What Are The Best States to Live and Work?

The beauty of the United States of America is that there are endless options to choose from when deciding your life’s course. Things change from one coast to the other and one state to the next.

If you’re looking for an affordable place to call home, there are plenty of options in the US. For business owners, entrepreneurs, 9-5ers, and remote workers, keeping the cost of living down can bolster success and increase your disposable income. Not long ago, we featured the best places to retire for seniors, which featured a comprehensive review on where to go after you’re done working.

Not ready to retire? Here are some of the most affordable states to live and work in.

Michigan

Michigan is a great state to call home. First and foremost, it’s conveniently located for those who have to travel to big cities for work, whether that’s Toronto, Canada or Chicago, Illinois. One of the main benefits for residents and business owners in Michigan is that it’s one of the deregulated states. That means you can go on the EnergyBot homepage and find an energy provider that fits your budget, taking advantage of the competitive market, and saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year.

Housing is notably cheap in Michigan, even compared to some of the other, more affordable states. The cost of groceries also tends to be lower in Michigan. The trade-off is in transportation costs, which tends to be higher than the other most affordable states to live and work in. These factors make Michigan a great place to call home if you own a remote or consulting business.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a beautiful state to call home, and also one of the most affordable. The cost of living in Oklahoma is the third-lowest of all the states, and housing is even more affordable than in Michigan. Unlike Michigan, Oklahoma is sparsely populated with a lot of space to call home. It’s also one of the few states to make it through the great recession of 2008 mostly unscathed, earning it a top-three position in earnings growth the year following.

Those who like an urban setting can choose to live in or commute to Oklahoma City, where there are plenty of opportunities for work and a culture that promotes diversity and inclusion. In fact, Oklahoma is ranked as one of the best states for military retirees. In summary, not only is the Sooner State affordable to live in with lots of space to grow, but it’s also a friendly place that cares about its people.

Missouri

If you love your low cost of living with a side of barbecue and beer, Missouri might be the state for you. With Kansas City and St. Louis as two major hubs in the area, you can choose to immerse yourself in city life or spread out in a rural area within commuting distance. The cost of living in Missouri is substantially lower than the national average, ranking as the fourth lowest in the country.

Missouri has a lot of great resources for those raising a family, including a robust education system and access to public libraries and programs. With a rich farming culture, it’s easy to eat and support local, keeping Missouri’s cost of living low and fantastic culture thriving.

New Mexico

When it comes to a low cost of living, New Mexico is one of the five best states in the country. The cost of living is 4% lower than the national average, and the average home price is 5% below the national average. With a warm climate and a unique history, New Mexico is a great place to make a fresh start.

New Mexico is ideal for entrepreneurs, as there aren’t a lot of new job opportunities in the area. It’s a land built for self-made people and those who strive to capitalize on the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement.

Georgia

Not only does Georgia have a reasonable cost of living, but it was also ranked as one of the top ten states in which to start a business. The cost of housing is low compared to many states, especially as the area continues to grow and flourish. Housing in the suburbs is plentiful, making for an easy commute to the city for work, and there are many affordable options for renters as well. The commute to the suburbs is compounded by the cheap fuel costs in Georgia, keeping the costs associated with working low.

Georgia is ranked as one of the ten cheapest states to live in, according to CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business report. Even so, it has an excellent education program for young families as well as highly-ranked post-secondary schools, making it a terrific state for any stage of your life. If entrepreneurship isn’t your cup of peach tea, there is a strong military presence in Georgia and a bustling job market to find employment that works for you.

There are plenty of affordable states to live, work, and play in. Take time to compare some of the options and seek alignment with your life goals before making a decision. The best part is, if you don’t like the place you choose, you can always move again in the future.

Final thoughts

Finding a place you will love to call home is always an essential life consideration. We hope you have enjoyed our opinions on some of the most affordable states to work and live. If you find the information was helpful, please consider sharing it with someone who could use the advice.

Other Helpful Real Estate Articles Worth Reading

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• Can you buy a house with bad credit – purchasing a home with bad credit is not easy but certainly not impossible either. See what you need to know about buying a house with less than stellar credit.
• Real Estate truths you need to know – learn some of the facts about real estate and agents that consumers often don’t realize. Not understanding these issues can cause problems with either your purchase or sale.

Use these additional articles to make smart buying and selling decisions.

About the author: The above article on most affordable states to live and work was written by Amelia Atkins. Amelia is an author at Smooth Decorator and a fresh architecture student. The love for architecture and design runs in her family. She knew what she wanted to do from a very young age. You can often find her with a notepad in hand, just looking at the clouds, dreaming about the next skyscraper.