The Price of Summer: States Where Travel, Energy and Childcare Cost the Most
Summer is supposed to be all about vacations and days at the beach, but for many families, when the sun’s out, you also have to get your funds out. From pricier travel and gas to surging energy bills and costly summer childcare, the price of summer can cause real sun damage to your finances. And depending on where you live, that seasonal financial squeeze can be even harder to escape.
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Whether you're planning a getaway, trying to keep your home cool without blowing your budget, or figuring out how to get your kids out of the house at a reasonable price, location plays a major role in how much you'll spend.
MoneyLion conducted a state-by-state study to determine just where summer will cost you the most. Each state was scored across three categories: summer camp costs, gas and utilities, with higher average scores indicating higher overall expense. Here are a few takeaways:
In the most expensive states, summer camp costs can top $2,000 per week. That includes New Hampshire, California, Maine, New York and Hawaii.
Gas creates a different kind of summer squeeze in car-dependent states. Wyoming has the highest average monthly gas cost at $268.66, driven by the state's high average fuel usage — roughly 60.58 gallons per month.
The average monthly electricity bill in the U.S. is roughly $153, or about $1,833 a year. Costs are driven even higher in the summer months as air conditioners run longer and harder — especially in hotter states where cooling is not optional but essential.
If you’re trying to plan out your budget more intentionally or simply want a clearer picture of where your money goes during the summer months, MoneyLion has you covered. This state-by-state ranking shows where summer comes with the biggest price tag, from most to least expensive, making it easier to see where the season hits hardest.
Summer spending adds up fast. Enter MoneyLion's Summer Break Giveaway for a chance to win $500 — and give your budget a break. (No pur. nec. Ends 7/4/26. See official rules at mlion.info/summerbreakofficialrules)
1. Hawaii
Average price for a week of summer camp: $2,029
Average monthly cost of gas: $116.62
Average monthly gallons driven: 20.68
Average monthly cost of electricity: $296
Average annual cost of electricity: $3,558
2. California
Average price for a week of summer camp: $2,270
Average monthly cost of gas: $122.57
Average monthly gallons driven: 19.92
Average monthly cost of electricity: $215
Average annual cost of electricity: $2,575
3. Maine
Average price for a week of summer camp: $2,234
Average monthly cost of gas: $157.04
Average monthly gallons driven: 34.76
Average monthly cost of electricity: $182
Average annual cost of electricity: $2,179
4. New Hampshire
Average price for a week of summer camp: $2,350
Average monthly cost of gas: $140.88
Average monthly gallons driven: 31.45
Average monthly cost of electricity: $177
Average annual cost of electricity: $2,124
5. Wyoming
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,200
Average monthly cost of gas: $268.66
Average monthly gallons driven: 60.58
Average monthly cost of electricity: $148
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,782
6. Massachusetts
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,633
Average monthly cost of gas: $116.47
Average monthly gallons driven: 26.09
Average monthly cost of electricity: $236
Average annual cost of electricity: $2,837
7. Connecticut
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,767
Average monthly cost of gas: $120.96
Average monthly gallons driven: 26.21
Average monthly cost of electricity: $201
Average annual cost of electricity: $2,418
8. Alabama
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,451
Average monthly cost of gas: $190.99
Average monthly gallons driven: 47.02
Average monthly cost of electricity: $150
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,796
9. Vermont
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,587
Average monthly cost of gas: $150.76
Average monthly gallons driven: 33.19
Average monthly cost of electricity: $173
Average annual cost of electricity: $2,080
10. North Carolina
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,842
Average monthly cost of gas: $150.38
Average monthly gallons driven: 36.28
Average monthly cost of electricity: $145
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,736
11. Texas
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,780
Average monthly cost of gas: $129.01
Average monthly gallons driven: 32.16
Average monthly cost of electricity: $157
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,886
12. New York
Average price for a week of summer camp: $2,200
Average monthly cost of gas: $84.17
Average monthly gallons driven: 18.35
Average monthly cost of electricity: $155
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,860
13. Alaska
Average price for a week of summer camp: $716
Average monthly cost of gas: $137.64
Average monthly gallons driven: 26.16
Average monthly cost of electricity: $239
Average annual cost of electricity: $2,869
14. Michigan
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,440
Average monthly cost of gas: $153.77
