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 hereRhode 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
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% More WBOB Reads |
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