What Is the No. 1 Household Expense in Every State?
From the majestic mountains of Montana to the delectable crabs in Maryland (don’t forget the Old Bay, Hon), the surfing in Hawaii to the gorgeous fall foliage of Vermont, every state is known for the perks it offers residents.
Daily life, no matter where you live, involves far more than crab feasts, beach days and amazing hikes. Everyday bills and expenditures, from housing to utilities to grocery bills, impact our quality of life and cost of living.
Find Out: I’m a Self-Made Millionaire, but I Still Opt for the Budget Versions of These 6 Items
Read More: 4 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money
To determine the largest household expenses in every state, as well as the District of Columbia, GOBankingRates analyzed the cost of living indexes across several categories, including groceries, healthcare, utilities, and transportation, as well as miscellaneous costs, comparing them to the national average cost of expenditures.
Let’s dig a little deeper into each state’s biggest household expense:
Alabama
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
Highest Cost of Living Index: 102.4
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $109.18
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 2.40%
Check Out: 6 Valuable Everyday Items You Should Never Throw Away
Learn More: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy
Alaska
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
Highest Cost of Living Index: 157.9
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $2,633.87
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 57.90%
Discover More: 5 Unnecessary Bills You Should Stop Paying in 2024
Arizona
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 124.1
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $3,496.19
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 24.10%
Arkansas
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Miscellaneous
Highest Cost of Living Index: 97.7
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$23.21
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -2.30%
California
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 198.8
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $14,332.92
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 98.80%
Colorado
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 113.6
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $1,972.95
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 13.60%
Read Next: 7 Appliances Frugal Homeowners Steer Clear Of
Connecticut
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
Highest Cost of Living Index: 130.4
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $1,382.90
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 30.40%
Delaware
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Miscellaneous
Highest Cost of Living Index: 104.5
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $45.41
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 4.5%
District of Columbia
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 237.7
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $19,976.14
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 137.70%
Florida
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 106.3
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $913.94
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 6.30%
Explore More: Nearly Half of Americans Struggle To Pay Their Utility Bills: 5 Ways To Save
Georgia
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
Highest Cost of Living Index: 100.3
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $17.55
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 0.30%
Hawaii
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 313.1
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $30,914.42
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 213.10%
Idaho
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Transportation
Highest Cost of Living Index: 105.2
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $361.61
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 5.20%
Illinois
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Transportation
Highest Cost of Living Index: 103.0
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $208.62
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 3.00%
Check Out: I’m a Frugal Shopper: 4 Items I Always Buy Secondhand To Save Money
Indiana
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
Highest Cost of Living Index: 106.7
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $304.78
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 6.70%
Iowa
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
Highest Cost of Living Index: 99.4
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$35.10
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -0.60%
Kansas
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
Highest Cost of Living Index: 106.6
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $300.23
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 6.60%
Kentucky
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
Highest Cost of Living Index: 104.4
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $200.16
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 4.40%
Read Next: 5 Frugal Habits of Mark Cuban
Louisiana
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
Highest Cost of Living Index: 98.7
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$76.05
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -1.30%
Maine
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 117.4
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $2,524.22
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 17.40%
Maryland
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 146.4
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $6,731.25
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 46.40%
Massachusetts
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 218.5
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $17,190.80
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 118.50%
Explore More: 10 Things Frugal People Always Buy at Yard Sales To Save Money
Michigan
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
Highest Cost of Living Index: 101.1
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $50.04
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 1.10%
Minnesota
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
Highest Cost of Living Index: 109.2
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $538.20
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 9.20%
Mississippi
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
Highest Cost of Living Index: 98.4
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$93.60
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -1.60%
Missouri
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
Highest Cost of Living Index: 98.6
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$63.69
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -1.40%
Learn More: Mark Cuban Reveals Why He Keeps a Strict Budget Everyday
Montana
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Transportation
Highest Cost of Living Index: 109.0
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $625.86
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 9.00%
Nebraska
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Transportation
Highest Cost of Living Index: 100
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $0
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 0%
Nevada
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Transportation
Highest Cost of Living Index: 116.6
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $1,154.36
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 16.60%
New Hampshire
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
Highest Cost of Living Index: 131.0
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $1,410.19
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 31.00%
Discover More: 10 Best New Items at Dollar Tree in June 2024 To Save Money
New Jersey
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 135.8
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $5,193.51
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 35.80%
New Mexico
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
Highest Cost of Living Index: 99.3
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -40.95
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -0.70%
New York
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 176.0
Difference from the National Average in Dollars: $11,025.32
Difference from the National Average in Percentage: 76.00%
North Carolina
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
Highest Cost of Living Index: 108.1
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $473.85
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 8.10%
Check Out: 8 Best Sam’s Club Deals on Groceries in June
North Dakota
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
Highest Cost of Living Index: 111.2
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $655.20
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 11.20%
Ohio
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Grocery
Highest Cost of Living Index: 101.4
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $79.84
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 1.40%
Oklahoma
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
Highest Cost of Living Index: 98.2
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$81.88
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -1.80%
Oregon
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 136.6
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $5,266.04
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 36.30%
Be Aware: 6 Best Deals to Buy at Big Lots in June 2024
Pennsylvania
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
Highest Cost of Living Index: 107.3
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $332.08
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 7.30%
Rhode Island
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 116.8
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $2,437.18
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 16.80%
South Carolina
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
Highest Cost of Living Index: 106.5
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $295.69
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 6.50%
South Dakota
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
Highest Cost of Living Index: 97.9
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$122.85
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -2.10%
Find Out: I’m a Chef: Here Are 6 Kitchen Gadgets I’d Never Waste Money On
Tennessee
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Grocery
Highest Cost of Living Index: 97.7
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$131.17
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -2.30%
Texas
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Utilities
Highest Cost of Living Index: 104.0
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $181.96
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 4.00%
Utah
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 110.7
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $1,552.25
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 10.70%
Vermont
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 133.1
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $4,801.82
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 33.10%
Try This: 10 Best Items To Buy at Five Below in June
Virginia
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 105.7
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $826.90
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 5.70%
Washington
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Housing
Highest Cost of Living Index: 128.7
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $4,163.51
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 28.70%
West Virginia
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Grocery
Highest Cost of Living Index: 98.4
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: -$91.25
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: -1.60%
Wisconsin
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Health
Highest Cost of Living Index: 112.3
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $719.55
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 12.30%
Check Out: 7 Best Items To Buy at Sam’s Club Now for the Second Half of 2024 To Save Big Money
Wyoming
Highest Cost of Living Expenditure: Grocery
Highest Cost of Living Index: 102.3
Difference From the National Average in Dollars: $131.17
Difference From the National Average in Percentage: 2.30%
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the cost of living indexes across various expenditure categories including; [1] Grocery cost of living index, [2] Healthcare cost of living index, [3] Utilities cost of living index, [4] Transportation cost of living index, [5] Miscellaneous cost of living index all sourced from Missouri Economic Research Institute Center. The highest and lowest cost of living expenditure indexes were kept for each state and using the [6] Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Survey for all consumers, the average expenditure cost can be calculated for each state. The data was sorted by largest difference in percents between the highest cost of living expenditure and the national average cost of living expenditure. All data was collected and is up to date as of June 7, 2024.
More From GOBankingRates
In Less Than a Decade, You Won't Be Able To Afford Homes in These 20 Arizona ZIP Codes
These 10 Used Cars Will Last Longer Than an Average New Vehicle
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What Is the No. 1 Household Expense in Every State?