Where Single Adults Can Afford to Live: A Comprehensive Breakdown of 20 Budget-Friendly U.S. States

Are you a single adult weighing whether relocating to a different state could significantly reduce your monthly expenses? The answer might surprise you. While cost of living varies dramatically across America, numerous states offer remarkably affordable living situations. To understand this landscape better, we examined the expenses across all 50 states to identify which ones provide the best financial value for individuals living alone.

Understanding the Expense Categories

Our analysis examined six critical spending components for single adults: grocery costs, healthcare expenses, utility bills, transportation costs, average mortgage payments, and miscellaneous spending. By analyzing cost of living data alongside actual expenditure patterns from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we created a comprehensive picture of monthly financial requirements in each state.

The Most Affordable States: Top Tier Budget Options

Rank 1: Oklahoma - Cost-of-Living Index: 86.2

• Groceries: $321.04
• Healthcare: $315.30
• Utilities: $284.21
• Transportation: $676.06
• Average Mortgage: $1,239.21
• Miscellaneous: $61.86

Rank 2: Mississippi - Cost-of-Living Index: 86.3

• Groceries: $330.56
• Healthcare: $335.05
• Utilities: $248.90
• Transportation: $640.28
• Average Mortgage: $1,087.15
• Miscellaneous: $62.19

Rank 3: Kansas - Cost-of-Living Index: 87.1

• Groceries: $330.56
• Healthcare: $329.94
• Utilities: $308.52
• Transportation: $657.81
• Average Mortgage: $1,363.63
• Miscellaneous: $62.19

Rank 4: West Virginia - Cost-of-Living Index: 87.7

• Groceries: $334.64
• Healthcare: $328.92
• Utilities: $276.97
• Transportation: $686.28
• Average Mortgage: $981.01
• Miscellaneous: $64.36

Rank 5: Alabama - Cost-of-Living Index: 88.3

• Groceries: $326.82
• Healthcare: $296.24
• Utilities: $296.36
• Transportation: $662.92
• Average Mortgage: $1,376.80
• Miscellaneous: $64.90

Mid-Range Affordable States: Solid Value Selections

Rank 6: Missouri - Cost-of-Living Index: 88.5

• Groceries: $324.10
• Healthcare: $306.11
• Utilities: $285.36
• Transportation: $663.65
• Average Mortgage: $1,481.39
• Miscellaneous: $61.99

Rank 7: Arkansas - Cost-of-Living Index: 89.0

• Groceries: $324.10
• Healthcare: $297.94
• Utilities: $265.11
• Transportation: $654.15
• Average Mortgage: $1,238.30
• Miscellaneous: $66.19

Rank 8: Tennessee - Cost-of-Living Index: 90.3

• Groceries: $332.26
• Healthcare: $299.98
• Utilities: $268.00
• Transportation: $647.58
• Average Mortgage: $1,933.73
• Miscellaneous: $63.62

Rank 9: Iowa - Cost-of-Living Index: 90.3

• Groceries: $328.52
• Healthcare: $338.46
• Utilities: $276.39
• Transportation: $719.86
• Average Mortgage: $1,304.35
• Miscellaneous: $64.97

Rank 10: Michigan - Cost-of-Living Index: 90.6

• Groceries: $336.00
• Healthcare: $317.69
• Utilities: $292.60
• Transportation: $705.99
• Average Mortgage: $1,460.40
• Miscellaneous: $63.08

Additional Budget-Conscious States Worth Considering

Rank 11: Georgia - Cost-of-Living Index: 90.8

• Groceries: $333.62
• Healthcare: $341.52
• Utilities: $247.45
• Transportation: $682.63
• Average Mortgage: $1,992.76
• Miscellaneous: $65.92

Rank 12: Nebraska - Cost-of-Living Index: 90.9

• Groceries: $325.80
• Healthcare: $333.35
• Utilities: $248.03
• Transportation: $730.08
• Average Mortgage: $1,566.36
• Miscellaneous: $65.31

Rank 13: Louisiana - Cost-of-Living Index: 91.0

• Groceries: $323.08
• Healthcare: $336.07
• Utilities: $243.11
• Transportation: $699.42
• Average Mortgage: $1,212.63
• Miscellaneous: $65.38

Rank 14: Indiana - Cost-of-Living Index: 91.1

• Groceries: $334.98
• Healthcare: $328.24
• Utilities: $308.81
• Transportation: $696.50
• Average Mortgage: $1,443.47
• Miscellaneous: $63.96

Rank 15: Kentucky - Cost-of-Living Index: 92.0

• Groceries: $344.50
• Healthcare: $285.00
• Utilities: $302.15
• Transportation: $671.68
• Average Mortgage: $1,226.28
• Miscellaneous: $68.63

Higher-Value States: Still Reasonable for Budget Planning

Rank 16: Illinois - Cost-of-Living Index: 92.1

• Groceries: $333.28
• Healthcare: $323.48
• Utilities: $256.42
• Transportation: $751.99
• Average Mortgage: $1,569.84
• Miscellaneous: $65.58

Rank 17: South Dakota - Cost-of-Living Index: 92.4

• Groceries: $329.88
• Healthcare: $333.35
• Utilities: $253.24
• Transportation: $711.10
• Average Mortgage: $1,821.54
• Miscellaneous: $63.48

Rank 18: Wyoming - Cost-of-Living Index: 92.4

• Groceries: $347.91
• Healthcare: $340.84
• Utilities: $253.53
• Transportation: $689.20
• Average Mortgage: $2,076.56
• Miscellaneous: $66.40

Rank 19: Texas - Cost-of-Living Index: 92.7

• Groceries: $325.46
• Healthcare: $319.73
• Utilities: $300.99
• Transportation: $670.22
• Average Mortgage: $1,851.77
• Miscellaneous: $65.31

Rank 20: New Mexico - Cost-of-Living Index: 94.0

• Groceries: $327.84
• Healthcare: $338.12
• Utilities: $269.45
• Transportation: $691.39
• Average Mortgage: $1,828.63
• Miscellaneous: $66.33

Key Takeaways for Single Adults Planning a Move

The variation between the most affordable state (Oklahoma at 86.2) and the highest-ranked on this list (New Mexico at 94.0) demonstrates meaningful differences in financial requirements. Single adults relocating to states in the lowest cost of living tier could potentially reduce monthly expenses by several hundred dollars compared to high-cost areas. Housing emerges as the most variable expense category, with mortgage payments ranging from approximately $981 in West Virginia to over $2,076 in Wyoming.

Transportation and healthcare represent the second and third most significant expenses, with notable variation between states. Single adults prioritizing affordability should evaluate not just overall indices but also specific spending categories matching their personal circumstances, whether that means prioritizing lower housing costs, reduced utility expenses, or more economical healthcare options.

For those considering relocation, these 20 states with the lowest cost of living provide data-driven insights to support financial planning decisions.

Methodology: This analysis examined all U.S. states to establish average cost of living benchmarks for single adults. Data sources included cost of living indexes from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center, expenditure data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 Consumer Expenditure Survey, and average home values from the Zillow Home Value Index (assuming 10% down payment with 30-year fixed mortgage rates). Monthly cost of living calculations combined average mortgage expenses with average expenditure costs. Data collection completed April 30, 2024.