The cost of maintaining a basic standard of living varies throughout the United States. Housing, food, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities vary in cost from county to county, with the total cost of living in the most expensive place in the country more than twice that of the least expensive place.
The cost of living also varies drastically within states, with rural areas often providing cheaper goods and services than denser, urban areas. In most states, there is a county where the cost of living is at least 25% greater than that of another county.
24/7 Wall St. used data from 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 cost for a single adult to maintain a modest yet adequate standard of living.
Housing is one of the largest components of cost of living. On average, it accounts for approximately 25% of the total cost of living nationwide. In many of the most expensive places to live, housing accounts for more than a third of total living expenses. These are America’s 25 least affordable housing markets.
Many of the most expensive places to live in every state are also the most desirable places to live. In a majority of the counties on our list, the population growth from 2013 to 2018 was greater than the +3.6% national figure. These are the 25 best counties to live in.
And while many of these counties are currently experiencing high levels of joblessness related to the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment was still below the 13.0% national rate in most as of May 2020. For more on how COVID-19 has impacted U.S. counties, see the counties in every state where COVID-19 is growing the fastest.
Click here to see the most expensive place to live in every state
Click here to read our methodology
Source: Rivers Langley; SaveRivers / Wikimedia Commons
1. Alabama: Shelby County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,577
> Monthly housing costs: $841 (23.5% of total)
> Median household income: $75,761 ($6,313 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 6.5%
> Largest city or town in county: Hoover
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Source: LanceKing / Getty Images
2. Alaska: Denali Borough
> Monthly cost of living: $4,362
> Monthly housing costs: $1,087 (24.9% of total)
> Median household income: $84,196 ($7,016 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 14.7%
> Largest city or town in borough: Healy
Source: fdastudillo / Getty Images
3. Arizona: Coconino County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,611
> Monthly housing costs: $816 (22.6% of total)
> Median household income: $57,616 ($4,801 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 11.7%
> Largest city or town in county: Flagstaff
4. Arkansas: Saline County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,066
> Monthly housing costs: $643 (21.0% of total)
> Median household income: $62,152 ($5,179 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 8.1%
> Largest city or town in county: Benton
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Source: SpVVK / Getty Images
5. California: San Mateo County
> Monthly cost of living: $6,391
> Monthly housing costs: $2,228 (34.9% of total)
> Median household income: $113,776 ($9,481 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 11.1%
> Largest city or town in county: Daly City
Source: SWKrullImaging / Getty Images
6. Colorado: Douglas County
> Monthly cost of living: $4,328
> Monthly housing costs: $1,302 (30.1% of total)
> Median household income: $115,314 ($9,610 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 8.2%
> Largest city or town in county: Highlands Ranch
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Source: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. / Wikimedia Commons
7. Connecticut: Fairfield County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,978
> Monthly housing costs: $1,097 (27.6% of total)
> Median household income: $92,969 ($7,747 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 9.3%
> Largest city or town in county: Bridgeport
8. Delaware: New Castle County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,522
> Monthly housing costs: $873 (24.8% of total)
> Median household income: $70,996 ($5,916 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 14.9%
> Largest city or town in county: Wilmington
Source: Rauluminate / iStock
9. Florida: Monroe County
> Monthly cost of living: $4,000
> Monthly housing costs: $1,001 (25.0% of total)
> Median household income: $67,023 ($5,585 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 17.7%
> Largest city or town in county: Key West
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Source: Thomson200 / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
10. Georgia: Forsyth County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,993
> Monthly housing costs: $1,085 (27.2% of total)
> Median household income: $101,743 ($8,479 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 7.9%
> Largest city or town in county: Cumming
Source: quid-tum / Flickr
11. Hawaii: Kalawao County
> Monthly cost of living: $4,565
> Monthly housing costs: $1,174 (25.7% of total)
> Median household income: $61,875 ($5,156 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: Not available
> Largest city or town in county: Kalaupapa
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Source: shanecotee / Getty Images
12. Idaho: Blaine County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,711
> Monthly housing costs: $779 (21.0% of total)
> Median household income: $51,968 ($4,331 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 14.9%
> Largest city or town in county: Hailey
Source: stevegeer / iStock via Getty Images
13. Illinois: McHenry County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,806
> Monthly housing costs: $981 (25.8% of total)
> Median household income: $84,803 ($7,067 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 13.3%
> Largest city or town in county: Crystal Lake
Source: Jose A Perez / Getty Images
14. Indiana: Hamilton County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,314
> Monthly housing costs: $774 (23.3% of total)
> Median household income: $94,644 ($7,887 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 7.5%
> Largest city or town in county: Carmel
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
