Everybody across the United States uses the dollar as currency — but just how far a dollar goes varies, as some places are far more expensive than others.
Cost of living is a measure of how much it costs to maintain a certain standard of living in a given area. Across the country, the cost of housing, food, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities varies considerably — and as a result, a modest standard of living in one part of the country can be nearly twice as expensive in another.
24/7 Wall St. used the Economic Policy Institute’s Family Budget Calculator to identify the most expensive place in every state. We ranked counties based on the estimated monthly costs for a single adult to maintain a modest yet adequate standard of living.
Housing costs are a primary driver of living expenses, often accounting for 20% or more of total living expenses. Not surprisingly, in many places on this list, housing costs are far higher than average. This is the most expensive housing market in every state.
Places with higher costs of living typically are also characterized by strong economic conditions, that help offset some of the high costs through high incomes and low unemployment. In the vast majority of places on this list, the unemployment rate is lower than it is statewide. Similarly, the typical household in the counties on this list has a higher annual income than the typical household across the state as a whole. Here are the richest counties in every state.
Click here to see the most expensive place in every state
Click here to read our methodology
1. Alabama: Shelby County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,429
> Monthly housing costs: $806 (23.5% of total)
> Median household income: $74,063 ($6,172 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 2.9%
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2. Alaska: Denali Borough
> Monthly cost of living: $4,182
> Monthly housing costs: $1,042 (24.9% of total)
> Median household income: $83,295 ($6,941 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 7.8%
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3. Arizona: Coconino County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,462
> Monthly housing costs: $782 (22.6% of total)
> Median household income: $53,523 ($4,460 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 5.5%
4. Arkansas: Saline County
> Monthly cost of living: $2,939
> Monthly housing costs: $616 (21.0% of total)
> Median household income: $58,985 ($4,915 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.1%
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5. California: San Mateo County
> Monthly cost of living: $6,127
> Monthly housing costs: $2,136 (34.9% of total)
> Median household income: $105,667 ($8,806 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 2.2%
6. Colorado: Douglas County
> Monthly cost of living: $4,150
> Monthly housing costs: $1,249 (30.1% of total)
> Median household income: $111,154 ($9,263 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 2.9%
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7. Connecticut: Fairfield County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,814
> Monthly housing costs: $1,052 (27.6% of total)
> Median household income: $89,773 ($7,481 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 4.0%
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8. Delaware: New Castle County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,377
> Monthly housing costs: $837 (24.8% of total)
> Median household income: $68,336 ($5,695 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.7%
9. Florida: Monroe County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,835
> Monthly housing costs: $960 (25.0% of total)
> Median household income: $63,030 ($5,253 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 2.6%
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10. Georgia: Forsyth County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,828
> Monthly housing costs: $1,040 (27.2% of total)
> Median household income: $96,445 ($8,037 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.1%
11. Hawaii: Kalawao County
> Monthly cost of living: $4,377
> Monthly housing costs: $1,126 (25.7% of total)
> Median household income: $61,750 ($5,146 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: N/A
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12. Idaho: Blaine County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,558
> Monthly housing costs: $747 (21.0% of total)
> Median household income: $58,835 ($4,903 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 2.4%
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13. Illinois: McHenry County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,650
> Monthly housing costs: $940 (25.8% of total)
> Median household income: $82,230 ($6,853 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.5%
14. Indiana: Hamilton County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,178
> Monthly housing costs: $742 (23.3% of total)
> Median household income: $90,582 ($7,549 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 2.7%
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15. Iowa: Story County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,083
> Monthly housing costs: $607 (19.7% of total)
> Median household income: $52,671 ($4,389 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 1.6%
16. Kansas: Riley County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,316
> Monthly housing costs: $775 (23.4% of total)
> Median household income: $48,428 ($4,036 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 2.9%
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17. Kentucky: Oldham County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,004
> Monthly housing costs: $644 (21.4% of total)
> Median household income: $92,237 ($7,686 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.3%
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18. Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish
> Monthly cost of living: $3,215
> Monthly housing costs: $758 (23.6% of total)
> Median household income: $66,539 ($5,545 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 4.2%
19. Maine: Cumberland County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,614
> Monthly housing costs: $934 (25.8% of total)
> Median household income: $65,702 ($5,475 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 2.7%
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20. Maryland: Calvert County
> Monthly cost of living: $4,665
> Monthly housing costs: $1,459 (31.3% of total)
> Median household income: $100,350 ($8,363 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.5%
21. Massachusetts: Nantucket County
> Monthly cost of living: $4,158
> Monthly housing costs: $1,229 (29.6% of total)
> Median household income: $91,942 ($7,662 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 4.4%
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22. Michigan: Leelanau County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,447
> Monthly housing costs: $660 (19.1% of total)
> Median household income: $62,646 ($5,221 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 4.2%
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23. Minnesota: Washington County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,404
> Monthly housing costs: $866 (25.4% of total)
> Median household income: $89,598 ($7,467 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 2.5%
24. Mississippi: Madison County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,198
