Cost Of Living Calculator

Find out the cost of living in every state in the United States and every province in Canada. Our cost of living calculator includes average data, ranging from the cheapest places to live to the most expensive. Simply choose your country and state or province to receive a color-coded breakdown of expenses, including rent, groceries, taxes, and more.

How to Use the Cost of Living Calculator

The Cost of Living Calculator was created to provide users with an accurate breakdown of average expenses in every state in the United States and every province in Canada. Follow these steps to use the calculator:

1. Select Your Country: Begin by choosing either the United States or Canada from the dropdown menu. This will display a list of states or provinces for the selected country.
2. Select Your State or Province: Once the country is selected, use the second dropdown menu to choose a specific state (for the U.S.) or province (for Canada).
3. View Results: Click the “Calculate” button. The calculator will display a detailed breakdown of average costs for:
   • Rent: Monthly rental costs for housing.
   • Groceries: Average monthly expenses for food and essentials.
   • Transportation: Costs for commuting, gas, or public transit.
   • Utilities: Expenses for electricity, water, heating, and other essential services.
   • Healthcare: Average monthly healthcare costs.
   • Entertainment: Typical spending on leisure and recreation.
   • Taxes: An estimate of taxes applicable in the region.
4. Color-Coded Results: The results are presented in a color-coded format for easy visualization of costs, with higher expenses shown in red and lower costs in green. You can also see results on all devices including mobile.

Examples:

• Example 1: A user selects the United States and California. The calculator will display the average costs for living in California, including $2,500 for rent, $700 for groceries, and $800 for taxes.
• Example 2: A user selects Canada and Ontario. The calculator will provide a detailed breakdown showing $2,000 for rent, $600 for groceries, and $500 for taxes.

Cost Of Living Chart

If you don’t want to use the calculator, we created this chart with our cost of living data, allowing you to visually compare all the costs for each state and province. Share this chart with people who are moving and looking for alternative, more affordable places to live.

Key Factors Affecting Cost of Living in States and Provinces

Housing Costs: Everyone needs a place to live, whether you rent or apply for a mortgage. Either way, housing costs are one of the major expenses when living on a daily basis. You can expect to pay a lot more in rent when moving to a big city like Los Angeles and Washington, DC, because housing costs are over the moon in these places. Unlike small towns and developing regions, it’s much cheaper because the economy needs more people.

Groceries: Groceries are one of the most important things needed for everyday life; we need to eat, and we can’t get around that. Groceries have increased in price ever since, especially since COVID. Some places have groceries cheaper than others depending on delivery costs. For example, it would cost trucking a lot more money to haul groceries to the Yukon than Edmonton, where some groceries like beef and vegetables are local.

Transportation Expenses: We all have to travel to work, and gas and diesel are much more expensive in most places since inflation prices are through the roof. Gas prices in oil-dominated areas are more likely to be lower due to reduced delivery costs. Usually, delivery costs are by the mile and are factored into gas and diesel prices. Alternatively, some people take public transportation, but it takes away the freedom to go wherever you want.

Utilities: Electricity, Water, and Gas: This is another major expense that must be taken into account when looking at living costs. Across Canada and the United States, utilities are somewhat the same across all regions, but they still need to be added to average monthly costs. When people search for living expenses, they sometimes forget to add utilities, but these can cost anywhere from $300 to $900 a month depending on your usage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Cost of Living

1. What is included in the cost of living?
The cost of living typically includes the following categories: housing (rent or mortgage), groceries, transportation (gas, public transit, or vehicle costs), utilities (electricity, water, gas), healthcare, entertainment, and taxes.

2. Why does the cost of living vary between regions?
The cost of living varies due to factors such as demand for housing, local economic conditions, availability of resources, transportation costs for goods, and regional tax rates.

3. How are utility costs calculated?
Utility costs are based on usage and the local rates charged by service providers. These include electricity, water, natural gas, and, in some cases, garbage collection fees.

4. Are taxes included in cost of living calculations?
Yes, taxes are included as they are a significant expense. This includes property taxes, state or provincial taxes, and federal taxes, depending on the location.

5. How can I compare the cost of living between two locations?
You can compare the cost of living by analyzing the average expenses for housing, groceries, transportation, utilities, and other categories for each location. Tools like cost of living calculators or charts provide detailed breakdowns for easy comparison.

6. What regions have the highest cost of living?
Typically, large metropolitan areas such as New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Vancouver have higher costs of living due to high demand for housing and other resources.

7. What regions have the lowest cost of living?
Rural areas and smaller towns often have lower costs of living due to lower housing costs and reduced demand for goods and services.

8. How does inflation impact the cost of living?
Inflation increases the price of goods and services over time, leading to higher costs for necessities such as groceries, utilities, and transportation.

9. Why is healthcare included in the cost of living?
Healthcare is included because it represents a recurring expense, whether through insurance premiums, co-pays, or out-of-pocket costs, and varies significantly between regions.

10. How are transportation costs determined?
Transportation costs are calculated based on factors such as fuel prices, vehicle maintenance costs, public transit fares, and average commuting distances in the region.

11. Can I save money by moving to a lower-cost region?
Yes, moving to a region with lower housing, groceries, utilities, and taxes can reduce your overall expenses, but you should also consider employment opportunities and lifestyle differences.

12. Are the cost of living estimates in USD or CAD?
The currency used depends on the location being evaluated. For U.S. states, costs are shown in USD, while for Canadian provinces, costs are shown in CAD.

13. How often does the cost of living data change?
Cost of living data changes regularly due to inflation, economic shifts, and local market conditions. It’s important to use up-to-date information when comparing regions.

14. Is the cost of living the same for everyone in a region?
No, individual costs vary based on personal circumstances such as housing size, family size, transportation needs, and lifestyle choices. The data represents averages for a given location.