West Virginia | 89.5 | 54.2 |
| North Dakota | 89.0 | 71.4 |
| Alabama | 88.8 | 61.8 |
| South Dakota | 88.6 | 67.6 |
| Louisiana | 88.2 | 63.1 |
| Iowa | 87.8 | 65.3 |
| Oklahoma | 87.8 | 62.8 |
| Mississippi | 87.0 | 56.5 |
| Arkansas | 86.9 | 58.2 |
Things to know
- These are state averages. A big city can be far pricier than the rest of its state. BEA also publishes price levels for metro areas.
- Taxes aren't included. State income and sales taxes differ too. Compare take-home pay with the paycheck calculator and rates with the sales tax calculator.
- Moving abroad? The Dollar Around the World compares 160+ countries the same way.
Questions people ask
What is the most expensive state to live in?
In 2024, California had the highest price level at 110.7, followed by Hawaii and District of Columbia. The least expensive was Arkansas, at 86.9.
How often is the data updated?
BEA publishes new state price levels once a year. The next release is due on December 10, 2026.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by State (table SARPP), 2024 (released February 19, 2026)
- BEA: Real Personal Consumption Expenditures by State and Real Personal Income by State, 2024 (news release)
Reviewed September 28, 2026 by The Dollars World team. How we build and check our calculators · Our data and formulas. This is general information, not financial advice.