Top 20 Most Expensive States To Live In 2024 Usa. Based on 71 metrics in health care, education, opportunity, economy, crime &. Cost of living index (coli) compiles the six subcategories (housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services) into a single value.

Across all metrics except healthcare. States with the highest cost of living are mostly found on the coasts, with hawaii (184), massachusetts (149.7), california (137.6), and new york (134.5) leading the way.