Average monthly gallons driven: 32.64
Average monthly cost of electricity: $151
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,817
15. Washington
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,759
Average monthly cost of gas: $117.64
Average monthly gallons driven: 20.4
Average monthly cost of electricity: $151
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,811
16. Wisconsin
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,357
Average monthly cost of gas: $165.15
Average monthly gallons driven: 37.73
Average monthly cost of electricity: $139
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,672
17. Montana
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,079
Average monthly cost of gas: $203.70
Average monthly gallons driven: 45.39
Average monthly cost of electricity: $124
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,494
18. Missouri
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,254
Average monthly cost of gas: $170.26
Average monthly gallons driven: 40.99
Average monthly cost of electricity: $141
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,686
19. Arizona
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,290
Average monthly cost of gas: $146.87
Average monthly gallons driven: 30.57
Average monthly cost of electricity: $159
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,906
20. Colorado
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,728
Average monthly cost of gas: $128.38
Average monthly gallons driven: 29.22
Average monthly cost of electricity: $135
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,620
21. Minnesota
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,501
Average monthly cost of gas: $136.15
Average monthly gallons driven: 32.73
Average monthly cost of electricity: $145
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,741
22. New Jersey
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,613
Average monthly cost of gas: $113.79
Average monthly gallons driven: 25.17
Average monthly cost of electricity: $156
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,873
23. Georgia
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,303
Average monthly cost of gas: $143.98
Average monthly gallons driven: 35.87
Average monthly cost of electricity: $154
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,844
24. Maryland
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,365
Average monthly cost of gas: $115.57
Average monthly gallons driven: 25.96
Average monthly cost of electricity: $174
Average annual cost of electricity: $2,093
25. Virginia
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,461
Average monthly cost of gas: $126.43
Average monthly gallons driven: 29.51
Average monthly cost of electricity: $149
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,787
26. Florida
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,227
Average monthly cost of gas: $145.56
Average monthly gallons driven: 33.41
Average monthly cost of electricity: $150
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,798
27. Pennsylvania
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,384
Average monthly cost of gas: $112.48
Average monthly gallons driven: 24.12
Average monthly cost of electricity: $166
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,992
28. Indiana
Average price for a week of summer camp: $946
Average monthly cost of gas: $173.66
Average monthly gallons driven: 40.25
Average monthly cost of electricity: $145
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,741
29. Nevada
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,429
Average monthly cost of gas: $131.94
Average monthly gallons driven: 25.19
Average monthly cost of electricity: $131
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,569
30. Arkansas
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,144
Average monthly cost of gas: $144.25
Average monthly gallons driven: 35.95
Average monthly cost of electricity: $144
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,729
31. Tennessee
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,061
Average monthly cost of gas: $160.84
Average monthly gallons driven: 38.83
Average monthly cost of electricity: $135
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,615
32. West Virginia
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,311
Average monthly cost of gas: $132.67
Average monthly gallons driven: 30.27
Average monthly cost of electricity: $139
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,663
33. Ohio
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,062
Average monthly cost of gas: $141.61
Average monthly gallons driven: 30.29
Average monthly cost of electricity: $150
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,802
34. Illinois
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,240
Average monthly cost of gas: $121.39
Average monthly gallons driven: 24.42
Average monthly cost of electricity: $151
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,815
35. New Mexico
Average price for a week of summer camp: $869
Average monthly cost of gas: $177.63
Average monthly gallons driven: 42.64
Average monthly cost of electricity: $128
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,536
