America's most affordable states to live well for less

Where everyday costs stretch your dollar furthest

As living costs continue to spiral, affordability has become one of the biggest issues on Americans' minds and the number-one concern for many. From groceries to mortgages and healthcare, everyday expenses have jumped sharply over the past few years, squeezing household budgets across the country. It's no surprise then that people are flocking to states where their money goes further. But which truly offer the lowest cost of living?

Click or scroll on to discover the 10 states where you can live well for less, based on data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator.

What is the MIT Living Wage Calculator?

America's most trusted benchmark for livable income data, the MIT Living Wage Calculator, estimates the minimum needed to cover basic necessities, including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

Our ranking is based on the annual living wage for a single adult with no kids. But we've also included typical yearly childcare costs for one child, so families with young kids can figure out where they'll get the best bang for their buck.

10th cheapest) Mississippi – $43,159 living wage

Often dubbed the poorest state, Mississippi has the lowest median salary in the country at $51,554. Even so, that relatively modest income still outpaces the state's annual living wage of $43,159 for a single adult.

That said, nine states work out cheaper overall, largely due to Mississippi's slightly steeper housing costs and taxes. Where it really stands out is childcare, which is the cheapest in the nation at $6,934 annually. The state also boasts low-cost healthcare and the joint-lowest 'civic' and 'other' expenses at $2,589 and $3,770 a year respectively.

Ninth-cheapest) Louisiana – $42,663 living wage

Louisiana's median salary of $52,821 still comes in above the state's annual living wage of $42,663 for a single adult. But as is the case with Mississippi, the gap is narrower than in most of the other affordable states in this round-up. While economical from a national perspective, housing is the state's cost of living bugbear. The typical annual bill per adult is the highest in the top 10 at $10,738.

What helps keep costs down are Louisiana's 'civic' and 'other' expenses, which are the joint-lowest in the country. Healthcare costs are among the lowest nationwide, while childcare doesn't break the bank either, costing $8,260 a year typically, the fourth-cheapest in this ranking.

Eight-cheapest) Alabama – $42,632 living wage

Alabama's median salary of $59,605 sits well above the state’s annual living wage of $42,632 for a single adult, giving residents a stronger financial cushion than many of the states in this round-up.

Everyday expenses are relatively low across the board, though taxes could be lower. Childcare averages $7,614 a year, making it the second-cheapest in this ranking, while food costs are among the most moderate at just under $4,000 annually. And like several other Southern states, Alabama shares the joint-lowest 'civic' and 'other' expenses.

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Seventh-cheapest) Ohio – $42,400 living wage

Ohio's cushion is even softer than Alabama's, with the gap between the annual living and median wage a healthy $24,217.

The Buckeye State is most affordable for transportation, with its typical annual cost per adult of $9,887 the lowest in the land. On the flip side, childcare is the most expensive in this round-up at $13,622 per year. Yet it remains far cheaper than the eye-watering rates seen in states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Sixth-cheapest) Oklahoma – $42,135 living wage

Oklahoma's median salary of $55,362 clears the state’s annual living wage of $42,135 for a single adult, though the gap is one of the narrowest in this round-up, trailing only Mississippi and Louisiana.

Affordability is fairly balanced across categories. Childcare averages about $10,471 a year, placing it in the middle of the pack. In terms of standouts, Oklahoma shares the joint-lowest 'civic' and 'other' expenses, which helps keep everyday costs from creeping higher.

Fifth-cheapest) Kentucky – $41,795 living wage

Kentucky's median salary of $57,509 leaves a welcome gap above the state's living wage, helping make paychecks go further in day-to-day life.

The Bluegrass State is a standout at the grocery store and farmers' market, with the lowest food costs in this ranking at under $3,900 a year. Healthcare costs aren't exorbitant and childcare averages a wallet-friendly $8,018 annually. Kentucky also shares the joint-lowest 'civic' and 'other' expenses. The trade-off comes at tax time, with the state's $6,837 yearly tax bill the highest in the top 10.

Fourth-cheapest) North Dakota – $41,148 living wage

North Dakota pairs a $41,148 living wage with the highest median salary in this round-up at $66,813, creating the widest financial cushion among the top 10 states.

Healthcare is where the Peace Garden State really shines, with the lowest annual medical costs in the ranking at only $2,796 a year. Taxes are comparatively light but childcare runs higher than most of the group at around $11,201 annually.

Third-cheapest) South Dakota – $41,081 living wage

North Dakota's southern twin is another haven of affordability. Its gap between the annual living and median wage is the second-biggest in this round-up at $22,871.

The budget superstar is housing, with the state ranking cheapest by this metric. The typical outlay is only $8,832 a year. South Dakota also has the lowest internet and mobile costs, not to mention the lowest taxes, with an annual burden of just $5,340 per adult.

Second-cheapest) Arkansas – $40,540 living wage

With a median wage of $54,658, Arkansas' affordability cushion isn't as generous, but its gap is nothing to sneeze at and the state seriously impresses across the board.

The Natural State is the third-cheapest for housing, has the third-lowest healthcare costs, and offers the joint most affordable 'civic' and 'other' expenses.

Cheapest) West Virginia – $40,415 living wage

America's most affordable state overall, West Virginia is the nation's budget-friendly refuge. Like the other top 10 cheapest states, its median salary of $59,979 is considerably higher than the annual living wage.

'Civic' and 'other' expenses are the joint most modest nationally. Annual housing costs per adult level out at just $8,807, the second-lowest number in this round-up, while the state is the third-cheapest for food. Residents also save on everything from medical bills to childcare and transportation.

A quick reality check

Our round-up reflects what it costs to live, not how easy it is to find well-paid work. Some of the cheapest states also offer fewer high-paying jobs or limited career options, which can shrink the cushion for many households.

The figures also assume full, out-of-pocket costs. In some places, families may qualify for free or subsidized childcare, housing, healthcare, tax credits, or other benefits that can significantly lower real expenses.

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Now take a look at the average US salary by age