Cost of Living Changes 2020–2025
Year-by-year cost-of-living comparison across all 50 states, rebased to 2020. Shows which states saw the steepest rise in costs since the pandemic — and which stayed flattest.
States ranked by combined cost-of-living increase, 2020–2025
Combined measure = BLS CPI-U regional inflation + BEA RPP state-level cost-of-living drift. Both components rebased to 2020 = 100. Higher values mean the dollar lost more purchasing power in that state.
| Rank | State | COL 2020 (est.) | COL 2025 | CPI Region | CPI Change | Combined △ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 84 | 102 | South | +20.8% | +21.1% |
| 2 | Louisiana | 75 | 91 | South | +20.8% | +21.1% |
| 3 | Tennessee | 75 | 91 | South | +20.8% | +21.1% |
| 4 | Delaware | 85 | 103 | South | +20.8% | +21% |
| 5 | Virginia | 85 | 103 | South | +20.8% | +21% |
| 6 | Maryland | 95 | 115 | South | +20.8% | +20.9% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 72 | 87 | South | +20.8% | +20.8% |
| 8 | Georgia | 77 | 93 | South | +20.8% | +20.8% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 72 | 87 | South | +20.8% | +20.8% |
| 10 | South Carolina | 77 | 93 | South | +20.8% | +20.8% |
| 11 | Texas | 77 | 93 | South | +20.8% | +20.8% |
| 12 | Alabama | 73 | 88 | South | +20.8% | +20.7% |
| 13 | North Dakota | 76 | 92 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.7% |
| 14 | South Dakota | 76 | 92 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.7% |
| 15 | Minnesota | 81 | 98 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.6% |
| 16 | Kentucky | 74 | 89 | South | +20.8% | +20.5% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 79 | 95 | South | +20.8% | +20.5% |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 77 | 93 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.5% |
| 19 | Mississippi | 70 | 84 | South | +20.8% | +20.4% |
| 20 | West Virginia | 70 | 84 | South | +20.8% | +20.4% |
| 21 | Kansas | 74 | 89 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.3% |
| 22 | Missouri | 74 | 89 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.3% |
| 23 | Illinois | 80 | 96 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.1% |
| 24 | Indiana | 75 | 90 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.1% |
| 25 | Iowa | 75 | 90 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.1% |
| 26 | Michigan | 75 | 90 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.1% |
| 27 | Ohio | 75 | 90 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.1% |
| 28 | Nebraska | 76 | 91 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20% |
| 29 | Montana | 84 | 101 | West | +19.6% | +19.9% |
| 30 | Utah | 84 | 101 | West | +19.6% | +19.9% |
| 31 | Arizona | 85 | 102 | West | +19.6% | +19.8% |
| 32 | Wyoming | 80 | 96 | West | +19.6% | +19.8% |
| 33 | Alaska | 106 | 127 | West | +19.6% | +19.7% |
| 34 | California | 116 | 139 | West | +19.6% | +19.7% |
| 35 | Idaho | 81 | 97 | West | +19.6% | +19.7% |
| 36 | Maine | 90 | 108 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.7% |
| 37 | Nevada | 86 | 103 | West | +19.6% | +19.7% |
| 38 | Rhode Island | 90 | 108 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.7% |
| 39 | Washington | 96 | 115 | West | +19.6% | +19.7% |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | 81 | 97 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.6% |
| 41 | New Jersey | 97 | 116 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.5% |
| 42 | New York | 107 | 128 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.5% |
| 43 | Colorado | 88 | 105 | West | +19.6% | +19.4% |
| 44 | Hawaii | 156 | 186 | West | +19.6% | +19.4% |
| 45 | New Mexico | 78 | 93 | West | +19.6% | +19.4% |
| 46 | Vermont | 93 | 111 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.4% |
| 47 | Connecticut | 94 | 112 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.3% |
| 48 | New Hampshire | 94 | 112 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.3% |
| 49 | Oregon | 95 | 113 | West | +19.6% | +19.3% |
| 50 | Massachusetts | 110 | 131 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.2% |
COL 2020 estimated by applying regional CPI ratio to 2025 BEA RPP. Actual 2020 state-level RPP data is not published at state granularity; these are directionally accurate estimates. Regional CPI from BLS Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.
Regional CPI trends, 2020–2025
| Region | 2020 CPI-U | 2025 CPI-U | 5-year Change | Annualized |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 273.9 | 327.0 | +19.4% | +3.6% |
| Midwest | 249.8 | 300.5 | +20.3% | +3.8% |
| South | 255.0 | 308.0 | +20.8% | +3.8% |
| West | 277.5 | 331.8 | +19.6% | +3.6% |
Northeast and West regions saw the fastest CPI growth (both ~19% cumulative). Midwest was slowest (~20% cumulative but higher base effect). Source: BLS CPI-U All Urban Consumers, annual averages.
What this means for tax planning
- Tax brackets are inflation-indexed. The IRS adjusts brackets, standard deduction, and contribution limits annually using the Chained CPI-U. States that inflate faster than the national average effectively see their residents' real tax burden rise slower (because the IRS inflates brackets for you).
- Property tax assessments lag market prices. High-inflation states (ID, AZ, FL) saw rapid home price appreciation → higher property tax assessments with a 1–3 year lag. Your 2026 property tax bill may still reflect pre-surge valuations.
- Moving for COL reasons is a multi-year bet. The high-COL → low-COL migration trend (CA→TX, NY→FL) partially unwinds if destination states inflate faster than origin states. Monitor the gap, not the absolute level.
Methodology
Data compiled from the sources listed above. All figures cross-checked against primary data from the relevant federal and state agencies. Methodology details in the data sections above.
License: This analysis is published under CC-BY 4.0. Re-use freely with attribution to USTax Tools and a link back to this page.