[takeaways] • The five cheapest US states to live in are Oklahoma, Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, and Kansas, based on the 2025 Cost of Living Index.
• Oklahoma is around 14% cheaper to live in than the national average, with the lowest Cost of Living Index score in the country at 86.0.
• The five most expensive states are Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, and New York — Hawaii's index score of 185.0 is almost double the national average.
• Hawaii's housing costs are more than triple the national average, with an index score of 304.2 for that category alone.
• The five cheapest states to live in are also generally the most cost-friendly to visit as a tourist.
• A USA eSIM keeps you connected across every state at a fraction of typical roaming costs. [/takeaways]
According to the Migration Policy Institute, the USA's immigrant population grew by 5% between 2023 and 2024 — showing that, while the current government may be taking a stronger stance on people moving from overseas, the US remains an extremely popular country to live in. But, given the country's size and number of states and territories, it's not always easy to know where it is most affordable to live as an ex-pat.
In this guide, we take a quick look at the cheapest states to live in across the US, where it's cheapest just to visit, and how you can save money on your next vacation here. If you find there is somewhere you'd like to set down roots, great — but keep in mind that costs vary!
What is the cheapest state to live in?
The cheapest states to live in across the US are Oklahoma, Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, and Kansas. That's according to the 2025 Cost of Living Index, which considers six subcategories — groceries, healthcare, utilities, housing, transportation, and miscellaneous goods and services.
The lower the index number, the cheaper it is to live in these states based on the subcategories mentioned. The scores are based on how close they are to an average national value of 100, or, as the source states, 100%. Here's how the figures break down for the ten cheapest states to live in:
- Oklahoma: 86.0 (cheapest for housing and miscellaneous costs, tied cheapest for groceries costs)
- Mississippi: 87.3
- West Virginia: 88.3
- Alabama: 88.6
- Kansas: 88.8
- Missouri: 89.0 (cheapest for transportation)
- Arkansas: 89.6 (tied cheapest for groceries, and cheapest for healthcare)
- Iowa: 89.7
- Michigan: 90.1
- Tennessee: 90.3
Therefore, we can estimate that — based on CLI research — it is 14% cheaper to live in Oklahoma on average compared to the rest of the USA.
Interestingly, Idaho is the cheapest state nationwide for utilities on average, but doesn't come close to the cheapest ten states overall (it scores 99.9).
To build these figures, researchers considered typical baskets of goods and typical services used by households in each state, and considered rent, outright house pricing, food and comestibles, power and water, car costs and public transit, medical care and insurance, and daily factors such as entertainment and clothing.
Remember that these figures are averaged — meaning that you may personally find it more expensive in certain categories in some states than others.
On that note, we can also easily assume that the five cheapest states mentioned here are also the five most cost-friendly to visit as a tourist. If you're keen to dig into some of the best New York cuisine, we're afraid you're looking at a cost of living score of 125.1, among the highest in the country!
What is the most expensive state to live in?
The most expensive states to visit and live in across the US are Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, and New York. Again, this is based on data collated and built by the Cost of Living Index, with information up to date at the time of publication.
Here's how the top ten most expensive states break down:
- Hawaii: 185.0 (most expensive for housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and miscellaneous costs)
- California: 142.3
- Massachusetts: 141.2
- District of Columbia: 138.8
- New York: 125.1
- Alaska: 124.9 (most expensive for healthcare costs)
- Maryland: 115.4
- New Jersey: 115.1
- Washington: 114.1
- Vermont: 113.6
Therefore, if you're planning to take home any souvenirs from Hawaii on your next visit, be sure to dig a little deeper than you might expect when visiting Vermont or Maryland! With an index score that measures almost double the national average for cost of living, Hawaii is far and above the most expensive state to live in (and therefore, to some extent, visit).
That said, both California and District of Columbia also score very highly on housing costs — reaching more than 200 on the index. Hawaii, however, outdoes even this, with an estimated more than triple the national average at 304.2. That won't affect you if you're staying for a short period, but it's still wise to check our guide to Hawaii travel costs before you book flights.
