In an increasingly unaffordable economy, there are 12 US states that still have a lower cost of living.
Expenses like housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, health care, taxes and goods and services are much more expensive in states such as California and New York compared to the rest of the country.
A recent report by Ramsey Solutions determined the states with the lowest cost of living, based on data from the cost of living index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research.
A dozen states stood out for being the most affordable, due to a lower daily cost of living and lower income and unemployment rates compared to the US average. Most are located in the South and Midwest.
West Virginia has the lowest cost of living in the country, at 15.9 percent below the national average.
Cheap housing is a big factor in that number as West Virginia has the lowest median home value in the US.
Plus, the state even offers incentives to become a resident, like a $12,000 bonus for remote workers who move to the Mountain State.
Cities such as Morgantown and Greenbrier Valley also offer additional incentives that can bring the total up to $20,000.
West Virginia has the lowest cost of living in the country, at 15.9 percent below the national average (Pictured: Maryland Heights, West Virginia)
The economy and job market in the state are growing with aerospace, biometrics, and chemical research industries moving in.
West Virginia is home to major companies like Toyota, Procter & Gamble, and Clorox. Other industries and companies there include Arch Coal in mining, healthcare providers like WVU Medicine and St. Mary’s Medical Center, tech firms such as Agile5 Technologies and TMC Technologies, and financial institutions like Premier Financial Bancorp.
The state’s economy is also supported by large employers in the retail, education, and hospitality sectors.
West Virginia has over 40 state parks and forests to explore, along with trails through the Appalachian Mountains.
The cost of housing in Charleston, the state capital and largest city in West Virginia, is about 40.1 percent below average.
The median home value in West Virginia is $163,700, compared to the national average of $340,200.
The median household income there is $57,917, which is considerably less than the national average of $78,538, but the unemployment rate is 3.8 percent, below the US average of 4.2 percent.
Across the rest of the US, Kansas landed second in affordability.
The cost of housing in Charleston, the state capital and largest city in West Virginia, is about 40.1 percent below average
Kansas is the second most affordable state in the US (Pictured: Downtown Wichita)
The cost of living in Kansas is 13.2 percent below the national average.
Housing prices, salaries and unemployment rates in the state are all favorable compared to the rest of the country.
The median home value there is $219,800, lower than the US median.
The average household income is $70,333 in Kansas, lower than the national average of $78,538.
The unemployment rate is 3.8 percent compared to the national average.
Wichita is known for its aviation history, and has a long legacy as a center for aircraft manufacturing, entrepreneurship and jobs.
Kansas is also known for being the birthplace of Pizza Hut and the original White Castle restaurant, and it’s home to major companies like Koch Industries.
Kansas is also known for its pivotal role in the Civil War and residents can explore significant landmarks such as the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where the median home value in the state is $208,60013, lower than the national average
Arkansas boasts one of the lowest costs of living in the country, making it affordable for those on a budget. Essentials such as housing, utilities, and groceries are typically more affordable than the national average
Huntsville, Alabama, popular for families looking to upgrade, retirees seeking value, and professionals relocating for work who need an affordable lifestyle
South Bend, Indiana (pictured) Indiana, which offers high-quality living without high costs, perfect for homebuyers and families
For history buffs, the Santa Fe Trail, which passes through Kansas, offers markers and museums that detail US westward expansion.
The third most affordable state is Oklahoma, where the average cost of living is 12.8 percent lower than the US average.
In the small town of Ponca City in northern Oklahoma, Americans enjoy an even cheaper cost of living at 20 percent below average.
The median home value in the state is $208,600, which is lower than the national average.
The median household income is $63,603, and the unemployment rate is 3.3 percent, both lower than the national average.
Following the top three is Mississippi, where the cost of living is 12.2 percent below the national average. Tupelo, the birthplace of Elvis, is the cheapest city in the state with the cost of living 17.3 percent below the national average.
While housing is cheap in Mississippi, the state also has the lowest median household income of all the states on the list — over $20,000 less than the national average.
Mississippi is known for its fantastic music and delicacies like fried catfish and chocolate pies.
Oklahoma is an affordable state due to its low cost of living, driven by affordable housing, lower utility and grocery costs, and lower gas prices compared to many other parts of the US
Mississippi has one of the lowest costs of living in the US, largely due to its low housing and transportation costs (Pictured: Jackson, Mississippi)
In Arkansas, the cost of living is 11.4 percent below average. Walmart is based in Bentonville, and is the state’s biggest employer.
Housing prices, income and the job market in Arkansas compared to the rest of the US are affordable.
Arkansas has amazing natural hot springs, caves and forests. Residents can live on the plains or in the mountains, and can hunt for real diamonds in Arkansas at Crater of Diamonds State Park.
Tied with Arkansas is Alabama, also at 11.4 percent lower than the rest of the US. The cheapest city in Alabama is Florence, which has a cost of living that is 16.5 percent below the national average.
Even the most expensive city, Mobile, is still 6.6 percent below the national average.
Alabama is known for having a mix of forests and beaches and is one of America’s biggest steelmakers, which provides a lot of jobs.
Missouri is next, with an 11.3 percent lower cost of living than the national average. Kansas City, home to Taylor Swift’s fiancé Travis Kelce, is the state’s most expensive place to live, but it’s still 8.9 percent less than most US cities.
Missouri has plenty of small towns where you can put down roots, everywhere from its grassy plains and farmland to the Ozark Mountains.
Alabama has an 11.4 percent lower cost of living than the rest of the US (Pictured: Downtown Mobile, Alabama)
Little Rock, Arkansas, where life is more affordable in the US. The state offers a unique blend of scenic beauty, affordability, and community spirit
Kansas City, Missouri, is an affordable large metro area with a cost of living slightly below the national average, largely due to its lower housing costs
Columbia, Missouri, tops the list of budget-friendly US cities, with lower average monthly costs and low home prices
For sports lovers, St. Louis and Kansas City are home to professional sports teams like the Cardinals, the Blues, the Royals and the Chiefs.
Eighth most affordable is Iowa, which has a cost of living at 10.3 percent below the average US cost.
Iowa’s capital, Des Moines, is one of the cheapest capital cities in the US, at 14.2 percent below average.
Iowa also has the third-highest household income out of all the cheapest states.
The state has lots to offer, including massive state parks, museums, and historical sites, like the place where Grant Wood painted American Gothic, the quintessential 1930 oil painting depicting a Midwestern farmer and his wife standing and holding a pitchfork.
Next in affordability is Tennessee, at 9.6 percent below the US average, with Nashville slightly lower, but still less at 1.3 less than average.
Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains, country music and barbecue are a draw.
The final three states which rank among the most affordable are Indiana, Georgia and Nebraska, where the average home costs $245,200.