This Is the Cheapest State in America
The cost of living in this area is a bargain if you're on a budget.

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.
50
Hawaii

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
49
California

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.
48
Alaska

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.
47
Massachusetts

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
46
Washington

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
45
Oregon

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
44
New York

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
43
Rhode Island

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
42
Connecticut

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
41
New Jersey

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
40
Maryland

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
39
Colorado

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
38
Vermont

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
37
Utah

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
36
Nevada

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
35
Delaware

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
34
New Hampshire

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
33
Arizona

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
32
Maine

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
31
Minnesota

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
30
Pennsylvania

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
29
Florida

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
28
Virginia

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
27
Montana

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
26
Idaho

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
25
North Dakota

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
24
South Carolina

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
23
Illinois

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
22
North Carolina

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
21
Wyoming

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
20
Georgia

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
19
Texas

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
18
South Dakota

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
17
Wisconsin

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
16
Michigan

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
15
New Mexico

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
14
Iowa

Median housing price: $157,584
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
13
Nebraska

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
12
Missouri

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
11
Ohio

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
10
Tennessee

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
9
Alabama

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
8
Indiana

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
7
Louisiana

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
6
Kansas

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
5
Kentucky

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
4
Oklahoma

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
3
Arkansas

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
2
Mississippi

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
1
West Virginia

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