Most Expensive States to Live in 2026 (Ranked)
Based on our analysis of high cost of living across all 50 states, Hawaii ranks #1 with 190, while Mississippi ranks last at 83. The national average is 102. States with no income tax (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming) generally perform well on affordability metrics due to higher effective take-home pay. The gap between the best and worst state is significant: 107. This means your choice of state can make a dramatic difference in your high cost of living. Use our cost of living calculator to run the numbers for your specific situation.