Some U.S. states boast a relatively low cost of living, which may appeal to people looking for a change of pace without breaking the bank — or travelers who are looking to stretch their vacation budget. But in many places, prices are rising rapidly, and in some states, you could end up experiencing sticker shock. Here’s a look at 10 U.S. states with the highest cost of living, according to the latest 2026 data from the Council for Community and Economic Research.

10. Maine

Percentage above national average: 12.9%

Maine has the 10th-highest cost of living of any state, which is largely due to the Pine Tree State’s sky-high housing and utility costs. Mainers pay about 28% more than the average American in both categories, though they do make a little back with local transportation costs (3.1% below average). As for housing, Stacker (using data provided by Zillow) says the most expensive homes in Maine are found in Kennebunkport, where prices are around $1,096,520 on average.

9. Vermont

Percentage above national average: 13.4%

Grocery and transportation costs in Vermont are relatively affordable, ranking 0.1% and 0.2% higher, respectively, above the national average. But the cost of housing is where Vermonters really suffer — they’re shelling out 28.2% more than the average American. Using Zillow data, Stacker found that the costliest place to buy in Vermont is in Stowe, where the average home value is $1,055,180.

8. Washington

Percentage above national average: 15.1%

Washington state surged into the top 10 costliest states this year. The most onerous expense in Washington is transportation, for which locals pay 28.7% more than the average American. Housing costs are also quite high at 24.6% above average. The most expensive region to buy in is the small lakeside community of Hunts Point. It’s located east of downtown Seattle and has a staggering average home price of $7.6 million.

7. Maryland

Percentage above national average: 18.8%

Marylanders have the seventh-highest cost of living in the U.S. Transportation costs 5.2% above average, groceries run 8.2% above average, and utilities are 16.1% more expensive. But the real financial burden for Maryland locals is housing, which is 44.1% above the national average. The costliest homes are found on Gibson Island, located south of Baltimore along the Chesapeake Bay, where average values sit at $3,030,104.

6. New Jersey

Percentage above national average: 19.2%

New Jersey residents pay a bit more than average for transportation (3.6% higher), groceries (7.6% higher), and utilities (8.7% higher). But locals are spending the most on housing, which is 45.1% higher. There are a whopping 78 towns in New Jersey where median home values exceed $1 million, though locations like Avalon, Spring Lake, and other Jersey Shore communities top the list with average home values in excess of $4 million.

5. Alaska

Percentage above national average: 24.5%

In Alaska, people pay 1.4% less than elsewhere for costs related to transportation. But that’s the only relatively affordable category in the Last Frontier. Groceries cost 25.1% more than the national average, housing is 26.7% more expensive, and utilities run 48.9% higher than in the rest of the country.

4. New York

Percentage above national average: 32.6%

Groceries, utilities, and transportation costs in the Empire State range anywhere from 2.5% to 8.7% above the national average. But the cost of living skyrockets when it comes to housing — home prices in New York state are 94.8% higher than the national average. Among the most expensive places to buy is the Hudson Yards neighborhood in New York City, where the median sale price for a home is $6.56 million.

3. California

Percentage above national average: 40.3%

California continuously ranks as one of the most expensive states to live in. Californians can expect to spend 10% more on groceries, 31.5% more on utilities, 37.1% more for transportation costs, and a whopping 92.1% more for housing. The Zillow data says Atherton (located between San Francisco and San Jose) is the state’s most expensive region to live in; the average home value is $8,521,138.

2. Massachusetts

Percentage above national average: 48.1%

Though it’s the second-most expensive state to live in, Massachusetts offers somewhat affordable groceries (just 5.3% above the national average) and transportation costs (6.8% above average). But it also has the nation’s second-highest cost for utilities at 59.8% above average, and housing is an eye-watering 113.2% more expensive. According to Houzeo, the most expensive place to buy a home in Massachusetts is West Tisbury on Martha’s Vineyard, where the median home price is approximately $4.15 million.

1. Hawaii

Percentage above national average: 85.8%

Hawaii is the most expensive state to live in by nearly every metric. The only category in which it ranks second is transportation, but those costs are still 36.9% above the national average. In every other category, the Aloha State has the dubious honor of having the highest prices: groceries at 35.8% above average, utilities at 107.3% above average, and housing at a staggering 202.6% above average. Homes are going to cost a pretty penny no matter where you purchase in Hawaii. Earlier this year, though, the most expensive listing in the state was for an oceanfront property on the island of Oahu, priced at $55 million.

About the data: To compile this list, we consulted data from the Council for Community and Economic Research, which looked at the average cost of housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, and miscellaneous purchases in all 50 states in the second quarter of 2026. You can view the full report here.