What $1,000 Really Gets You Across America
What’s a grand worth these days? That depends on where you live. In some states, $1,000 can stretch to cover groceries, rent, and even a night out. In others, it vanishes after a few bills.
Using Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (RPPs)—which measure how expensive or cheap states are compared to the U.S. average—we’ve ranked the 15 states where your $1,000 stretches the farthest, and the 15 where it barely gets you much of anything.
Beginning with the latter...
15: Utah
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 94.6
Effective value of $1,000: $1,057
Housing cost index: 105
Services cost index: 101
Utah isn’t as extreme as coastal states, but rapid growth has driven up housing costs in cities like Salt Lake City. A thousand dollars doesn’t stretch quite as far as it once did.
14: Colorado
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 102.3
Effective value of $1,000: $976
Housing cost index: 112
Groceries cost index: 106
Colorado’s mountain lifestyle comes with high demand and higher rents. Denver and Boulder push up the averages, leaving residents with less purchasing power than they’d expect.
13: Virginia
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 102.1
Effective value of $1,000: $979
Housing cost index: 109
Services cost index: 105
Northern Virginia’s proximity to Washington, D.C. drives up costs statewide. Even outside the Beltway, $1,000 buys less here than in much of the country.
Bruce Emmerling, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
12: Florida
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 102.3
Effective value of $1,000: $976
Housing cost index: 112
Healthcare cost index: 108
Between skyrocketing rents in Miami and surging insurance premiums, Florida isn’t as affordable as it used to be. That thousand-dollar bill doesn’t cover nearly as much as it once did.
11: Delaware
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 98.0
Effective value of $1,000: $1,021
Housing cost index: 104
Utilities cost index: 102
Delaware’s small size doesn’t mean small prices. High housing and utility costs make $1,000 lose some of its shine here.
Tim Kiser (User:Malepheasant), CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
10: Rhode Island
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 104.4
Effective value of $1,000: $958
Housing cost index: 115
Services cost index: 108
Limited land and strong demand make Rhode Island expensive. In Providence and coastal towns alike, $1,000 disappears faster than most people expect.
9: Maryland
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 104.9
Effective value of $1,000: $954
Housing cost index: 118
Services cost index: 110
Maryland’s closeness to Washington, D.C. inflates costs, especially housing. That thousand dollars just doesn’t stretch far enough when rent and services eat into it.
8: Connecticut
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 106.2
Effective value of $1,000: $942
Housing cost index: 120
Services cost index: 112
Connecticut blends suburban housing prices with high service costs, leaving little room for savings. Here, $1,000 feels more like $940.
John9474, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
7: Oregon
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 106.6
Effective value of $1,000: $937
Housing cost index: 118
Groceries cost index: 109
Oregon’s popularity has driven prices up, particularly around Portland. Housing costs keep $1,000 from stretching the way it once did.
6: Washington
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 110.0
Effective value of $1,000: $909
Housing cost index: 125
Services cost index: 113
Seattle’s booming economy has come at a cost: rising housing and service prices. That thousand-dollar bill doesn’t go very far in the Evergreen State.
5: New York
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 107.6
Effective value of $1,000: $930
Housing cost index: 128
Utilities cost index: 112
From Manhattan rents to upstate utility bills, costs are high across the board in New York. $1,000 shrinks fast in the Empire State.
4: Massachusetts
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 109.4
Effective value of $1,000: $915
Housing cost index: 130
Services cost index: 114
Boston’s housing crunch and elevated services make Massachusetts one of the toughest states for stretching cash. That thousand feels like a lot less.
3: Hawaii
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 108.6
Effective value of $1,000: $921
Housing cost index: 154
Utilities cost index: 145
Island life comes at a premium. Imported goods, high energy bills, and scarce housing make $1,000 worth far less here than anywhere on the mainland.
ArdentArbitration, Wikimedia Commons
2: New Jersey
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 108.9
Effective value of $1,000: $918
Housing cost index: 135
Services cost index: 112
High property taxes, expensive housing, and costly services put New Jersey near the bottom. That thousand-dollar bill evaporates fast.
1: California
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 112.6
Effective value of $1,000: $888
Housing cost index: 136
Utilities & services: 112
California is officially the hardest place to stretch a dollar. Between sky-high housing and inflated everyday costs, $1,000 disappears quicker here than anywhere else in America.
Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Now for the Good News
That’s the bad news—places where $1,000 doesn’t get you much. But the story flips in other corners of the country. In some states, your money stretches further than you’d think. So let’s end this on a happy note and count down the 15 states where $1,000 still goes the farthest.
Photo By: Kaboompics.com, Pexels
15: New Mexico
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 90.9
Effective value of $1,000: $1,099
Housing cost index: 82
Groceries cost index: 92
New Mexico offers affordable housing and utilities, especially outside of Santa Fe. Here, $1,000 buys the equivalent of about $1,100 in national-average terms, making life a little easier on the wallet.
14: Kansas
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 89.7
Effective value of $1,000: $1,114
Housing cost index: 80
Services cost index: 90
Kansas combines wide-open space with low demand, keeping prices reasonable. A thousand dollars stretches further here, covering more housing, food, and everyday expenses than in most of the U.S.
Stephen Edmonds, Wikimedia Commons
13: Montana
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 90.2
Effective value of $1,000: $1,109
Housing cost index: 85
Services cost index: 91
Outside of booming towns like Bozeman, Montana remains a relatively low-cost state. Residents enjoy cheaper housing and services, making $1,000 feel closer to $1,110 in buying power.
Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
12: Nebraska
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 89.9
Effective value of $1,000: $1,112
Housing cost index: 82
Utilities cost index: 87
With steady housing prices and affordable utilities, Nebraska gives households more breathing room. That thousand-dollar bill stretches to over $1,110 worth of goods and services.
11: Ohio
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 91.5
Effective value of $1,000: $1,092
Housing cost index: 84
Groceries cost index: 93
Ohio’s major cities remain affordable compared to coastal metros. Housing, groceries, and healthcare all run cheaper, giving $1,000 more staying power.
Nicholas J. Klein, Adobe Stock
10: Missouri
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 91.0
Effective value of $1,000: $1,099
Housing cost index: 82
Services cost index: 90
Missouri keeps daily life affordable across both urban and rural areas. A thousand dollars goes further here than in many states, stretching close to $1,100 in real value.
9: Indiana
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 91.9
Effective value of $1,000: $1,087
Housing cost index: 84
Services cost index: 92
Indiana’s combination of low-cost housing and modest service prices ensures $1,000 buys more than average. That makes it a reliable spot for stretching a paycheck.
8: Kentucky
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 89.4
Effective value of $1,000: $1,119
Housing cost index: 80
Groceries cost index: 91
In Kentucky, rent and groceries remain below national averages. That thousand-dollar bill feels heavier here, with nearly $1,120 in effective buying power.
Christopher Boswell, Adobe Stock
7: Louisiana
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 90.5
Effective value of $1,000: $1,105
Housing cost index: 83
Services cost index: 92
Louisiana balances affordable housing with lower service costs. While utilities can be higher in some regions, $1,000 still stretches well compared to most states.
6: Iowa
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 88.4
Effective value of $1,000: $1,131
Housing cost index: 78
Groceries cost index: 90
Iowa keeps costs down across the board. With inexpensive housing and food, $1,000 buys over $1,130 worth of value, making the Hawkeye State a budget-friendly option.
Grindstone Media Grp, Adobe Stock
5: West Virginia
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 89.2
Effective value of $1,000: $1,122
Housing cost index: 79
Healthcare cost index: 90
West Virginia’s low cost of living makes it a standout. Rent, food, and medical care all run below national averages, so $1,000 stretches to more than $1,120 in value.
4: Oklahoma
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 88.8
Effective value of $1,000: $1,126
Housing cost index: 77
Services cost index: 89
With some of the lowest housing costs in the country, Oklahoma lets $1,000 go a long way. Affordable services keep that dollar stretching even further.
3: South Dakota
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 88.1
Effective value of $1,000: $1,136
Housing cost index: 78
Utilities cost index: 86
South Dakota’s modest costs for housing and utilities make money last longer. That thousand-dollar bill buys nearly $1,140 worth of goods and services.
2: Mississippi
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 87.3
Effective value of $1,000: $1,145
Housing cost index: 74
Groceries cost index: 89
Mississippi may have lower incomes overall, but prices are cheap across the board. $1,000 buys as much here as $1,145 in an average state.
1: Arkansas
Regional Price Parity (RPP): 86.5
Effective value of $1,000: $1,156
Housing cost index: 68
Services cost index: 87
Arkansas is the most affordable state in America. Housing, groceries, and services all run well below average, giving $1,000 the purchasing power of nearly $1,160 compared to the U.S. average.
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