15. Iowa: Story County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,216
> Monthly housing costs: $633 (19.7% of total)
> Median household income: $54,554 ($4,546 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 6.9%
> Largest city or town in county: Ames
Source: Purestock / Getty Images
16. Kansas: Riley County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,458
> Monthly housing costs: $809 (23.4% of total)
> Median household income: $49,910 ($4,159 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 7.9%
> Largest city or town in county: Manhattan
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Source: dadonk / iStock
17. Kentucky: Oldham County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,134
> Monthly housing costs: $672 (21.4% of total)
> Median household income: $97,597 ($8,133 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 9.1%
> Largest city or town in county: La Grange
Source: Judy Darby / Getty Images
18. Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish
> Monthly cost of living: $3,353
> Monthly housing costs: $791 (23.6% of total)
> Median household income: $67,706 ($5,642 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 12.3%
> Largest city or town in parish: Slidell
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
19. Maine: Cumberland County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,770
> Monthly housing costs: $974 (25.8% of total)
> Median household income: $69,708 ($5,809 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 10.3%
> Largest city or town in county: Portland
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Source: ymn / Getty Images
20. Maryland: Calvert County
> Monthly cost of living: $4,866
> Monthly housing costs: $1,522 (31.3% of total)
> Median household income: $104,301 ($8,692 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 7.7%
> Largest city or town in county: Chesapeake Ranch Estates-Drum Point
Source: OlegAlbinsky / E+ via Getty Images
21. Massachusetts: Nantucket County
> Monthly cost of living: $4,337
> Monthly housing costs: $1,282 (29.6% of total)
> Median household income: $105,171 ($8,764 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 17.3%
> Largest city or town in county: Nantucket
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Source: simplycmb / Getty Images
22. Michigan: Leelanau County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,595
> Monthly housing costs: $688 (19.1% of total)
> Median household income: $63,831 ($5,319 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 17.1%
> Largest city or town in county: Greilickville
Source: Melissa Kopka / iStock via Getty Images
23. Minnesota: Washington County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,551
> Monthly housing costs: $903 (25.4% of total)
> Median household income: $92,376 ($7,698 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 9.2%
> Largest city or town in county: Woodbury
24. Mississippi: Madison County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,335
> Monthly housing costs: $738 (22.1% of total)
> Median household income: $71,690 ($5,974 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 10.0%
> Largest city or town in county: Madison
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Source: BOB WESTON / Getty Images
25. Missouri: Andrew County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,207
> Monthly housing costs: $576 (17.9% of total)
> Median household income: $55,683 ($4,640 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 5.3%
> Largest city or town in county: Savannah
Source: urbancow / iStock via Getty Images
26. Montana: Madison County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,627
> Monthly housing costs: $720 (19.8% of total)
> Median household income: $50,247 ($4,187 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 7.4%
> Largest city or town in county: Ennis
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
27. Nebraska: Arthur County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,642
> Monthly housing costs: $549 (15.1% of total)
> Median household income: $43,854 ($3,655 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 3.5%
> Largest city or town in county: Arthur
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Source: BOB WESTON / Getty Images
28. Nevada: Churchill County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,472
> Monthly housing costs: $733 (21.1% of total)
> Median household income: $51,514 ($4,293 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 8.3%
> Largest city or town in county: Fallon
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
29. New Hampshire: Rockingham County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,527
> Monthly housing costs: $943 (26.7% of total)
> Median household income: $90,429 ($7,536 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 14.6%
> Largest city or town in county: Derry
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Source: KenWiedemann / Getty Images
30. New Jersey: Hunterdon County
> Monthly cost of living: $4,108
> Monthly housing costs: $1,089 (26.5% of total)
> Median household income: $112,535 ($9,378 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 11.1%
> Largest city or town in county: Flemington
Source: aspidoscelis / Flickr
31. New Mexico: Harding County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,214
> Monthly housing costs: $564 (17.6% of total)
> Median household income: $30,875 ($2,573 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 3.0%
> Largest city or town in county: Roy
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Source: Kirkikis / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
32. New York: Putnam County
> Monthly cost of living: $5,181
> Monthly housing costs: $1,511 (29.2% of total)
> Median household income: $102,186 ($8,516 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 10.6%
> Largest city or town in county: Mahopac
Source: Courtesy of Google Maps 2019
33. North Carolina: Camden County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,993
> Monthly housing costs: $880 (22.0% of total)
> Median household income: $63,349 ($5,279 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 8.3%
> Largest city or town in county: Camden
34. North Dakota: Dunn County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,970
> Monthly housing costs: $1,003 (25.3% of total)
