Least Expensive County to Live in Every State

A survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau in mid-2024 found that 61% of adults in the U.S. had at least some difficulty paying usual household expenses in the last week. That a majority of Americans are struggling financially may be of little surprise, as, due to historic inflation during the pandemic era, the overall […] The post Least Expensive County to Live in Every State appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Jun 3, 2025 - 16:12

Least Expensive County to Live in Every State

A survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau in mid-2024 found that 61% of adults in the U.S. had at least some difficulty paying usual household expenses in the last week. That a majority of Americans are struggling financially may be of little surprise, as, due to historic inflation during the pandemic era, the overall cost of living in the United States is now 23.6% higher than it was in February 2020.

Key Points

Historic inflation in the COVID-19 era has driven the cost of living in the United States up by well over 20% in the last half decade.
While rising prices have a direct impact on every American, consumer prices can also vary considerably at the local level — and in every state, there is at least one county where consumers are paying less than those in other parts of the state for the same goods and services.
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But while no corner of the country was spared the impact of inflation, the cost of living can also vary considerably from one community to the next. These price variations are driven largely by the laws of supply and demand. Generally, in high-income areas where residents have more disposable income, greater consumer spending drives up competition for goods and services, which in turn pushes prices higher. Conversely, in lower-income areas, reduced consumer spending can help keep the overall cost of living relatively low.

Across the 50 states, consumer prices range anywhere from about 13.5% less expensive than the national average, to 12.6% more expensive, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. But variations in living costs can be even more pronounced at the local level — and in nearly every state, there is at least one county or county equivalent where consumers pay less than a typical American for the same goods and services.

Using data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, 24/7 Wall St. identified the least expensive county, or county equivalent, in each state. The counties on this list were selected using the latest available data on regional price parity, or RPP, a cost of living index. For additional context, we also included state-level RPP estimates from the BEA. Supplemental data on median household income and median home value are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey. State-level ACS data are 1-year estimates, and county-level ACS data are 5-year averages. Due to a reclassification of counties to Planning Regions, local ACS data were not available for the state of Connecticut.

In 16 of the 50 states, the overall cost of living is higher than the national average. At the local level, however, all but two states have at least one county or county equivalent where the cost of living is below the national average.

Even though every county on this list ranks as the least expensive place to live in its state, variations in the overall cost of living among these places are often significant. Hawaii, for example, is one of the most expensive states to live in, and in Hawaii County — the least expensive county in the state — consumer prices are still about 6.4% higher than they are on average nationwide. By contrast, in Kemper County, Mississippi, the least expensive county in one of the least expensive states, the cost of living is nearly 21% lower than the national average. (Here is a look at the most expensive states to live in.)

Given the relationship between supply and demand and the overall cost of living, it is perhaps not surprising that in nearly every county on this list, median household incomes are lower than the statewide median—often by tens of thousands of dollars. Relatively low consumer prices in these places are also reflected, in part, by home values. With only a few exceptions, median home prices are lower in these counties than they are across the state as a whole. (Here is a look at the states where home prices are still going up.)

This is the least expensive county in every state.

Why It Matters

For years, rapidly rising prices have been straining household budgets for millions of Americans. But while no corner of the country was spared from the effects of inflation, there are specific places where the cost of living is markedly lower than in much of the rest of the country. In most states, there is at least one county or county equivalent where consumer prices are lower than they are nationwide, on average.