States Where Moving Across the State Border Could Save You the Most Money
Feel like you’re getting priced out of your state of residence? Moving to a neighboring state could be a financially savvy strategy to save money – or it could be too costly and not worth the relocation effort. A new MoneyLion study has revealed there are 10 states where every bordering state is cheaper to live in and eight surprising states where all neighboring states are just too expensive.
MoneyLion found each state’s monthly and annual expenses for necessities (defined as mortgage payment, groceries, utilities, transportation and healthcare) by sourcing national figures provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 Consumer Expenditure Survey Table 1203. Using the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center’s Q1 2026 cost of living data series, we calculated these national figures for state averages. Each state’s total cost of necessities was compared to those it borders, excluding water borders only and organized in alphabetical state order. Alaska and Hawaii were not included in this study. States without cheaper bordering states were also removed from the list (but mentioned in the key findings as costing more money to move out of).
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Key Findings
It saves you money to move across the state border if you live in these 10 states: California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington. But it will cost you more if you decide to move across the state border in these states: Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Carolina, Vermont and West Virginia.
Grocery costs surge past $550 per month in five states. From the most to least expensive, they are California ($573), Maryland ($567), New Jersey ($566), Massachusetts ($554) and Washington ($550).
Healthcare costs are soaring in Massachusetts but cost much less in Mississippi. In Massachusetts, residents pay $8,168 compared to $5,274 in Mississippi, resulting in a $2,894 difference.
California and West Virginia lead the nation with the most and least expensive monthly mortgages. You’ll pay $4,133 in California but stay comfortably under $1,000 at $942 per month in West Virginia.
Keep reading to see the states where moving across the state border can save you the most money.
Alabama
Annual cost of necessities: $36,714
Monthly mortgage: $1,235
Monthly grocery costs: $493
Annual healthcare costs: $5,305
Border state where it is cheaper to live:
Mississippi is $2,782 cheaper annually.
Arizona
Annual cost of necessities: $51,000
Monthly mortgage: $2,229
Monthly grocery costs: $517
Annual healthcare costs: $6,123
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
New Mexico is $8,818 cheaper annually.
Arkansas
Annual cost of necessities: $36,009
Monthly mortgage: $1,178
Monthly grocery costs: $484
Annual healthcare costs: $5,317
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Mississippi is $2,077 cheaper annually.
Louisiana is $455 cheaper annually.
California
Annual cost of necessities: $79,458
Monthly mortgage: $4,133
Monthly grocery costs: $573
Annual healthcare costs: $6,885
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Arizona is $28,458 cheaper annually.
Nevada is $25,826 cheaper annually.
Oregon is $21,603 cheaper annually.
Colorado
Annual cost of necessities: $57,522
Monthly mortgage: $2,875
Monthly grocery costs: $523
Annual healthcare costs: $6,439
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Oklahoma is $21,382 cheaper annually.
Kansas is $19,633 cheaper annually.
Nebraska is $16,778 cheaper annually.
New Mexico is $15,340 cheaper annually.
Wyoming is $12,005 cheaper annually.
Arizona is $6,522 cheaper annually.
Utah is $991 cheaper annually.
Delaware
Annual cost of necessities: $49,686
Monthly mortgage: $2,125
Monthly grocery costs: $537
Annual healthcare costs: $6,296
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Pennsylvania is $7,134 cheaper annually.
Florida
Annual cost of necessities: $48,902
Monthly mortgage: $2,062
Monthly grocery costs: $548
Annual healthcare costs: $6,284
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Alabama is $12,188 cheaper annually.
Georgia is $4,489 cheaper annually.
Georgia
Annual cost of necessities: $44,413
Monthly mortgage: $1,745
Monthly grocery costs: $503
Annual healthcare costs: $6,172
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Alabama is $7,700 cheaper annually.
Tennessee is $1,960 cheaper annually.
South Carolina is $1,928 cheaper annually.
Idaho
Annual cost of necessities: $52,957
Monthly mortgage: $2,486
Monthly grocery costs: $536
Annual healthcare costs: $6,296
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Wyoming is $7,441 cheaper annually.
Illinois
Annual cost of necessities: $42,902
Monthly mortgage: $1,570
Monthly grocery costs: $515
Annual healthcare costs: $6,383
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Kentucky is $5,557 cheaper annually.
Iowa is $5,218 cheaper annually.
Indiana is $3,758 cheaper annually.
Missouri is $3,626 cheaper annually.
Indiana
Annual cost of necessities: $39,144
Monthly mortgage: $1,360
Monthly grocery costs: $508
Annual healthcare costs: $5,670
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Kentucky is $1,799 cheaper annually.
Ohio is $52 cheaper annually.