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Ways to save money when visiting the US
If all of these facts and figures have got you feeling a little muddled, don't worry. There are always ways that you can save money when vacationing in the US. Here are some ideas you might not have thought of that can really cut the cost of your future adventures.
[tip title="Use public transportation where possible"]Don't be afraid to use public transportation! As you can see from the cost analysis above, many states have affordable bus and train options, such as via Greyhound coaches. These options are ideal if you are considering traveling long distances but don't have a car.[/tip] [tip title="Always book medical insurance"]Always book medical insurance to cover any trips you make to the US. You never know when you might need it, and costs for consultations alone (regardless of the state) can be very expensive. Be sure to compare different rates and carriers.[/tip] [tip title="Check NPS passes for National Park trips"]If you're traveling across the country and mainly want to explore the National Parks, be sure to check out the passes available from the NPS before you go. It's a great way to save money if you're entering multiple attractions.[/tip] [tip title="Book accommodations as far in advance as possible"]Try to book your accommodations as far in advance as you can. Even if you are heading to less tourist-heavy states during off-season, you might be surprised at how popular hotels can get. In which case, use services like Trivago to book ahead months in advance.[/tip] [tip title="Book flights months ahead using comparison platforms"]The same goes for flights into some of the major cities — use platforms like SkyScanner to grab tickets for your trips there and back months ahead instead of waiting for last-minute cuts (they won't always come, no matter what you've heard).[/tip] [tip title="Consider campsites over hotels"]When it comes to accommodations, why not consider campsites? This is especially worthwhile if you are spending much of your time in the US exploring the great outdoors, and/or if you really don't mind sacrificing some comfort.[/tip] [tip title="Self-cater where you can"]While you should always take some time to treat yourself wherever possible, think about preparing food on the go. If you're self-catering, be sure to buy ingredients from markets and larger stores and take packed lunches and dinners with you while you travel.[/tip] [faq] [q]What is the cheapest state to live in?[/q] [a]Oklahoma is the cheapest state to live in across the US, with a Cost of Living Index score of 86.0 — around 14% below the national average. Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, and Kansas round out the five cheapest states, all scoring below 89 on the index.[/a] [q]What is the most expensive state to live in?[/q] [a]Hawaii is by far the most expensive state to live in, with a Cost of Living Index score of 185.0 — almost double the national average. California, Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, and New York round out the five most expensive states, all scoring above 125.[/a] [q]How is the Cost of Living Index calculated?[/q] [a]The Cost of Living Index measures six subcategories — groceries, healthcare, utilities, housing, transportation, and miscellaneous goods and services — against a national average baseline of 100. A score below 100 indicates a state is cheaper than average; a score above 100 indicates it's more expensive.[/a] [q]Is Hawaii really that expensive?[/q] [a]Yes — Hawaii's overall Cost of Living Index score of 185.0 is nearly double the national average, and it ranks as the most expensive state for housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and miscellaneous costs. Its housing index alone sits at 304.2, more than triple the national average.[/a] [q]Are the cheapest states to live in also the cheapest to visit?[/q] [a]Generally, yes — the same states that rank cheapest for cost of living, such as Oklahoma, Mississippi, and West Virginia, also tend to be the most cost-friendly for tourists, since lower costs for goods, services, and accommodations apply to visitors as well as residents.[/a] [q]Do I need an eSIM for traveling across US states?[/q] [a]A USA eSIM is a convenient way to stay connected wherever your trip takes you, at a fraction of the cost of typical roaming charges. It's especially useful if you're visiting multiple states, since it means no hunting for a local SIM card as you cross state lines.[/a] [/faq] [esim flag="🇺🇸" label="United States" data="10GB · 30 days" price="$11.90" href="/products/united-states" benefits="Instant QR setup · Reliable 4G/5G · No contract"]Get connected before your next US trip[/esim]
