Why you should work remotely in Arkansas!

In Arkansas, $100 actually goes much further than normal, providing $113.49 of real purchasing power.

In California it’s the opposite case, where a hundred-dollar bill is only really worth $87.42. In the case of California and other expensive states, purchasing power is eroded away by the high cost of living, local taxes, and other factors that prevent you from making the most of your money.

High Income ≠ High Purchasing Power

Here’s one interesting takeaway: many of the highest-income states, such as California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Hawaii, also rank among the worst for real dollar value.

Massachusetts has a six-figure median income, but $100 only buys $92 worth of goods. Meanwhile, Iowa and Kansas have more modest incomes, but a dollar goes almost 25% further than in an expensive state like Massachusetts.

This shows that higher wages in coastal states are partially or completely eaten by cost of living premiums.

The Affordability Belt

Looking at the map, there is a clear “affordability belt” that can be seen visually.

In the Mountain West, Midwest, and South—including Idaho ($108.58), Montana ($109.76), Louisiana ($111.66), Ohio ($108.19), and West Virginia ($110.23)—each dollar goes a little further.

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