Hawaii is the State with the Highest Cost of Living 💸

What We’re Showing

The top 10 states by annual cost of living in the U.S. in 2024.

Figures are based on data calculated by Forbes Advisor.

Calculating Cost Of Living

To calculate cost of living in each state, Forbes Advisor calculated annual expenses for housing, healthcare, taxes, food, and transportation.

Their data sources include C2ER, KFF, MIT Living Wage Calculator and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Hawaii Tops The List

Despite having the highest cost of living ($55,491), Hawaii also has the lowest annual average salary ($61,420) among these ten states.

This leaves residents with an annual disposable income of $5,929–the lowest out of all 50 states.

Coastal Regions Are Costly

Life on either coast isn’t cheap. All three West Coast states made the top ten list, while northeastern states like New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey also made an appearance.