The decision of where to settle down holds tremendous sway over our financial well-being and the life we envision: from job opportunities and wages, to homeownership costs, and everyday expenses like groceries, healthcare, transport, and utilities. It’s a confluence of factors that ripples into life’s biggest choices around education, lifestyle, and overall aspirations. Let’s take a closer look at the most expensive city to live in, across each state in the U.S.

Alabama: Daphne-Fairhope-Foley

• Cost of living: 3.1% less expensive than national average

The Daphne-Fairhope-Foley region, buzzing with roughly 104,000 employees, finds its economic heartbeat in retail and healthcare, even though the most lucrative sectors are mining, quarrying, and oil with an average annual income soaring close to $74,000.

Alaska: Anchorage

• Cost of living: 4.3% more expensive than national average

In the expensive terrain of Alaska, a high-paying job can be a saving grace. Anchorage sees the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industry emerge as the top earner, with an annual income average of around $136,000 – nearly double than that of Alabama.

Arizona: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler

• Cost of living: 2.6% more expensive than national average

While the cost of living in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler area rests higher than the national average, it continues to allure new residents. Maricopa County witnessed the highest population growth among all U.S. counties in 2022, with an addition of 56,831 residents.

Arkansas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers

• Cost of living: 6.7% less expensive than national average

The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers community attracts relocaters, evident from the metro area experiencing a population surge of 2.27% between 2020 and 2021, with a steeper median household income increase of 7.78%.

California: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley

• Cost of living: 17.4% more expensive than national average

The Bay Area has maintained its exorbitant price tag, making it a stretch for many households. Nonetheless, it has upheld its hallmark diversity, with nearly 42% of residents conversing in a language other than English at home – twice the national average.

Colorado: Denver-Aurora-Lakewood

• Cost of living: 7.3% more expensive than national average

The graduation churn of colleges in the Denver metro area injects a steady stream of fresh talent into the job market. The majority of degrees conferred are in general business administration and management, registered nursing, and public health nursing.

Connecticut: Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk

• Cost of living: 5.6% more expensive than national average

The Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk region presents an appealing residential option for individuals working in New York City who seek respite from its stratospheric housing costs. Living expenses in the New York City metro area are 15.5% higher than the national average, roughly 10% more than in these Connecticut communities.

Delaware: Dover

• Cost of living: 5.1% less expensive than national average

Despite being the capital of Delaware, Dover boasts living costs that dip slightly below the national average, making it a relatively more pocket-friendly haven in comparison to some of its state counterparts.

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Florida: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach

The Miami area boasts a cost of living 10% higher than the national average. The average home price in this bustling city ticks in at around $570,000, with Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach trailing close behind at $534,000 and $363,000, respectively. And if that’s not enough to concern potential residents, these prices have surged by at least 4% compared to last year’s figures, according to Zillow.

Georgia: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta

The Atlanta metro area, comprising Sandy Springs and Alpharetta, is home to a population of 6.22 million, making it the eighth-largest in the US. According to Statista, this population count narrowly edges out Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach.

Hawaii: Urban Honolulu

Living in Hawaii has an indisputable allure, despite a cost of living that runs a staggering 13.8% higher than the national average. In 2021, the state attracted the highest number of foreign-born residents from the Philippines, Japan, and China.

Idaho: Boise

Boise presents a more wallet-friendly option with a cost of living that is 6.5% less than the national average. Despite this, the average home price sits at $468,000, reflecting a 4.8% drop from the previous year, as reported by Zillow.

Illinois: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin

Residents of this metro area endure an average commute time of 31.3 minutes, exceeding the national average of 26.8 minutes. Alarmingly, over 3% of the area’s workforce faces a grueling commute lasting longer than 90 minutes.

Indiana: Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson

The Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson area harbors a workforce of over a million individuals. The largest employee population, more than 150,000 individuals, lies in the healthcare and social assistance sector, followed closely by manufacturing at approximately 128,000.

Iowa: Iowa City

Iowa City possesses a charm of its own, housing a workforce where a notable 14% commute to work on foot in 2021.

Kansas: Manhattan

Manhattan, Kansas, is home to Kansas State University, a beacon of academia that awarded 6,030 degrees in 2021. The most popular majors among students attending this institution are elementary education and teaching, general marketing and marketing management, as well as general animal sciences.