Kansas
Annual cost of necessities: $37,889
Monthly mortgage: $1,308
Monthly grocery costs: $494
Annual healthcare costs: $5,614
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Oklahoma is $1,749 cheaper annually.
Kentucky
Annual cost of necessities: $37,345
Monthly mortgage: $1,216
Monthly grocery costs: $526
Annual healthcare costs: $5,726
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
West Virginia is $3,406 cheaper annually.
Louisiana
Annual cost of necessities: $35,554
Monthly mortgage: $1,131
Monthly grocery costs: $495
Annual healthcare costs: $5,676
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Mississippi is $1,622 cheaper annually.
Maryland
Annual cost of necessities: $54,077
Monthly mortgage: $2,334
Monthly grocery costs: $567
Annual healthcare costs: $6,625
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
West Virginia is $20,139 cheaper annually.
Pennsylvania is $11,525 cheaper annually.
Delaware is $4,391 cheaper annually.
Virginia is $3,979 cheaper annually.
Massachusetts
Annual cost of necessities: $72,281
Monthly mortgage: $3,601
Monthly grocery costs: $554
Annual healthcare costs: $8,168
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Vermont is $21,511 cheaper annually.
Connecticut is $15,643 cheaper annually.
New York is $15,497 cheaper annually.
Rhode Island is $13,744 cheaper annually.
New Hampshire is $13,006 cheaper annually.
Michigan
Annual cost of necessities: $39,660
Monthly mortgage: $1,381
Monthly grocery costs: $519
Annual healthcare costs: $5,466
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Ohio is $568 cheaper annually.
Indiana is $516 cheaper annually.
Minnesota
Annual cost of necessities: $46,540
Monthly mortgage: $1,879
Monthly grocery costs: $512
Annual healthcare costs: $6,910
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Iowa is $8,856 cheaper annually.
North Dakota is $4,799 cheaper annually.
South Dakota is $2,884 cheaper annually.
Wisconsin is $1,577 cheaper annually.
Missouri
Annual cost of necessities: $39,276
Monthly mortgage: $1,417
Monthly grocery costs: $491
Annual healthcare costs: $6,073
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Arkansas is $3,267 cheaper annually.
Oklahoma is $3,137 cheaper annually.
Kentucky is $1,931 cheaper annually.
Iowa is $1,592 cheaper annually.
Kansas is $1,388 cheaper annually.
Montana
Annual cost of necessities: $53,532
Monthly mortgage: $2,471
Monthly grocery costs: $531
Annual healthcare costs: $6,587
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
North Dakota is $11,790 cheaper annually.
South Dakota is $9,876 cheaper annually.
Wyoming is $8,015 cheaper annually.
Idaho is $574 cheaper annually.
Nebraska
Annual cost of necessities: $40,744
Monthly mortgage: $1,471
Monthly grocery costs: $516
Annual healthcare costs: $6,544
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Iowa is $3,060 cheaper annually.
Kansas is $2,855 cheaper annually.
Missouri is $1,468 cheaper annually.
Nevada
Annual cost of necessities: $53,632
Monthly mortgage: $2,406
Monthly grocery costs: $538
Annual healthcare costs: $6,532
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Arizona is $2,632 cheaper annually.
Idaho is $674 cheaper annually.
New Hampshire
Annual cost of necessities: $59,275
Monthly mortgage: $2,806
Monthly grocery costs: $519
Annual healthcare costs: $6,600
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Vermont is $8,505 cheaper annually.
Maine is $6,747 cheaper annually.
New Jersey
Annual cost of necessities: $63,790
Monthly mortgage: $3,124
Monthly grocery costs: $566
Annual healthcare costs: $7,176
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Pennsylvania is $21,238 cheaper annually.
Delaware is $14,104 cheaper annually.
New York is $7,006 cheaper annually.
New Mexico
Annual cost of necessities: $42,182
Monthly mortgage: $1,664
Monthly grocery costs: $498
Annual healthcare costs: $6,315
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Oklahoma is $6,043 cheaper annually.
Texas is $211 cheaper annually.
New York
Annual cost of necessities: $56,784
Monthly mortgage: $2,609
Monthly grocery costs: $520
Annual healthcare costs: $6,749
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Pennsylvania is $14,232 cheaper annually.
Vermont is $6,014 cheaper annually.
Connecticut is $146 cheaper annually.
North Carolina
Annual cost of necessities: $44,984
Monthly mortgage: $1,767
Monthly grocery costs: $523
Annual healthcare costs: $6,718
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Tennessee is $2,531 cheaper annually.
South Carolina is $2,500 cheaper annually.
Georgia is $571 cheaper annually.
Ohio
Annual cost of necessities: $39,092
Monthly mortgage: $1,319
Monthly grocery costs: $513
Annual healthcare costs: $5,980
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
West Virginia is $5,153 cheaper annually.