36. Mississippi
Average price for a week of summer camp: $662
Average monthly cost of gas: $185.10
Average monthly gallons driven: 46.46
Average monthly cost of electricity: $137
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,639
37. South Dakota
Average price for a week of summer camp: $811
Average monthly cost of gas: $177.32
Average monthly gallons driven: 42.09
Average monthly cost of electricity: $130
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,562
38. South Carolina
Average price for a week of summer camp: $735
Average monthly cost of gas: $160.43
Average monthly gallons driven: 38.97
Average monthly cost of electricity: $148
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,776
39. Rhode Island
Average price for a week of summer camp: $820
Average monthly cost of gas: $97.17
Average monthly gallons driven: 21.68
Average monthly cost of electricity: $201
Average annual cost of electricity: $2,412
40. Oklahoma
Average price for a week of summer camp: $837
Average monthly cost of gas: $145.50
Average monthly gallons driven: 36.9
Average monthly cost of electricity: $150
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,800
41. Iowa
Average price for a week of summer camp: $895
Average monthly cost of gas: $149.80
Average monthly gallons driven: 35.74
Average monthly cost of electricity: $134
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,613
42. Utah
Average price for a week of summer camp: $1,032
Average monthly cost of gas: $139.30
Average monthly gallons driven: 30.48
Average monthly cost of electricity: $126
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,510
43. North Dakota
Average price for a week of summer camp: $383
Average monthly cost of gas: $193.95
Average monthly gallons driven: 46.84
Average monthly cost of electricity: $127
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,525
44. Kansas
Average price for a week of summer camp: $688
Average monthly cost of gas: $142.08
Average monthly gallons driven: 34.86
Average monthly cost of electricity: $150
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,798
45. Oregon
Average price for a week of summer camp: $785
Average monthly cost of gas: $130.90
Average monthly gallons driven: 24.55
Average monthly cost of electricity: $146
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,752
46. Idaho
Average price for a week of summer camp: $800
Average monthly cost of gas: $163.35
Average monthly gallons driven: 35.46
Average monthly cost of electricity: $112
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,338
47. Louisiana
Average price for a week of summer camp: $659
Average monthly cost of gas: $157.71
Average monthly gallons driven: 39.45
Average monthly cost of electricity: $128
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,532
48. Kentucky
Average price for a week of summer camp: $643
Average monthly cost of gas: $151.78
Average monthly gallons driven: 35.81
Average monthly cost of electricity: $134
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,613
49. Delaware
Average price for a week of summer camp: $662
Average monthly cost of gas: $134.44
Average monthly gallons driven: 30.98
Average monthly cost of electricity: $149
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,789
50. Nebraska
Average price for a week of summer camp: $536
Average monthly cost of gas: $150.66
Average monthly gallons driven: 36.89
Average monthly cost of electricity: $137
Average annual cost of electricity: $1,642
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice.
Methodology: For this study, MoneyLion analyzed each U.S. state to find the most expensive places for summer. For each state, several factors were found, including total population, population ages 17 and under, total households, and median household income all sourced from the U.S. Census ACS. The cost of living indices were sourced from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center. The average annual cost of electricity was sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Using the utilities cost-of-living index and the average cost of electricity, the average cost of electricity for each state was calculated. Using the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure costs were calculated for each state. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. Assuming a 10% downpayment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage cost was calculated for each state. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the total cost of living was calculated for each state. The average miles driven by state was sourced from Kelly Blue Book and the average miles per gallon of gas was sourced from iSeeCars.com. Using the mileage data, the average cost of gas per month was calculated for each state. The average cost for a week of summer camp by state was sourced from SummerCamp.com. The average cost of gas was scored and weighted at 1.00, the average cost for a week of summer camp was scored and weighted at 1.00, and the average cost of electricity was scored and weighted at 1.00. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the most expensive states to live in for summertime activities. All data is up to date as of May 12, 2026.
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