{"id":9598,"date":"2026-07-07T09:50:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T16:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinghelpblog.uhaul.net\/?p=9598"},"modified":"2026-07-07T09:53:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T16:53:53","slug":"cost-of-living","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.movinghelp.com\/move\/cost-of-living\/","title":{"rendered":"Cost of Living\u00a02026:\u00a0What Is It in\u00a0the\u00a0United States?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>TL;\u00a0DR:<\/strong>\u00a0The cost of\u00a0living varies by state and\u00a0depends on several basic expenses.\u00a0The cost of\u00a0living increased in\u00a02026,\u00a0but it\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0as high\u00a0as it was\u00a0in 2022.\u00a0Arkansas has the\u00a0lowest\u00a0cost of living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With inflation continuing to be high in\u00a02026,\u00a0it\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0as stubbornly high as it has been in previous years.\u00a0Everyone is\u00a0acutely\u00a0aware of the cost of living\u00a0since\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0closely\u00a0related\u00a0metrics.\u00a0More likely than not, the cost of living has\u00a0probably increased\u00a0where you\u00a0reside.\u00a0What does \u201ccost of living\u201d mean? Which\u00a0state\u00a0has\u00a0the lowest cost of living?\u00a0You\u2019ll\u00a0learn this and much more\u00a0from\u00a0our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.movinghelp.com\/\">Moving Help\u00ae<\/a>\u00a0article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you plan\u00a0on moving\u00a0to a state with a lower\u00a0or higher\u00a0cost of living, consider using labor-only Service Providers from the Moving Help Marketplace.\u00a0They\u2019re\u00a0affordable, reliable, and you\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0have to stress about lifting heavy items on your own or relying on friends or family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Cost of Living?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe cost of living is the amount of money\u00a0needed to cover basic expenses such as housing,\u00a0food, taxes, and health care in a certain place and time period,\u201d\u00a0according\u00a0to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/c\/cost-of-living.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">investopedia.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cost of living is what people use to compare cities with one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cost of living also relates to wages. The higher the expenses are in a city, the higher the salary levels are in that area, so people can afford to live there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, Phoenix, Arizona, has a higher cost of living vs. Charlotte, North Carolina. Therefore, salary levels are higher in Phoenix than in Charlotte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These main components help shape the cost of living:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Housing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Food<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Health care<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transportation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s these metrics that are important to keep in mind when considering the cost of living in a city. You also might want to consider schools as well in case you have children or plan to go to college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cost of Living\u00a02026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cost of living in\u00a02026\u00a0has continued to increase. The Consumer Price Index showed prices increased\u00a04.2\u00a0percent between\u00a0May\u00a02025\u00a0and\u00a0May 2026,\u00a0according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.\u00a0This\u00a0is still\u00a0significantly lower compared\u00a0to the\u00a08.6\u00a0percent\u00a0increase\u00a0in\u00a0May\u00a02022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cost-of-living adjustment in 2026 is 2.8 percent, and that percentage is\u00a0higher than 2025, which\u00a0was\u00a02.5 percent, but\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0much\u00a0lower\u00a0compared to the 5.9 percent\u00a0increase\u00a0in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While inflation is slowing down, other prices and key household essentials are still seeing elevated prices for consumers, which ultimately hurts a person&#8217;s wallet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.movinghelp.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Cost-of-living-2.jpg\" alt=\"A woman uses the calculator on her phone to review her bills and receipts. Her phone sits on her computer, which sits on a table.\" class=\"wp-image-9595\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.movinghelp.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Cost-of-living-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.movinghelp.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Cost-of-living-2-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 800px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where you live in\u00a02026\u00a0and beyond also can increase or decrease your cost of living.\u00a0You\u2019ll\u00a0find different costs of living in the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cost of Living in the United States<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cost of living in each state is different.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/news\/best-states\/rankings\/opportunity\/affordability\/cost-living\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. News<\/a>\u00a0created a report based\u00a0on\u00a0the cost of living. They created a list\u00a0of\u00a0all 50 U.S. States to\u00a0determine\u00a0the affordability of living in each state when considering the cost of living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course, cost of living is one metric that would factor into the U.S. News\u2019 overall best state rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Top 5 states with the <em>lowest <\/em><\/strong>cost of living are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Arkansas&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mississippi&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>South Dakota&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Oklahoma&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Louisiana&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Top 5 states with the <em>highest<\/em><\/strong><em> <\/em>cost of living are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>California&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>New Jersey&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hawaii&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Washington&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Massachusetts&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.movinghelp.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Cost-of-living-3.jpg\" alt=\"A man sits at a table while holding a paper bill with his laptop open in front of him on the table. The cost of living depends on several factors, including housing, food, health care, and transportation.\" class=\"wp-image-9596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.movinghelp.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Cost-of-living-3.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.movinghelp.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Cost-of-living-3-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 800px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Here\u2019s\u00a0the full list for the cost of living in each state in terms of\u00a0<em>affordability<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cost of Living Ranking by State<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>1.<\/strong> Arkansas<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>2.