Think your state is expensive? New data reveals where Americans face the highest cost-of-living
As Americans continue facing higher prices for everything from housing to groceries, data reveals where they live can make a significant difference in how far their paycheck goes. A new cost-of-living index ranks the states putting the biggest squeeze on household budgets, revealing where everyday expenses are highest across the country.The rankings highlight how dramatically living costs can vary from one state to another.
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As Americans continue facing higher prices for everything from housing to groceries, data reveals where they live can make a significant difference in how far their paycheck goes. A new cost-of-living index ranks the states putting the biggest squeeze on household budgets, revealing where everyday expenses are highest across the country.The rankings highlight how dramatically living costs can vary from one state to another. And those differences can shape everything from monthly household budgets to long-term decisions about where Americans choose to live, with housing emerging as the biggest affordability driver.The latest data also arrive as the issue remains central to the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, with inflation, housing costs and the broader economy expected to remain top concerns for many voters as they head to the ballot box in November.BILLIONS IN TAXPAYER INCOME ARE LEAVING TWO ICONIC STATES — AS A NEW ECONOMIC MAP EMERGESThe Missouri Economic Research and Information Center's (MERIC) quarterly Cost of Living Index estimates statewide living costs using price data collected from participating cities and metropolitan areas. The composite index measures six categories of household spending, with a score of 100 representing the national average.
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- As Americans continue facing higher prices for everything from housing to groceries, data reveals where they live can make a significant difference in how far their paycheck goes. A new cost-of-living index ranks the states putting the biggest squeeze on household budgets, revealing where everyday expenses are highest across the country.The rankings highlight how dramatically living costs can vary from one state to another.
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Think your state is expensive? New data reveals where Americans face the highest cost-of-living
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