Top States For Business 2013

America’s cheapest states to live

By Scott Cohn | CNBC Senior Correspondent
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Least Expensive State to Live

Grand Island, Nebraska
Richard Cummins | Lonely Planet Images | Getty Images

The cost of living is a key factor when businesses decide where to set up shop. That's why Cost of Living is one of the categories we measure as we rank America's Top States for Business. The lower the cost of living, the higher the score. Here are America's least expensive states to live in as ranked by CNBC, as well as a sampling of the prices you'll pay for some basics in the most expensive area of the state. (Average price data based on Council for Community and Economic Research C2ER Cost of Living Index, Q1 2013.)

By CNBC Senior Correspondent Scott Cohn.
Posted 11 July 2013

10. MISSISSIPPI

Superstock | Getty Images

Average Home Price (Jackson Metro): $248,167

Half Gallon of Milk: $2.51

T-Bone Steak: $10.44

Monthly Energy Bill: $123.09

Doctor Visit: $80.50

2013 Cost of Living Rank: 10th Cheapest

2013 Cost of Living Score: 41 (out of 50)

2012 Cost of Living Rank: 8th Cheapest


9. TEXAS

Thomas Northcut | Photodisc | Getty Images

Average Home Price (Houston Metro): $239,040

Half Gallon of Milk: $2.22

T-Bone Steak: $10.03

Monthly Energy Bill: $151.58

Doctor Visit: $94.70

2013 Cost of Living Rank: 9th Cheapest

2013 Cost of Living Score: 42 (out of 50)

2012 Cost of Living Rank: 3rd Cheapest


7. KANSAS (*TIE)

Nick Vedros & Associates | Stone | Getty Images

Average Home Price (Dodge City Metro): $261,000

Half Gallon of Milk: $2.49

T-Bone Steak: $9.50

Monthly Energy Bill: $141.01

Doctor Visit: $90.00

* 2013 Cost of Living Rank: 7th Cheapest

2013 Cost of Living Score: 44 (out of 50)

2012 Cost of Living Rank: 10th Cheapest

7. ARKANSAS (*TIE)

Hot Springs, Arkansas
Ionas Kaltenbach | Lonely Planet Images | Getty Images

Average Home Price (Little Rock Metro): $301,250

Half Gallon of Milk: $2.26

T-Bone Steak: $10.84

Monthly Energy Bill: $134.64

Doctor Visit: $100.50

* 2013 Cost of Living Rank: 7th Cheapest

2013 Cost of Living Score: 44 (out of 50)

2012 Cost of Living Rank: 5th Cheapest


6. INDIANA

Peter Ptschelinzew | Lonely Planet Image | Getty Images

Average Home Price (Fort Wayne Metro): $284,543

Half Gallon of Milk: $1.94

T-Bone Steak: $11.19

Monthly Energy Bill: $114.72

Doctor Visit: $86.33

2013 Cost of Living Rank: 6th Cheapest

2013 Cost of Living Score: 45 (out of 50)

2012 Cost of Living Rank: 7th Cheapest


5. NEBRASKA

Grand Island, Nebraska
Walter Bibikow | The Image Bank | Getty Images

Average Home Price (Hastings Metro): $263,000

Half Gallon of Milk: $1.98

T-Bone Steak: $10.99

Monthly Energy Bill: $127.26

Doctor Visit: $71.33

2013 Cost of Living Rank: 5th Cheapest

2013 Cost of Living Score: 46 (out of 50)

2012 Cost of Living Rank: 11th Cheapest


3. KENTUCKY (*TIE)

Jeff Greenberg | Photolibrary | Getty Images

Average Home Price (Louisville Metro): $232,139

Half Gallon of Milk: $1.96

T-Bone Steak: $8.99

Monthly Energy Bill: $123.43

Doctor Visit: $86.10

* 2013 Cost of Living Rank: 3rd Cheapest

2013 Cost of Living Score: 48 (out of 50)

2012 Cost of Living Rank: 4th Cheapest

3. IDAHO (*TIE)

Boise, Idaho
Vishwanath Bhat | E+ | Getty Images

Average Home Price (Boise Metro): $256,124

Half Gallon of Milk: $1.74

T-Bone Steak: $9.48

Monthly Energy Bill: $146.59

Doctor Visit: $118.33

* 2013 Cost of Living Rank: 3rd Cheapest

2013 Cost of Living Score: 48 (out of 50)

2012 Cost of Living Rank: 9th Cheapest


2. TENNESSEE

Knoxville, TN
Richard Cummins | Robert Harding World Imagery | Getty Images

Average Home Price (Jackson-Madison County Metro): $211,238

Half Gallon of Milk: $2.64

T-Bone Steak: $8.66

Monthly Energy Bill: $145.98

Doctor Visit: $95.00

2013 Cost of Living Rank: 2nd Cheapest

2013 Cost of Living Score: 49 (out of 50)

2012 Cost of Living Rank: 2nd Cheapest


1. OKLAHOMA

John Elk | Lonely Planet Images | Getty Images

Average Home Price (Ponca City Metro): $265,154

Half Gallon of Milk: $2.33

T-Bone Steak: $10.22

Monthly Energy Bill: $149.78

Doctor Visit: $78.33

2013 Cost of Living Rank: Cheapest

2013 Cost of Living Score 50 (out of 50)

2012 Cost of Living Rank: Cheapest