<\/strong>&nbsp;Mississippi<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>3.<\/strong>&nbsp;South Dakota<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>4.<\/strong> Oklahoma<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>5.<\/strong> Louisiana<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>6.<\/strong> North Dakota<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>7.<\/strong> Iowa<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>8.<\/strong> West Virginia<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>9.<\/strong> Kansas<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>10.<\/strong> Alabama<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>11.<\/strong> Montana&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>12.<\/strong> Nebraska&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>13.<\/strong> New Mexico&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>14.<\/strong> Kentucky<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>15.<\/strong> Wyoming&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>16.<\/strong> Idaho&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>17.<\/strong> Missouri&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>18.<\/strong> Ohio&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>19.<\/strong> Indiana&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>20.<\/strong> Tennessee&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>21.<\/strong> Wisconsin&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>22.<\/strong> South Carolina&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>23.<\/strong> North Carolina&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>24.<\/strong> Michigan<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>25.<\/strong> Utah<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>26.<\/strong> Vermont&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>27.<\/strong> Georgia&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>28.<\/strong> Nevada&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>29.<\/strong> Maine&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>30.<\/strong> Texas&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>31.<\/strong> Pennsylvania&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>32.<\/strong> Minnesota&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>33.<\/strong> Illinois&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>34.<\/strong> Delaware&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>35.<\/strong> Virginia&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>36.<\/strong> Arizona&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>37.<\/strong> Colorado&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>38.<\/strong> Rhode Island&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>39.<\/strong> Alaska&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>40.<\/strong> Florida<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>41.<\/strong> Connecticut&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>42.<\/strong> Maryland&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>43.<\/strong> Oregon&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>44.<\/strong> New Hampshire<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>45.<\/strong> New York<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>46.<\/strong> Massachusetts<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>47.<\/strong> Washington<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>48.<\/strong> Hawaii<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>49.<\/strong> New Jersey&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>50.<\/strong> California&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Data pulled from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/news\/best-states\/rankings\/opportunity\/affordability\/cost-living\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. News<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While this list is helpful for determining the affordability of the cost of living in each state, it\u2019s only one factor to consider. You also should keep in mind other factors to help determine where you might want to live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What State Has the Lowest Cost of Living?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Arkansas has the No. 1 cost of living, according to U.S. News.\u00a0Arkansas also had the No. 1 cost of living in 2024\u00a0and 2025. As the report pointed out, the cost-of-living metric is one of many factors toward overall best state rankings. The report gave Arkansas No. 28 ranking in opportunity and No. 44 in best states overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Average prices for the following categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Housing;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Utilities;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Groceries;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transportation;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Health care;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">tend to be lower in Arkansas then most U.S.\u00a0states.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.movinghelp.com\/move\/is-it-better-to-rent-or-buy-a-house\/\">Housing prices and rent<\/a>\u00a0are\u00a0specifically\u00a0lower on average compared to other states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Arkansas is home to the headquarters of Walmart. Other major employers in Arkansas are Tyson Foods, Dillard\u2019s, Simmons Food, Arkansas Children\u2019s Hospital, and Baptist Health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Consider Cost of Living When Moving in\u00a02026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you plan to move in the next two weeks, or the next 12 years, the cost of living is an important factor to consider. The cost of living in each state and city is different and can be different from year to year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cost of living in\u00a02026\u00a0has increased, but it\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0as high as 2022. Each person will need to look at their finances and figure out whether they can\u00a0live somewhere with a higher\u00a0or lower\u00a0cost of living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To assist you with your relocation and moving labor needs, consider hiring Service Providers from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.movinghelp.com\/\">Moving Help<\/a>. The Moving Help Marketplace can help you with your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.movinghelp.com\/move\/services-offered\/\">loading, unloading, packing, gun safe moving, and other moving needs<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TL;\u00a0DR:\u00a0The cost of\u00a0living varies by state and\u00a0depends on several basic expenses.\u00a0The cost of\u00a0living increased in\u00a02026,\u00a0but it\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0as high\u00a0as it was\u00a0in 2022.\u00a0Arkansas has the\u00a0lowest\u00a0cost of living. With inflation continuing to be high in\u00a02026,\u00a0it\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0as stubbornly high as it has been in previous years.\u00a0Everyone is\u00a0acutely\u00a0aware of the cost of living\u00a0since\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0closely\u00a0related\u00a0metrics.\u00a0More likely than not, the cost of living has\u00a0probably increased\u00a0where [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9594,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18,19,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-moving","category-long-distance-moving","category-moving-tips"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Cost of Living\u00a02026:\u00a0What Is It in\u00a0the\u00a0United States? - Moving Help\u00ae<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The cost of living rose in the United States. 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