There are a lot of ways to choose where to live in the U.S.
There are the happiest places in the country, or maybe the states with the best jobs or the best education. But if you are looking for an easier way of life, consider one of the cheapest states, where the cost of living hits rock bottom lows.
As reported by U.S. News, the Council for Community and Economic Research calculated a cost of living index using the average costs of common consumer goods and services. The Council set an average score of 100 and then ranked states above (more expensive) or below that number (cheaper, like all the states listed here).
Here are the cheapest states to live in, along with the median house price and median household income for each.
10.Indiana
IndianapolisChris Graythen / Getty ImagesAverage cost of living index: 90.57
Median household income: $57,603
Average home price: $286,833
You can get milk for about a buck 50 in Indiana, and eggs for just over a dollar.
9.Michigan
Detroit skylineBill Pugliano / Getty ImagesAverage cost of living index: 90.40
Median household income: $59,584
Average home price: $283,548
Michiganders tend to be devoted to their home state, and it's no wonder considering it ranks among the most affordable states.
8.Missouri
Japanese garden in MissouriiStock / Getty ImagesAverage cost of living index: 89.75
Median household income: $57,409
Average home price: $284,492
Missouri is known as the "Show Me State" for its abundance of common sense folks, but we think it refers to them showing off their easy way of life to people in more expensive states.
7.Tennessee
Mount Le ConteMCT / ImagnAverage cost of living index: 89.49
Median household income: $56,071
Average home price: $307,432
While homes might be a little more expensive in Tennessee, the overall cost of living is good in the "Volunteer State."
6.Georgia
Blue Ridge Mountains in Brasstown Bald, GeorgiaiStock / Getty ImagesAverage cost of living index: 89.30
Median household income: $61,980
Average home price: $264,085
Georgia actually ranks second highest for median income among the cheapest states, so you can make money even as you save money.
5.Arkansas
Hot Springs, ArkansasiStock / Getty Images PlusAverage cost of living index: 89.16
Median household income: $48,952
Average home price: $314,486
Arkansas ranks among the middle of the group, but if you cut off the first two letters and a few points from its score, you arrive at its near-neighbor further down the list.
4.Alabama
Fort Payne, AlabamaiStock / Getty Images PlusAverage cost of living index: 88.80
Median household income: $51,734
Average home price: $269,453
Deep in the heart of Dixie you'll find some low, low prices.
3.Oklahoma
Oklahoma skyiStock / Getty Images PlusAverage cost of living index: 88.09
Median household income: $54,449
Average home price: $285,750
The average home goes for just over 285 grand in Oklahoma, a bargain considering all the money you save elsewhere in the state.
2.Kansas
Sunset in KansasiStock / Getty Images PlusAverage cost of living index: 86.67
Median household income: $62,087
Average home price: $272,626
The middle of the country, but not the middle of the pack, Kansas ranks second among cheapest spots in the U.S.
1.Mississippi
Jackson, MississippiiStock / Getty Images PlusAverage cost of living index: 84.10
Median household income: $45,792
Average home price: $252,725
You love to spell it in your head and you'll love to live there too if you care about your wallet. Relatively low home prices go well with cheap groceries.
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