By Editor,Martha Williams
Copyright dailymail
Think your paycheck doesn’t stretch far? You might want to move to south.
As everyday prices and housing costs soar, simple necessities such as groceries, gas, and healthcare are becoming harder to afford — and some states are feeling the pinch more than others.
Business Insider ranked all 50 states to find the cheapest places to live, using two key measures.
Housing affordability considers monthly costs for renters and homeowners, while cost of living accounts for everyday expenses such as food, utilities and transportation.
The cheapest state was Arkansas, which had the lowest overall cost of living and the third most affordable housing. Median household income was $62,106, and the average home price in September was $216,692.
Known for its scenic Ozark Mountains, hot springs and southern charm, Arkansas offers a low-cost lifestyle with plenty of outdoor activities.
Mississippi — famous for its blues music, southern hospitality and rich Civil War history — followed, with the second-lowest cost of living and the most affordable housing. Median income was $59,127, and the average home value was $187,882.
West Virginia came in third, ranking eighth in cost of living but second in affordable housing. Its median household income was $60,798, and the average home price was $170,114.
The Mountain State is known for its rugged Appalachian landscapes, coal mining history, and outdoor recreation, from whitewater rafting to hiking.
South Dakota came in fourth, with the third-lowest cost of living and the sixth most affordable housing market.
The state — which was the highest non-Southern area to appear in the rankings — has a median household income of $76,881.
Oklahoma was the fifth most affordable state to live in — with the fourth-lowest cost of living and the seventh most affordable housing.
The median household income was $66,148, and the average home — as of September — was $215,674.
Louisiana, Iowa, Alabama, North Dakota, and Kentucky rounded off the list of the cheapest states to live in.
On the flip side, California was — unsurprisingly — the most expensive state to live in.
It had the highest cost of living and the least affordable housing.
The median household income was just over $100,000, and the average home value was (in September) $761,839.
After California came New Jersey, which had the second-highest cost of living and the second-most-expensive housing.
Meanwhile, the median household income was around $104,000 and the average home price in September was $562,460.
Hawaii was ranked the third most expensive, with the third-highest cost of living and fifth most expensive housing.
The median household income was just over $100,000, and the average home value was $824,130.
Massachusetts was the next most expensive, with the fifth-highest cost of living and the fourth-most-expensive housing.
The average home price in Massachusetts was $647,505, and the median household income was the highest of all the states, at almost $105,000.
Washington was ranked as the fifth most expensive state to call home.
The state has a median household income of $99,389 and an average home value of $595,271.
Next in the rankings was New York — followed by Florida, Colorado, New Hampshire, and Maryland.
The only Southern state in the top ten most expensive was Florida. Meanwhile, Southern states dominated the cheaper end of the rankings.
In general, Southern states have lower taxes and less population density, which contribute to their cheaper living costs.