Kentucky: Lexington-Fayette

Lexington-Fayette offers a cost of living 6.8% lower than the national average. The highest-paying job in the region is within the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industries, where workers earn an average of $115,909.

Louisiana: New Orleans-Metairie

New Orleans-Metairie bids a cost of living 3.1% lower than the national average. Given Louisiana’s deep-rooted history in energy production, it is unsurprising that the state’s foremost exports consist of gasoline, (unclassified) coal products, and fuel oils.

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Maine: Portland-South Portland

• Cost of living: 0.3% more expensive than national average

Maine, known for its connection to Canada and home to many Canadian-born residents, continues to attract a diverse population with around 9,400 of its residents originating from Canada.

Maryland: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson

• Cost of living: 5.4% more expensive than national average

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, with a burgeoning population reaching 2.84 million in 2021, depicts continuous growth and a 4.42% increase in its median household income, standing at $87,513.

Massachusetts: Boston-Cambridge-Newton

• Cost of living: 10.2% more expensive than national average

Boston, a city renowned for its educational institutions, including Harvard University, remains a focal point for higher education, with 51.4% of its residents having acquired a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Michigan: Ann Arbor

• Cost of living: 1% less expensive than national average

Ann Arbor, a vibrant college town housing the prestigious University of Michigan, has witnessed the conferral of nearly 16,000 degrees in 2021 alone, thereby providing employers in the state with a fresh pool of potential talent.

Minnesota: Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington

• Cost of living: 3.2% more expensive than national average

The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington area is dominated by the healthcare and social assistance sectors, boasting nearly 300,000 positions. This is complemented by the conferral of about 4,900 registered nursing degrees in the area in 2021.

Mississippi: Gulfport-Biloxi

• Cost of living: 9.2% less expensive than national average

Gulfport-Biloxi stands out with an average home value of approximately $191,000, indicating a 3.2% increase in the past year, as per Zillow’s records.

Missouri: St. Louis

• Cost of living: 4.3% less expensive than national average

Forbes lauds St. Louis, with three of its companies – Edward Jones, Washington University, and BJC Healthcare – finding a place on its 2023 list of the 100 best large employers in the nation, collectively representing about 90,000 employees.

Montana: Billings

• Cost of living: 6.3% less expensive than national average

Similar to Maine, Montana shares a border with Canada, beckoning around 3,400 Canadian-born denizens to call it home.

Nebraska: Omaha-Council Bluffs

• Cost of living: 4.7% less expensive than national average

The Omaha-Council Bluffs area, extending into Iowa, proudly contributed to the combined export of $46.6 billion worth of meat and seafood by the two states in 2020.

Nevada: Reno

• Cost of living: 1.1% less expensive than national average

Reno, aptly christened The Biggest Little City in the World, has been anointed as a Tree City USA for over three decades and boasts an impressive array of 159 tree varieties in its parks.

New Hampshire: Manchester-Nashua

• Cost of living: 4% more expensive than the national average

Manchester, the largest city in Northern New England, exudes the quintessential New England charm and is strategically positioned within an hour’s drive of Boston, the White Mountains, and the Seacoast region.

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New Jersey: Trenton-Princeton

• Cost of living: 3.8% more expensive than national average

Home values are about nine times higher in tranquil Princeton than bustling Trenton, the state capital. The U.S. Census Bureau states the median value of an owner-occupied home in Princeton stands at a staggering $893,600, while in Trenton, it’s a modest $96,700.

New Mexico: Santa Fe

• Cost of living: 5.6% less expensive than national average

Remarkably, Santa Fe isn’t just famous for its artistic and cultural heritage; it also holds the title of the oldest U.S. capital, beating the more renowned Plymouth Colony by 13 years. This historical gem was a prized asset for the Spanish empire north of the Rio Grande River.

New York: New York-Newark-Jersey City

• Cost of living: 15.5% more expensive than national average

The New York-Newark-Jersey City nexus isn’t just a melting pot of cultures, but a juggernaut of diversity. The region hosts the most foreign-born residents from the Dominican Republic, followed by China and India.

