How far does your income go?
Compare the real cost of living across all 50 states. Choose your household type and income to see what's left each year after housing, childcare, utilities, groceries, transport and taxes.
Preset tiers are computed exactly; other incomes are interpolated between them.
On $75,000, a family of four keeps the most in Mississippi and the least in Hawaii.
- Left over in MS
- +$16,959
- Left over in HI
- −$68,735
- States where costs exceed income
- 42 of 50
The typical (25th-ranked) state leaves −$11,625 a year after housing, childcare, utilities, groceries, transport and taxes.
Most left over
Where the money goes in the 15 most affordable states
Annual costs by category, including every tax line.
Show as a table
| State | Housing | Childcare | Utilities | Groceries | Transport | Taxes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $13,492 | $12,984 | $4,176 | $10,835 | $9,114 | $7,440 | $58,041 |
| West Virginia | $11,879 | $18,678 | $4,296 | $10,869 | $10,466 | $7,828 | $64,016 |
| Alabama | $15,603 | $17,718 | $4,262 | $10,858 | $9,083 | $8,631 | $66,155 |
| Arkansas | $15,131 | $19,454 | $4,171 | $10,542 | $9,177 | $8,162 | $66,637 |
| Louisiana | $14,363 | $22,266 | $4,234 | $10,553 | $9,114 | $7,177 | $67,707 |
| Oklahoma | $15,445 | $22,024 | $4,214 | $10,565 | $9,554 | $8,001 | $69,803 |
| South Dakota | $23,179 | $17,718 | $4,253 | $10,756 | $10,151 | $5,387 | $71,444 |
| South Carolina | $20,211 | $20,948 | $4,498 | $10,846 | $9,397 | $7,011 | $72,911 |
| Texas | $23,045 | $21,788 | $4,661 | $11,049 | $9,051 | $5,550 | $75,144 |
| Kentucky | $15,973 | $26,150 | $4,330 | $10,812 | $9,963 | $8,116 | $75,344 |
| North Dakota | $20,630 | $24,562 | $4,272 | $10,779 | $10,403 | $5,476 | $76,122 |
| Kansas | $18,490 | $25,482 | $4,325 | $10,587 | $9,743 | $7,865 | $76,492 |
| Iowa | $18,105 | $26,506 | $4,214 | $10,553 | $9,806 | $8,133 | $77,317 |
| Georgia | $22,819 | $22,132 | $4,622 | $11,139 | $9,271 | $7,817 | $77,800 |
| Ohio | $18,655 | $27,872 | $4,454 | $10,553 | $10,214 | $6,570 | $78,318 |
All 50 states
Ranked by what's left after costs for a family of four earning $75,000. The score scales that figure from worst (0) to best (100).
| # | State | After-tax income | Annual costs | Net after costs | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | $68,122 | $58,041 | +$16,959 | 100 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $67,729 | $64,016 | +$10,984 | 93 |
| 3 | Alabama | $67,125 | $66,155 | +$8,845 | 91 |
| 4 | Arkansas | $67,584 | $66,637 | +$8,363 | 90 |
| 5 | Louisiana | $68,620 | $67,707 | +$7,293 | 89 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | $67,727 | $69,803 | +$5,197 | 86 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $70,120 | $71,444 | +$3,556 | 84 |
| 8 | South Carolina | $68,601 | $72,911 | +$2,089 | 83 |
| 9 | Texas | $70,120 | $75,144 | −$144 | 80 |
| 10 | Kentucky | $67,381 | $75,344 | −$344 | 80 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $70,120 | $76,122 | −$1,122 | 79 |
| 12 | Kansas | $67,842 | $76,492 | −$1,492 | 78 |
| 13 | Iowa | $67,430 | $77,317 | −$2,317 | 78 |
| 14 | Georgia | $67,802 | $77,800 | −$2,800 | 77 |
| 15 | Ohio | $69,037 | $78,318 | −$3,318 | 76 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $68,940 | $79,460 | −$4,460 | 75 |
| 17 | Michigan | $67,918 | $80,634 | −$5,634 | 74 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $70,120 | $80,659 | −$5,659 | 74 |
| 19 | Missouri | $68,180 | $81,088 | −$6,088 | 73 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $70,120 | $81,300 | −$6,300 | 73 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $68,716 | $83,385 | −$8,385 | 70 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $68,016 | $83,560 | −$8,560 | 70 |
| 23 | Indiana | $67,990 | $85,175 | −$10,175 | 68 |