> Median household income: $70,500 ($5,875 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 6.6%
> Largest city or town in county: Killdeer
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Source: LarryKnupp / iStock via Getty Images
35. Ohio: Hocking County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,150
> Monthly housing costs: $607 (19.3% of total)
> Median household income: $50,000 ($4,167 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 11.0%
> Largest city or town in county: Logan
Source: RoseMaryBush / iStock via Getty Images
36. Oklahoma: Ellis County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,406
> Monthly housing costs: $565 (16.6% of total)
> Median household income: $52,705 ($4,392 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 8.2%
> Largest city or town in county: Shattuck
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Source: thyegn / iStock via Getty Images
37. Oregon: Clackamas County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,965
> Monthly housing costs: $1,115 (28.1% of total)
> Median household income: $76,597 ($6,383 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 13.1%
> Largest city or town in county: Lake Oswego
Source: Robert Kirk / Getty Images
38. Pennsylvania: Chester County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,833
> Monthly housing costs: $1,007 (26.3% of total)
> Median household income: $96,726 ($8,061 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 9.6%
> Largest city or town in county: West Chester
Source: Image Source / Getty Images
39. Rhode Island: Newport County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,503
> Monthly housing costs: $943 (26.9% of total)
> Median household income: $77,237 ($6,436 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 13.9%
> Largest city or town in county: Newport
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Source: fallbrook / iStock
40. South Carolina: Beaufort County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,649
> Monthly housing costs: $878 (24.1% of total)
> Median household income: $63,110 ($5,259 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 11.3%
> Largest city or town in county: Hilton Head Island
Source: chapin31 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
41. South Dakota: Custer County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,214
> Monthly housing costs: $591 (18.4% of total)
> Median household income: $55,472 ($4,623 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 11.1%
> Largest city or town in county: Custer
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Source: mavdesign / iStock via Getty Images
42. Tennessee: Williamson County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,737
> Monthly housing costs: $1,013 (27.1% of total)
> Median household income: $109,026 ($9,086 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 7.4%
> Largest city or town in county: Franklin
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Source: AlizadaStudios / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
43. Texas: Fort Bend County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,629
> Monthly housing costs: $1,048 (28.9% of total)
> Median household income: $95,561 ($7,963 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 12.8%
> Largest city or town in county: Sugar Land
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
44. Utah: Summit County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,613
> Monthly housing costs: $827 (22.9% of total)
> Median household income: $100,453 ($8,371 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 16.9%
> Largest city or town in county: Park City
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45. Vermont: Grand Isle County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,999
> Monthly housing costs: $944 (23.6% of total)
> Median household income: $69,583 ($5,799 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 12.5%
> Largest city or town in county: Alburg
Source: JacobH / Getty Images
46. Virginia: Fairfax County
> Monthly cost of living: $4,959
> Monthly housing costs: $1,707 (34.4% of total)
> Median household income: $121,133 ($10,094 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 8.8%
> Largest city or town in county: Reston
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
47. Washington: King County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,787
> Monthly housing costs: $1,167 (30.8% of total)
> Median household income: $89,418 ($7,452 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 14.3%
> Largest city or town in county: Seattle
Source: Jim Surkamp / Flickr
48. West Virginia: Jefferson County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,502
> Monthly housing costs: $760 (21.7% of total)
> Median household income: $76,503 ($6,375 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 10.0%
> Largest city or town in county: Corporation of Ranson
Source: Bobak Ha'Eri / Wikimedia Commons
49. Wisconsin: St. Croix County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,415
> Monthly housing costs: $697 (20.4% of total)
> Median household income: $81,124 ($6,760 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 13.8%
> Largest city or town in county: Hudson
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Source: Justinreznick / iStock
50. Wyoming: Teton County
> Monthly cost of living: $3,942
> Monthly housing costs: $882 (22.4% of total)
> Median household income: $83,831 ($6,986 per month)
> May 2020 unemployment rate: 15.0%
> Largest city or town in county: Jackson
Methodology
To identify the most expensive place in every state, 24/7 Wall St. ranked counties based on the estimated cost to meet the basic needs for a single adult on a monthly basis. These needs include housing, food, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities. Estimated monthly cost of living was provided by the Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit think tank. All EPI data was adjusted from 2017 dollars to 2019 dollars using Consumer Price Index data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Supplemental data on median household income came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and are five-year estimates for 2018. Data on unemployment for May 2020 came from the BLS and are not seasonally adjusted.
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