North Carolina: Raleigh-Cary

• Cost of living: 4.3% less expensive than national average

Rooted in the latter half of the 18th century, Raleigh’s history intertwines with Cary’s, a once-sleepy community that gained momentum with the development of the nearby Research Triangle Park. From a modest 44,000 inhabitants in 1990, Cary has burgeoned to over 180,000 in 2022.

North Dakota: Bismarck

• Cost of living: 5.8% less expensive than national average

An average Bismarck resident enjoys a mere 16-minute commute to work, although 1.44% of the workforce endures lengthy commutes exceeding 90 minutes.

Ohio: Columbus

• Cost of living: 5.8% less expensive than national average

Bringing a collegiate vibe to Ohio, Columbus, home to Ohio State University, reigns as the state’s most populous city, boasting approximately 908,000 residents – a stark contrast to Cleveland (362,000) and Cincinnati (310,000).

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City

• Cost of living: 6.2% less expensive than national average

Oklahoma City, humorously referred to as the “Big Friendly”, holds not just the distinction of being the eighth-largest metropolitan city by land area in the U.S., but until 2021, its capitol building hosted a live oil well – a one-of-a-kind claim to fame.

Oregon: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro

• Cost of living: 5.7% more expensive than national average

Despite being in Washington state, Vancouver is seamlessly integrated into the Portland metro area, a mere 9.1 miles away. The Columbia River lines the boundary between these two urban mainstays.

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington

• Cost of living: 2.3% more expensive than national average

Economic expansion in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington locality registered a 2.39% uptick from 2020 to 2021, surging from 3.02 million to 3.09 million employees. Of the workforce, healthcare/social assistance takes precedence, closely followed by educational services, a fitting trend for a city boasting nearly 200,000 students and 32 colleges and universities.

Rhode Island: Providence-Warwick

• Cost of living: 1.2% more expensive than national average

Both Providence and Warwick share nearly identical median home values, hovering around $365,000, as reported by Zillow, presenting a balanced investment opportunity amidst the differing cost of living.

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Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, South Carolina

The charm of buying a home in the Hilton Head area could be a wise investment. With proper licensing, your property can serve as a short-term rental, reaping the benefits of the region’s tourist influx. The area sees around 2.5 million visitors annually.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Although Sioux Falls lacks the coastline allure of Hilton Head, it’s still a hot spot for tourists. The region saw 4.4 million visitors, who spent a whopping $4.7 billion, according to SDVisit.com.

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville’s advertising history is steeped in lore. Legend has it that President Theodore Roosevelt once lauded the old Maxwell House Hotel’s coffee as “good to the last drop,” a phrase that lingers on as an enduring advertising slogan.

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas

The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area, with its 7.9 million residents, stands as the fourth-largest metro area in the U.S. According to Statista, it boasts around 600,000 more residents than the next city on the list, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land.

Salt Lake City, Utah

The Winter Olympics of 2002 put Salt Lake City in the spotlight as a desirable place to live and visit. In 2022, Visit Salt Lake booked 870,000 room nights for future conventions, highlighting the city’s enduring appeal.

Burlington-South Burlington, Vermont

Like other states bordering Canada, Vermont has witnessed an influx of residents from its northern neighbor. Interestingly, Vermont also drew residents from China and Bosnia and Herzegovina, perhaps lured by the University of Vermont located in Burlington near the picturesque Lake Champlain.

Charlottesville, Virginia

The University of Virginia, with its 24,000 students, plays a pivotal role in driving Charlottesville’s economy. The city’s largest job industry is in educational services.

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington

With the average home value in Bellevue standing at $1.3 million, and $827,000 in Seattle, the area hosts the headquarters of major companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, Costco, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and Alaska Airlines, commanding substantial salaries to afford housing there.

Morgantown, West Virginia

Morgantown radiates a college town vibe, housing the University of West Virginia. The average age of its approximately 30,000 residents is a youthful 24.4.

Madison, Wisconsin

Established as a city in 1856, Madison bears the name of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States. The city is home to 140 properties and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places, according to VisitMadison.com.

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Cheyenne holds onto the aura of the Old West in its downtown, embodying the spirit of the Wild West. The city is also the stage for the Cheyenne Frontier Days, touted as the “world’s largest rodeo and Western celebration.”

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Most Expensive City in Every State

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