The U.S. Cost Index 2026: what everyday life costs by state
How far your money goes depends heavily on your state. We scaled Reportspedia’s sourced national cost figures by each state’s official price level to map what everyday services and major home projects really cost across America.
Using Reportspedia's own sourced national cost figures scaled by each state's BEA price level, the same basket of five everyday services costs about $652 in the cheapest state (Arkansas) versus $830 in the priciest (California) — roughly 27% more. On big-ticket home projects the gap widens to about $19,260.
The 8 most expensive states for everyday services
The 8 cheapest states for everyday services
Big-ticket home projects: the state price gap
Because they scale off local labour and material prices, big projects swing far more in absolute dollars than everyday services. Combined typical cost of a roof replacement, kitchen remodel, solar install and bathroom remodel:
| State | Big-ticket basket | vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| California | $89,680 | +11% |
| Hawaii | $89,060 | +10% |
| District of Columbia | $89,020 | +10% |
| Iowa | $71,090 | -12% |
| Mississippi | $70,430 | -13% |
| Arkansas | $70,420 | -13% |
| U.S. average | $81,000 | — |
Where sales tax adds the most
Sales tax falls on the material portion of many costs. Highest combined average rates: Louisiana (10.11%), Tennessee (9.61%), Washington (9.51%), Alabama (9.46%), Arkansas (9.46%). Four states — Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon — levy no statewide sales tax at all.
Methodology
We take Reportspedia's national typical cost for each service — every one compiled from cited public sources — and scale it by each state's overall price level from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024, US = 100). Sales-tax figures are the combined state + local averages from the Tax Foundation (2026). These are modelled regional estimates, not a direct price survey; real category-specific variation differs.
Source: Reportspedia — U.S. Cost Index 2026 (reportspedia.com/research/us-cost-index-2026/)