| 24 | Florida | $70,120 | $85,486 | −$10,486 | 68 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $67,817 | $86,625 | −$11,625 | 67 |
| 26 | Idaho | $68,089 | $86,891 | −$11,891 | 66 |
| 27 | Alaska | $70,120 | $90,458 | −$15,458 | 62 |
| 28 | Nevada | $70,120 | $94,034 | −$19,034 | 58 |
| 29 | Arizona | $69,195 | $94,573 | −$19,573 | 57 |
| 30 | Maine | $68,707 | $95,270 | −$20,270 | 57 |
| 31 | Delaware | $67,055 | $95,350 | −$20,350 | 56 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $68,152 | $95,997 | −$20,997 | 56 |
| 33 | Montana | $67,971 | $96,152 | −$21,152 | 56 |
| 34 | Virginia | $67,256 | $96,950 | −$21,950 | 55 |
| 35 | Illinois | $66,971 | $98,834 | −$23,834 | 52 |
| 36 | Utah | $66,975 | $99,178 | −$24,178 | 52 |
| 37 | Minnesota | $68,263 | $99,536 | −$24,536 | 52 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | $70,120 | $105,212 | −$30,212 | 45 |
| 39 | Maryland | $67,476 | $105,684 | −$30,684 | 44 |
| 40 | Connecticut | $68,325 | $106,415 | −$31,415 | 44 |
| 41 | Vermont | $68,788 | $107,645 | −$32,645 | 42 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | $68,890 | $109,145 | −$34,145 | 40 |
| 43 | Colorado | $68,140 | $110,330 | −$35,330 | 39 |
| 44 | Oregon | $65,665 | $116,836 | −$41,836 | 31 |
| 45 | New York | $67,320 | $118,228 | −$43,228 | 30 |
| 46 | New Jersey | $68,825 | $118,804 | −$43,804 | 29 |
| 47 | Washington | $70,120 | $122,893 | −$47,893 | 24 |
| 48 | California | $70,018 | $134,997 | −$59,997 | 10 |
| 49 | Massachusetts | $66,910 | $137,221 | −$62,221 | 8 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $67,475 | $143,735 | −$68,735 | 0 |
How the calculator works
Our affordability calculator estimates total annual costs for each state based on published public data — including housing (typical home values, mortgage rates, property taxes), state and federal income taxes, center-based infant care, utilities, groceries, and transportation. Net disposable income is computed by subtracting these costs from your after-tax income, giving you a clear picture of how far your paycheck stretches in each state. Source data comes from Zillow Research, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Energy Information Administration, Child Care Aware of America, the IRS, and the Tax Foundation.
Frequently asked questions
How is affordability calculated?
We compute total annual costs per state including housing (mortgage + property tax), childcare, utilities, groceries, transportation, and taxes. Taxes include federal income tax under the current brackets after the standard deduction and child tax credit, payroll tax, state income tax from each state's own brackets and deductions, and sales tax on spending. Net after-costs income = after-tax income minus total annual costs.
What data sources are used?
Zillow Research (typical home values), BEA Regional Price Parities (cost of living and the price level for goods, which scales groceries), EIA (electricity, natural gas and gasoline prices), Child Care Aware of America (center-based infant care prices; New Mexico, which has no published price, uses the national average), the USDA Low-Cost Food Plan (groceries), the IRS (current federal brackets, deductions, and credits), and the Tax Foundation (current state income tax brackets, property and sales tax rates).
How are household profiles different?
Single Adult uses 60% of the state's typical home value with no childcare. Couple uses 80% with no childcare. Family of 4 uses the full typical home value with center-based infant care for two children. Retiree Couple uses 70% with no childcare.
Can I enter a custom income?
Yes! Use the income slider or type any amount from $30,000 to $300,000. Our calculator interpolates between precomputed tiers to give you accurate estimates at any income level.