15 States That Are Home to the Biggest Spenders

Residents of some states are spending more than others.

If you live in one of these states, it might be hard to get ahead financially as you spend extra amounts of cash on things like housing, health care, or other items.

So, how does your state stack up? Check out this data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to see if personal consumption expenditures are high in your state according to the most recent data from 2022.

Per-capita personal consumption: $54,532

Delaware made the bureau’s top 15 in part due to a 9% increase in spending from 2021 to 2022, which was close to the national average of 9.2% for that time.

Per-capita personal consumption: $54,655

Hawaii residents spend a lot on housing and utilities. The state ranks near the top among all states for spending on those costs.

Per-capita personal consumption: $55,516

Florida saw a 10.9% increase in personal consumption between 2021 and 2022, putting it among the top states based on percentage increase.

Per-capita personal consumption: $55,743

Vermont residents get through their cold winters by spending large amounts on gas and energy resources.

Per-capita personal consumption: $55,789

Maine is another state where residents spend a lot on gasoline and other energy goods. Nearly 60% of state households primarily use heating oil to heat their homes, according to the Energy Institute at HAAS.

Per-capita personal consumption: $56,567

One of the biggest expenditures in Washington state is for housing costs, with resident spending ranking near the top of the U.S. in this category.

Per-capita personal consumption: $58,571

One of the biggest expenses contributing to New York’s overall costs is health care. The state lands at No. 6 in the U.S., with per-capita spending of $10,124 for health care.

Per-capita personal consumption: $59,179

Alaska residents pay the second-highest cost for health care in the U.S., with spending of $11,813 per capita.

Per-capita personal consumption: $59,371

One of the biggest issues with Colorado is housing costs, which are among the highest in the country on a per-capita basis.

Per-capita personal consumption: $60,082

New Jersey is another state where per-capita housing costs are high. That fact helped land the Garden State on this list.

Per-capita personal consumption: $60,272

Housing is notoriously expensive in California, with per-capita costs that rank near the top of the nation.

Per-capita personal consumption: $60,413

Connecticut has both high housing costs, and it also finished high on the list of “other personal consumption expenditures.”

Per-capita personal consumption: $60,828

Like other New England states, New Hampshire’s overall ranking was hurt by gasoline and other energy costs. The state relies heavily on heating oil and spends $1,745 per capita on gas and energy costs.

Per-capita personal consumption: $64,214

The second-place ranking for Massachusetts came from high expenses for housing and utilities, health care, and all other personal consumption spending.

Per-capita personal consumption: $85,732

Although it is not technically a state, the District of Columbia finished in the top spot for big spenders.

The district is the most expensive place for housing and utilities, health care, food and beverages, and all other personal consumption on a per-capita basis.

Finding ways to save money every day is important, especially if you live in a state with high spending.

Remember to build a budget that accounts for increasing costs such as housing and health care. Then, find ways to cut costs and save money.