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 + the state-level drift of BEA Regional Price Parities (2024, all items). 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 | Texas | 80 | 97.1 | South | +20.8% | +21.1% |
| 2 | Tennessee | 76 | 91.9 | South | +20.8% | +20.9% |
| 3 | West Virginia | 74 | 89.5 | South | +20.8% | +20.9% |
| 4 | Louisiana | 73 | 88.2 | South | +20.8% | +20.8% |
| 5 | Mississippi | 72 | 87 | South | +20.8% | +20.8% |
| 6 | North Carolina | 78 | 94.3 | South | +20.8% | +20.8% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 72 | 86.9 | South | +20.8% | +20.7% |
| 8 | Maryland | 87 | 105 | South | +20.8% | +20.7% |
| 9 | Missouri | 75 | 90.8 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.7% |
| 10 | Georgia | 80 | 96.3 | South | +20.8% | +20.6% |
| 11 | Virginia | 84 | 101.1 | South | +20.8% | +20.6% |
| 12 | Delaware | 83 | 99.8 | South | +20.8% | +20.5% |
| 13 | Florida | 86 | 103.4 | South | +20.8% | +20.5% |
| 14 | Kentucky | 75 | 90.2 | South | +20.8% | +20.5% |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 73 | 87.8 | South | +20.8% | +20.5% |
| 16 | South Carolina | 78 | 93.7 | South | +20.8% | +20.5% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 78 | 94.1 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.5% |
| 18 | Alabama | 74 | 88.8 | South | +20.8% | +20.4% |
| 19 | Illinois | 83 | 100 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.4% |
| 20 | Ohio | 77 | 92.8 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.4% |
| 21 | Iowa | 73 | 87.8 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.3% |
| 22 | Michigan | 80 | 96.2 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.3% |
| 23 | Minnesota | 82 | 98.6 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.3% |
| 24 | North Dakota | 74 | 89 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.3% |
| 25 | Kansas | 75 | 90.1 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.2% |
| 26 | Nebraska | 75 | 90.1 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20.2% |
| 27 | Indiana | 78 | 93.3 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20% |
| 28 | South Dakota | 74 | 88.6 | Midwest | +20.3% | +20% |
| 29 | Oregon | 86 | 103.4 | West | +19.6% | +19.9% |
| 30 | Washington | 89 | 107 | West | +19.6% | +19.9% |
| 31 | Arizona | 84 | 100.7 | West | +19.6% | +19.7% |
| 32 | Colorado | 86 | 103.1 | West | +19.6% | +19.7% |
| 33 | Montana | 79 | 94.6 | West | +19.6% | +19.7% |
| 34 | New Mexico | 77 | 92.2 | West | +19.6% | +19.7% |
| 35 | Hawaii | 92 | 110 | West | +19.6% | +19.6% |
| 36 | Maine | 81 | 97 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.6% |
| 37 | New Hampshire | 87 | 104.2 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.6% |
| 38 | New York | 90 | 107.9 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.6% |
| 39 | Idaho | 80 | 95.5 | West | +19.6% | +19.5% |
| 40 | New Jersey | 91 | 108.8 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.5% |
| 41 | Utah | 83 | 98.9 | West | +19.6% | +19.4% |
| 42 | Vermont | 82 | 98 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.4% |
| 43 | Alaska | 86 | 102.4 | West | +19.6% | +19.3% |
| 44 | California | 93 | 110.7 | West | +19.6% | +19.3% |
| 45 | Nevada | 84 | 100 | West | +19.6% | +19.3% |
| 46 | Connecticut | 87 | 103.6 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.2% |
| 47 | Pennsylvania | 82 | 97.6 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.2% |
| 48 | Rhode Island | 86 | 102.3 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.2% |
| 49 | Wyoming | 78 | 92.7 | West | +19.6% | +19.2% |
| 50 | Massachusetts | 89 | 105.8 | Northeast | +19.4% | +19.1% |
COL 2020 estimated by applying the regional CPI ratio to the BEA Regional Price Parity for the state. State-level cost-of-living data for 2020 is not separately published; 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.