10 States With the Lowest Cost of Living

Buying a house is expensive and so is moving. But the cost of living in some states is less than others. Let’s take a look at the 10 lowest.

Mississippi

a lake surrounded by lush green trees under a purple sky — Photo by Jp Valery

Mississippi is known as the cheapest state to live in. Housing in this state is the cheapest so you know you will get a good deal. However, Mississippi also has the highest poverty rate in the United States. It is also known as one of the worst states to live in, so keep that in mind when thinking about moving there.

Kansas

brown field under gray sky — Photo by Josh Redd

Kansas is the second cheapest state to live in, making it a great place to move to. The housing market boasts pretty low prices. It also has a low unemployment rate, which is great for the economy. But there is one thing that is less than stellar about the state — it has a lot of tornadoes and droughts.

Alabama

green trees during daytime — Photo by L.L. Sammons

Alabama is pretty cheap to live in. It has low housing costs along with low transportation and healthcare costs. There is something to consider though if you move to Alabama, the healthcare system is not the best and there are some dry counties that restrict when and where you can consume alcohol.

Oklahoma

a brown and white cow standing in a field — Photo by Lillian Fisher

Oklahoma is not only the name of a musical, it is the name of a cheap place to live. The healthcare and grocery costs are also low. Some of the cons of living here are the amount of tornadoes and not so great healthcare and education systems.

West Virginia

a path through a forest — Photo by Rocky Friz

West Virginia has one of the lowest cost of living in the country. Due to its education system and economy, It is also known as one of the worst states to live in. Is the low cost of living worth residing in one of the worst states to live in? Probably not.

Indiana

a field of corn and silos with a red building in the background — Photo by Lumin Osity

Indiana has a decent housing cost. The unemployment rate is also low, being known as one of the lowest in the country. It is a good state to live in, but just know that the winters are extremely harsh and that there is a higher rate of drug addiction and overdoses in the state.

Georgia

high rise buildings during night time — Photo by Maksim

Georgia has a couple of lows: low housing costs, low transportation costs, and low utility costs. Atlanta is one of the greatest cities to live in and also has a lot of activities to do. The cons of Georgia are the allergens produced by some of the plants and the extremely hot and humid summers.

Tennessee

a train traveling through a lush green forest — Photo by Intricate Explorer

Tennessee has a low unemployment rate, but a high poverty rate. It also has some affordable housing. Some other pros of the state are there is a rich music history and there is no state income tax on wages. If you don’t like sitting in traffic though, Tennessee might not be for you. It has a high traffic rate due to the cities expanding at a rapid pace.

Missouri

a farm with a barn and a red roof — Photo by Lumin Osity

Missouri is a great state to live in due to its cheap housing market. It gives you a little bit of the Midwest and the South in one place, which gives you variety! The minimum wage for the state is higher than average at $11.15. Some of the cons of the state are the tornadoes, hot summers, and a higher crime rate in urban areas.

Iowa

the sun is setting over a field of tall grass — Photo by Tim Willis

Iowa is known as one of the best states to live in. The housing costs are low and the education system is highly ranked. The main cons of living in Iowa are extremely cold winters and a lack of mountains or beaches, which aren’t really big flaws.