WBOB Original Reads

From Portland To Providence: The Cost Of Living Across America

5/11/2017

Rhode Island and Massachusetts are among the states with the highest cost of living across the nation. A recent cost of living comparison conducted by GoBankingRates measured each state against the average cost of living in the United States as a whole. They examined six critical elements: housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, healthcare and miscellaneous expenses. Together, they form each state's overall cost of living index.

Hawaii came out on top with the highest cost of living overall, while Mississippi ranked lowest for overall cost of living across America.

View the full survey here

Rhode Island

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the country, but at 22.1 percent above the national average, the cost of living there is one of the biggest. Both housing and utilities are more than 38 percent higher than the rest of the country. At 18.1 percent higher than average, miscellaneous expenses are also unforgiving.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts clocks in as the fifth most expensive state in the country. The cost of housing is 75 percent higher than in the rest of the nation, which is the single biggest reason that the state's cost of living is 34.7 percent higher than average. Utilities cost 27.2 percent more, and groceries cost 11.6 percent more.

Survey Insights

Housing costs in California are a whopping 92.7% higher than the average in America, but Washington, D.C. beats it by a long shot with costs more than 134% above the national average.
If you're trying to save, Mississippi might be the place for you. Housing costs there are 31.6% less than the national average; Alabama comes in at 2nd with housing at 26% lower than the national average.
Avoiding the doctor? Healthcare costs are the highest in Alaska, topping out at 46.6% more than the rest of the country; Alabama saw the lowest healthcare costs at 12.5% below the national average, closely followed by Arkansas at 12.2%.
Hate your commute? California has the second-highest transportation costs in the country at 30.1% higher than the national average, and Alaska pays the third-highest with costs that are 29.2% higher than the average. Oklahoma pays the least for transportation, 11.9% less than the national average.

Top 5 States With the Highest Cost of Living (Percentage Above National Average)

1. Hawaii, 67.4%
2. District of Columbia, 49.2%
3. New York, 35.2%
4. California, 34.8%
5. Massachusetts, 34.7%

Top 5 States With the Lowest Cost of Living (Percentage Below National Average)

1. Mississippi, 14%
2. Indiana, 12.1%
3. Michigan, 11.8%
4. Arkansas, 11.5%
5. Oklahoma, 11.4%