> Monthly housing costs: $708 (22.1% of total)
> Median household income: $68,600 ($5,717 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.7%
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25. Missouri: Andrew County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,075
> Monthly housing costs: $552 (17.9% of total)
> Median household income: $56,658 ($4,722 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 2.7%
26. Montana: Madison County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,478
> Monthly housing costs: $690 (19.8% of total)
> Median household income: $47,900 ($3,992 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.5%
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27. Nebraska: Arthur County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,492
> Monthly housing costs: $526 (15.1% of total)
> Median household income: $41,250 ($3,438 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 5.0%
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28. Nevada: Churchill County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,329
> Monthly housing costs: $703 (21.1% of total)
> Median household income: $46,914 ($3,910 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.9%
29. New Hampshire: Rockingham County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,381
> Monthly housing costs: $904 (26.7% of total)
> Median household income: $85,619 ($7,135 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 2.8%
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30. New Jersey: Hunterdon County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,939
> Monthly housing costs: $1,044 (26.5% of total)
> Median household income: $110,969 ($9,247 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.3%
31. New Mexico: Harding County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,082
> Monthly housing costs: $541 (17.6% of total)
> Median household income: $35,096 ($2,925 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 5.3%
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32. New York: Putnam County
> Monthly cost of living: $4,968
> Monthly housing costs: $1,449 (29.2% of total)
> Median household income: $99,608 ($8,301 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.7%
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33. North Carolina: Camden County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,829
> Monthly housing costs: $844 (22.0% of total)
> Median household income: $68,327 ($5,694 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.7%
34. North Dakota: Dunn County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,806
> Monthly housing costs: $962 (25.3% of total)
> Median household income: $68,594 ($5,716 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 1.6%
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35. Ohio: Hocking County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,020
> Monthly housing costs: $582 (19.3% of total)
> Median household income: $48,073 ($4,006 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 5.1%
36. Oklahoma: Ellis County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,266
> Monthly housing costs: $542 (16.6% of total)
> Median household income: $50,594 ($4,216 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 2.2%
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37. Oregon: Clackamas County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,801
> Monthly housing costs: $1,069 (28.1% of total)
> Median household income: $72,408 ($6,034 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.8%
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38. Pennsylvania: Chester County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,675
> Monthly housing costs: $966 (26.3% of total)
> Median household income: $92,417 ($7,701 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.2%
39. Rhode Island: Newport County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,359
> Monthly housing costs: $904 (26.9% of total)
> Median household income: $75,463 ($6,289 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.5%
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40. South Carolina: Beaufort County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,499
> Monthly housing costs: $842 (24.1% of total)
> Median household income: $60,603 ($5,050 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.2%
41. South Dakota: Custer County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,081
> Monthly housing costs: $567 (18.4% of total)
> Median household income: $56,449 ($4,704 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 4.0%
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42. Tennessee: Williamson County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,583
> Monthly housing costs: $971 (27.1% of total)
> Median household income: $103,543 ($8,629 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 2.5%
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43. Texas: Fort Bend County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,480
> Monthly housing costs: $1,005 (28.9% of total)
> Median household income: $93,645 ($7,804 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 4.0%
44. Utah: Summit County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,464
> Monthly housing costs: $793 (22.9% of total)
> Median household income: $94,952 ($7,913 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.0%
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45. Vermont: Grand Isle County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,834
> Monthly housing costs: $905 (23.6% of total)
> Median household income: $66,111 ($5,509 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.2%
46. Virginia: Fairfax County
> Monthly cost of living: $4,754
> Monthly housing costs: $1,637 (34.4% of total)
> Median household income: $117,515 ($9,793 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 2.4%
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47. Washington: King County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,631
> Monthly housing costs: $1,119 (30.8% of total)
> Median household income: $83,571 ($6,964 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.5%
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48. West Virginia: Jefferson County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,358
> Monthly housing costs: $729 (21.7% of total)
> Median household income: $72,526 ($6,044 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.3%
49. Wisconsin: St. Croix County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,274
> Monthly housing costs: $668 (20.4% of total)
> Median household income: $77,768 ($6,481 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.0%
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50. Wyoming: Teton County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,779
> Monthly housing costs: $846 (22.4% of total)
> Median household income: $80,049 ($6,671 per month)
> 2018 unemployment rate: 3.0%
Methodology
To identify the most expensive place, 24/7 Wall St. ranked counties based on the estimated cost to meet the basic needs for a single adult on a monthly basis. Estimated monthly cost of living was provided by the Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit think tank. We also considered median annual household income, five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey. 2018 unemployment rates came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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