This Is the Cheapest State in America

Americans have had a rough year, between the coronavirus pandemic and the economic collapse that occurred after businesses across the United States shut down for months on end. As unemployment rates skyrocketed and millions were furloughed or laid off, financial concerns quickly became one of the leading issues (behind personal health, of course). In this current climate, it's even more essential to be frugal and try to save money however possible. For many, that meant moving out of pricey metropolitan areas and relocating to more affordable regions where the cost of living is lower. So, if you're wondering which state is the cheapest, we've got you covered.

We combed through the most recent cost-of-living metrics from the Council for Community & Economic Research, which compares the average cost of groceries, transportation, and utilities in each state to the national average. Then, we compiled the median price for a house in each state, according to Zillow's real estate database. Together, these indicators created our final Cheap Score.

The results point to one extremely wallet-friendly place to live. This state has the lowest median housing price in America and rates the second-lowest on the transportation index. It also lands in the top 10 states with the cheapest utility bills. To find out where your state falls in the budget, read on, and for more areas that are hurting your bank account, This Is the State Where Your Money Is Worth the Least.

Median housing price: $649,905

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +69.3 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +46.6 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +99.4 percent

Cheap Score: 3.09

Median housing price: $586,659

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +19.5 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +33 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +28 percent

Cheap Score: 23.1

And for more places you probably dislike, This Is the Most Hated State in America.

Median housing price: $285,487

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +31.8 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +20 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +60.1 percent

Cheap Score: 34.24

And for more areas that are struggling, This Is the Least Successful State in the U.S.

Median housing price: $457,192

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +16.1 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +11.9 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +7.1 percent

Cheap Score: 35.25

Median housing price: $442,339

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +8 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +18.6 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -9.1 percent

Cheap Score: 38.2

Median housing price: $379,503

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +13.3 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +33.2 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -11.4 percent

Cheap Score: 39.14

Median housing price: $346,328

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +20.6 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +10.8 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -0.2 percent

Cheap Score: 41.28

Median housing price: $321,513

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +9.4 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +3.7 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +25.3 percent

Cheap Score: 41.62

Median housing price: $272,404

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +8.2 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +12.5 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +34.9 percent

Cheap Score: 41.93

Median housing price: $357,546

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +9.9 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +8.7 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -1.5 percent

Cheap Score: 42.49

Median housing price: $326,553

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +17 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +2.1 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +9.4 percent

Cheap Score: 42.61

Median housing price: $423,364

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -2.8 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +5.8 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -13.9 percent

Cheap Score: 42.69

Median housing price: $262,525

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +12.4 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +16.4 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +18.8 percent

Cheap Score: 43.42

Median housing price: $377,443

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -1.1 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +5.3 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -7 percent

Cheap Score: 43.98

Median housing price: $316,102

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +8 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +20.4 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -8.1 percent

Cheap Score: 44.16

Median housing price: $271,530

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +23 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +1.1 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -4 percent

Cheap Score: 46.41

Median housing price: $309,709

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -2.4 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -4.5 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +11.1 percent

Cheap Score: 46.49

Median housing price: $291,168

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -0.9 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +5.6 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +4.6 percent

Cheap Score: 46.78

Median housing price: $255,736

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +1.5 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +0.6 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +11.9 percent

Cheap Score: 47.96

Median housing price: $272,175

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +6.9 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +0.4 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -2.7 percent

Cheap Score: 48.32

Median housing price: $208,774

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +7.8 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +11.4 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +9.5 percent

Cheap Score: 48.47

Median housing price: $259,642

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +4.6 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -1.3 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +4.5 percent

Cheap Score: 48.54

Median housing price: $296,604

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -2.3 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -6.2 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -1.7 percent

Cheap Score: 48.94

Median housing price: $311,024

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +3.5 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -9.3 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -13.7 percent

Cheap Score: 49.39

Median housing price: $315,911

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -6.7 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +1.3 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -16.6 percent

Cheap Score: 49.45

Median housing price: $237,608

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +2.4 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +2.6 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -9.2 percent

Cheap Score: 51.14

Median housing price: $203,707

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +1.9 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -7.1 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +5.9 percent

Cheap Score: 52.23

Median housing price: $215,891

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -5.2 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +4.8 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -6.6 percent

Cheap Score: 52.58

Median housing price: $217,575

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -1 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -6.4 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -1 percent

Cheap Score: 52.67

Median housing price: $259,371

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: +5.6 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -18.9 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -12.1 percent

Cheap Score: 52.71

Median housing price: $213,918

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -0.3 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -3.6 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -6 percent

Cheap Score: 53.04

Median housing price: $223,107

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -10.5 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -8.9 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +2.6 percent

Cheap Score: 53.44

Median housing price: $220,326

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -0.8 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -5.6 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -9.6 percent

Cheap Score: 53.48

Median housing price: $200,295

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -4.1 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -3.1 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -2.9 percent

Cheap Score: 53.75

Median housing price: $184,304

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -11.1 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +3.1 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +0.6 percent

Cheap Score: 54.21

Median housing price: $217,355

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -1.6 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -8.3 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -11.4 percent

Cheap Score: 54.29

Median housing price: $157,584ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -3.7 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -2.4 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: 0 percent

Cheap Score: 55.38

Median housing price: $186,579

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -1.6 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -5.6 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -11 percent

Cheap Score: 55.45

Median housing price: $171,811

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -2.1 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -9.1 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -2.6 percent

Cheap Score: 55.51

Median housing price: $161,507

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -2.7 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: +5.1 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -11.6 percent

Cheap Score: 55.57

Median housing price: $200,257

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -4.9 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -12.1 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -7.9 percent

Cheap Score: 55.6

Median housing price: $155,782

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -6.4 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -6.8 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: +3.7 percent

Cheap Score: 55.9

Median housing price: $166,556

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -8.1 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -1.7 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -4.2 percent

Cheap Score: 55.92

Median housing price: $176,987

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -2 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -3.4 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -13.2 percent

Cheap Score: 55.98

Median housing price: $165,364

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -8.4 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -5.3 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -0.4 percent

Cheap Score: 55.99

Median housing price: $153,649

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -8.6 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -5.5 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -3.4 percent

Cheap Score: 57.01

Median housing price: $139,614

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -7.6 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -7 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -6.9 percent

Cheap Score: 58.21

Median housing price: $150,910

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -10 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -10.2 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -7 percent

Cheap Score: 58.35

Median housing price: $131,774

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -7.8 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -10.5 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -7.2 percent

Cheap Score: 59.1

Median housing price: $108,333

Cost of groceries compared to the national average: -3.3 percent

Cost of transportation compared to the national average: -16.6 percent

Cost of utilities compared to the national average: -10.6 percent

Cheap Score: 60.9