Economy

Want to live on the coast? Be prepared to pay more in monthly bills.

By Cork Gaines
Skyline of a city next to the ocean.
No state is more expensive than Hawai'i when it comes to monthly bills. Izabela23/Shutterstock
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The cost of living can vary among states, and the most expensive areas often have ocean coastlines.

Hawai'i, California, and Massachusetts are the most expensive states based on online bill-paying service Doxo's cost of bills index. The ranking, released on June 12, looks at how much the average household spends each month on the 10 most common bills, including utilities, cell phone, health insurance, and either rent or mortgage, and is based on Doxo's national bill payment statistics. Those 10 costs represent more than 75% of monthly household expenses, per Doxo.

Doxo's cost of bill index compares each state — along with cities and counties — to the national average. Hawai'i came in as the most expensive state, with the average household spending $3,091 monthly on the 10 essential bills, 45% above the US average. Meanwhile, West Virginia is the cheapest state to live in, with residents spending $1,596 monthly on bills, 25% below average.

According to Doxo's data, with additional information from the US Census Bureau, the average household now spends $2,126 monthly on the top 10 bills, up 4% from a year ago and 19% since 2019. Meanwhile, median US household income was up just 0.2% in the past year and 14% since 2019.

To be sure, many states with high living costs also have higher income levels for their residents. Doxo's index was also adjusted for the average income in each state.

Here are the 10 states with the most expensive essential monthly bills and the 10 with the cheapest.

10. New Hampshire

Nashua, New Hampshire.
Nashua, New Hampshire. DenisTangneyJr/Shutterstock

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $2,482

Difference from US average: +17%

Average income: $92,699

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: -6%

9. Colorado

People sitting on a bench on a street in Boulder, Colorado.
Boulder, Colorado. Page Light Studios/Shutterstock

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $2,553

Difference from US average: +20%

Average income: $91,038

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: -1%

8. Connecticut

Aerial view of Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford, Connecticut. halbergman/Getty Images

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $2,569

Difference from US average: +21%

Average income: $98,025

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: -8%

7. New York

An aerial view of Long Island, New York.
Huntington, Long Island, New York. WisKay/Getty Images

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $2,627

Difference from US average: +24%

Average income: $88,943

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: +4%

6. Washington

Seattle.
Seattle. halbergman/Getty Images

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $2,644

Difference from US average: +24%

Average income: $95,033

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: -2%

5. Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland skyline
Baltimore. David Shvartsman / Getty Images

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $2,676

Difference from US average: +26%

Average income: $101,920

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: -8%

4. New Jersey

Cape May, New Jersey.
Cape May, New Jersey. Denis Tangney Jr/Getty Images

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $2,802

Difference from US average: +32%

Average income: $104,132

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: -5%

3. Massachusetts

Downtown Boston.
Downtown Boston. Toby Harriman/Getty Images

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $2,817

Difference from US average: +33%

Average income: $102,709

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: -4%

2. California

sunset of Los Angeles downtown skyline and palm trees.
Los Angeles. Marek Masik/Shutterstock

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $3,010

Difference from US average: +42%

Average income: $99,201

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: +7%

1. Hawai'i

Honolulu
Honolulu. Caleb Jones/AP

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $3,091

Difference from US average: +45%

Average income: $95,409

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: +14%

The 10 states with the cheapest monthly bills

41. Kansas

Witchita, Kansas
Witchita, Kansas Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $1,864

Difference from US average: -12%

Average income: $73,161

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: -10%

42. South Dakota

Aerial View of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at Sunset.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $1,854

Difference from US average: -13%

Average income: $69,281

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: -6%

43. Missouri

The Gateway Arch, St Louis, Missouri.
St Louis, Missouri. Joe Daniel Price/Getty Images

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $1,835

Difference from US average: -14%

Average income: $68,450

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: -6%

44. Alabama

Overview of Mobile, Alabama.
Mobile, Alabama. Kruck20/Getty Images

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $1,831

Difference from US average: -14%

Average income: $61,438

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: +5%

45. Indiana

Indianapolis
Indianapolis. Getty Images

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $1,786

Difference from US average: -16%

Average income: $68,897

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: -9%

46. Oklahoma

Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma Getty Images

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $1,786

Difference from US average: -16%

Average income: $63,029

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: 0%

47. Kentucky

Rolling countryside hills at sunset.
Rural Kentucky. Photographer: Alexey Stiop

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $1,783

Difference from US average: -16%

Average income: $61,507

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: +2%

48. Arkansas

Little Rock, Arkansas, skyline on the river at twilight.
Little Rock, Arkansas. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $1,762

Difference from US average: -17%

Average income: $57,123

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: +8%

49. Mississippi

Jackson, Mississippi, skyline over the Capitol Building.
Jackson, Mississippi. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $1,719

Difference from US average: -19%

Average income: $53,697

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: +13%

50. West Virginia

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Ali Majdfar/Getty Images

Average spent on top 10 essential household bills: $1,596

Difference from US average: -25%

Average income: $54,931

Difference from US average when adjusted for income: +2%

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Cork Gaines
Cork Gaines
Cork was a correspondent for Insider's sports desk.Previously, he was a contributor at MLB Trade Rumors, and he has written for Yahoo Sports, Deadspin, and The Hardball Times. He has authored chapters in three books, including "The Hardball Times 2009 Season Preview." Cork's work has been featured on ESPN's "SportsCenter" and "Mike & Mike," "Any Given Wednesday with Bill Simmons," ESPN.com, BBC, Yahoo, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Drudge Report, the Washington Post, the Kansas City Star, the Houston Chronicle, and the Dallas Morning News, among others.He is a graduate of the University of Iowa and holds a doctorate from Fordham University.Here is a selection of his work:Under Armour hit the jackpot on its Jordan Spieth betGary Woodland once took his pants off to hit a shot and learned a funny lesson about product endorsementWe tried the alcohol diet Tom Brady put Rob Gronkowski on, and it was a lot harder than we imaginedThe University of Texas spent $7 million remodeling their football locker room and the results are jaw-droppingStephen Curry has replaced LeBron James as the best basketball player in the worldEx-NBA player who made $60 million explains what really happens to your money when you sign an 8-figure contractHere's Michael Jordan's 56,000-square-foot house in Chicago, and why it's still on the market after 6 yearsMayweather beat McGregor with a TKO in the 10th round! Here are the big moments everybody will be talking aboutPerfect conditions at Cowboys-Patriots game helped create incredible picturesWe've been using Alexa in a car for 6 months and it's the best infotainment system we've ever used.
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