News & Data Studies

Original studies built from CostByState's cited data — cost of living, take-home pay, and affordability across US states. Journalists are welcome to cite these figures with a link.

• The Salary You Need to Live Comfortably in Each State (2026)

  We ran the cost of living in 10 states through the tax code to find the gross salary a single adult needs for a comfortable life.

  2026-07-08

• Cost of Living by State: The 2026 Ranking

  Monthly essential costs for a single adult across 10 states, from most to least expensive.

  2026-07-08

• Take-Home Pay on a $100,000 Salary by State (2026)

  The same $100k salary leaves you with thousands more in some states than others. Here is the 2026 breakdown.

  2026-07-08

• Do No-Income-Tax States Actually Cost Less? (2026)

  No state income tax sounds like a raise. We checked whether it really leaves you better off once cost of living is in the picture.

  2026-07-08