Quick answer
30 US states with in-depth cost-of-living data. 5 have no state income tax. Average 1BR rent across all tracked cities is $1,498/month.
State Guides · 2026
Cost of Living by State (2026)
State-level cost-of-living, tax, and quality-of-life breakdowns. Each state page ranks the major cities within it by rent and home price, with honest drawbacks and FAQs specific to that state.
No State Income Tax
On a $100K salary, relocating to one of these saves $4,500-$9,000/year vs California or New York.
All Other States
Arizona
AZ · 2 cities
$1,230
Tax: 2.5%
California
CA · 4 cities
$2,258
Tax: Up to 13.3%
Colorado
CO · 1 city
$1,740
Tax: 4.4%
Georgia
GA · 1 city
$1,650
Tax: 5.49%
Idaho
ID · 1 city
$1,380
Tax: 5.8%
Illinois
IL · 1 city
$1,850
Tax: 4.95%
Indiana
IN · 1 city
$1,050
Tax: 3.05%
Kentucky
KY · 1 city
$1,080
Tax: 4.5%
Louisiana
LA · 1 city
$1,280
Tax: Up to 4.25%
Maryland
MD · 1 city
$1,550
Tax: Up to 5.75%
Massachusetts
MA · 1 city
$2,600
Tax: 5%
Michigan
MI · 1 city
$1,050
Tax: 4.25%
Minnesota
MN · 1 city
$1,380
Tax: Up to 9.85%
Missouri
MO · 2 cities
$1,100
Tax: 5.4%
Nebraska
NE · 1 city
$1,050
Tax: Up to 5.84%
New Mexico
NM · 1 city
$1,050
Tax: 4.9%
New York
NY · 1 city
$3,200
Tax: Up to 10.9%
North Carolina
NC · 2 cities
$1,450
Tax: 4.5%
Ohio
OH · 3 cities
$1,110
Tax: Up to 3.99%
Oklahoma
OK · 1 city
$920
Tax: 4.75%
Oregon
OR · 1 city
$1,590
Tax: Up to 9.9%
Pennsylvania
PA · 2 cities
$1,540
Tax: 3.07%
Utah
UT · 1 city
$1,450
Tax: 4.65%
Virginia
VA · 1 city
$1,320
Tax: 5.75%
Wisconsin
WI · 2 cities
$1,265
Tax: 7.65%
Frequently Asked Questions
Which US state has the lowest cost of living?
Mississippi, Arkansas, and West Virginia consistently rank lowest by cost-of-living indices. Among states with growing metros, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Ohio, and Missouri are the cheapest — median home prices under $280K in all of them and 1-bedroom rents under $1,200/month in their major cities.
Which US states have no income tax?
Eight states have zero state income tax: Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Alaska. New Hampshire only taxes investment income (no W-2 tax). On a $100K salary, relocating to a no-tax state saves $4,500-$9,000/year vs California or New York.
Is Texas really cheaper than California?
For most people, yes — but less than it looks. Texas has no state income tax (saves $5,000-$15,000/year on typical salaries), lower housing costs, and lower auto insurance. But Texas property taxes (1.6-2.3%) are the highest in the country, and summer AC + Texas home insurance are meaningful costs. For renters, TX is a clean win. For homeowners, the net savings are real but smaller than headline numbers suggest.
What is the fastest-growing US state?
Florida, Texas, and North Carolina lead domestic migration by volume. By percentage growth, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and Montana lead — smaller populations with large percentage inflows. The common thread across top growth states is some combination of warm climate, no or low state income tax, and job market growth.