Kentucky is $1,747 cheaper annually.
Oklahoma
Annual cost of necessities: $36,140
Monthly mortgage: $1,169
Monthly grocery costs: $485
Annual healthcare costs: $6,079
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Arkansas is $130 cheaper annually.
Oregon
Annual cost of necessities: $57,855
Monthly mortgage: $2,645
Monthly grocery costs: $542
Annual healthcare costs: $7,145
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Idaho is $4,898 cheaper annually.
Nevada is $4,223 cheaper annually.
Pennsylvania
Annual cost of necessities: $42,552
Monthly mortgage: $1,519
Monthly grocery costs: $513
Annual healthcare costs: $5,893
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
West Virginia is $8,614 cheaper annually.
Ohio is $3,461 cheaper annually.
Rhode Island
Annual cost of necessities: $58,537
Monthly mortgage: $2,731
Monthly grocery costs: $538
Annual healthcare costs: $6,451
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Connecticut is $1,899 cheaper annually.
South Dakota
Annual cost of necessities: $43,656
Monthly mortgage: $1,686
Monthly grocery costs: $506
Annual healthcare costs: $6,451
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Iowa is $5,972 cheaper annually.
Nebraska is $2,912 cheaper annually.
North Dakota is $1,915 cheaper annually.
Tennessee
Annual cost of necessities: $42,453
Monthly mortgage: $1,752
Monthly grocery costs: $497
Annual healthcare costs: $5,497
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Mississippi is $8,521 cheaper annually.
Arkansas is $6,444 cheaper annually.
Alabama is $5,740 cheaper annually.
Kentucky is $5,109 cheaper annually.
Missouri is $3,177 cheaper annually.
Texas
Annual cost of necessities: $41,971
Monthly mortgage: $1,571
Monthly grocery costs: $497
Annual healthcare costs: $5,999
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Louisiana is $6,418 cheaper annually.
Arkansas is $5,962 cheaper annually.
Oklahoma is $5,832 cheaper annually.
Utah
Annual cost of necessities: $56,531
Monthly mortgage: $2,853
Monthly grocery costs: $511
Annual healthcare costs: $5,571
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
New Mexico is $14,349 cheaper annually.
Wyoming is $11,014 cheaper annually.
Arizona is $5,531 cheaper annually.
Idaho is $3,574 cheaper annually.
Nevada is $2,899 cheaper annually.
Virginia
Annual cost of necessities: $50,098
Monthly mortgage: $2,207
Monthly grocery costs: $515
Annual healthcare costs: $6,005
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
West Virginia is $16,160 cheaper annually.
Louisiana is $14,544 cheaper annually.
Kentucky is $12,753 cheaper annually.
Tennessee is $7,645 cheaper annually.
North Carolina is $5,114 cheaper annually.
Washington
Annual cost of necessities: $65,447
Monthly mortgage: $3,193
Monthly grocery costs: $550
Annual healthcare costs: $6,835
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Idaho $12,490 cheaper annually.
Oregon is $7,592 cheaper annually.
Wisconsin
Annual cost of necessities: $44,963
Monthly mortgage: $1,788
Monthly grocery costs: $523
Annual healthcare costs: $6,525
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Iowa is $7,279 cheaper annually.
Michigan is $5,303 cheaper annually.
Illinois is $2,061 cheaper annually.
Wyoming
Annual cost of necessities: $45,517
Monthly mortgage: $1,914
Monthly grocery costs: $513
Annual healthcare costs: $6,011
Border state(s) where it is cheaper to live:
Nebraska is $4,773 cheaper annually.
South Dakota is $1,860 is cheaper annually.
Methodology: For this piece MoneyLion first found both the monthly and annual expenses for necessities in every state. MoneyLion defines necessities as mortgage payment, groceries, utilities, transportation and healthcare. These national figures were sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 Consumer Expenditure Survey Table 1203 under “food at home” for groceries, “utilities, fuels and public services” for utilities, “gasoline and other fuels + other vehicle expenses” for transportation, and “healthcare” for healthcare. These national figures were then calculated for state averages using the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center’s Quarter 1 of 2026 cost of living data series. For mortgage payments, MoneyLion first found the typical single-family residence home value in every state using Zillow’s June 2026 data and then assumed a 30-year fixed rate mortgage at 6.69% as sourced from Freddie Mac’s Augus 6, 2026 data with a 20% down payment. Once all the figures were calculated for each state MoneyLion added the different categories to get both a monthly and annual total of necessities for each state. MoneyLion then compared all states to those it borders (excluding water borders only) to see where in America it was cheaper to live across your state’s border. MoneyLion provided both a monthly and annual difference in cost-of-living for each qualified border state. Alaska and Hawaii were not included in this study. All data was collected and is up to date as of Aug. 10, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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