Ah, relocation. The enchanting allure of a fresh start; yet, it is seldom that simple. Deciding on a new place to call home can often resemble reading through a mystery novel—filled with twists, turns, and costs hiding in the shadows. So, if the U.S. is your canvas, which brushstrokes of states might you want to either lavish in or perhaps cautiously avoid, financially speaking?

The U.S., with its sprawling expanse from sea to shining sea, exhibits stark differences in living costs. The great 2023 US Bill Payment Market Report, conjured by the wizards over at Doxo, suggests that the average American household coughs up around $2,046 monthly—leading to a staggering annual spend of $24,557. A rather intriguing sum, isn't it? Especially when considering that this same report gives insight into a myriad of household expenses.

Now, let's journey through the top 10 categories, shall we?

Mortgages that whisper stories of white picket fences.

Rentals, embodying transient dreams.
Those motorized beasts – autos.
Utilities: From the dance of electrons to the embrace of H2O.
Car insurance—oh, the tales of fender benders.
Cable, internet, and phone: our gateways to galaxies afar.
Health insurance—our silent sentinel.
Mobile phones, the heartbeat of modern communication.
Alarms and security: our shield against the midnight marauders.
Lastly, life insurance, our love letter to the future.

Let's delve into the mosaic of states in 2023. Which pockets demand a king's ransom and which offer a pauper's reprieve?

Photo: unsplash.com/mackenziejcruz

The states where it is most expensive to live

Based on average monthly spending on household bill payments, these are the states in the United States where it is most expensive to live:

Hawaii: $3,070
California: $2,838
New Jersey: $2,727
Massachusetts: $2,656
Maryland: $2,569
Connecticut: $2,504
New York: $2,495
Washington: $2,468
Colorado: $2,413
Alaska: $2,335

The states where it is cheapest to live

These states have the lowest average monthly service expenses in the country:

Alabama: $1,772
Missouri: $1,766
New Mexico: $1,756
South Dakota: $1,743
Indiana: $1,721
Kentucky: $1,710
Oklahoma: $1,705
Arkansas: $1,635
Mississippi: $1,616
West Virginia: $1,530

For more information on monthly expenses in each state, check out Doxo’s full US Bill Payment Market Report 2023.