Based on cost of living,, the most affordable states in India generally include Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. These regions offer significantly lower expenses for housing, transportation, and daily necessities compared to major metro cities.
Kolkata is the most affordable metro city to live in. You can get by easily there. The public transportation is very cheap and the food is very affordable. There are good colleges and schools. The people are very accepting and the women are safe. You won't be judged based on your religion here.
West Virginia, also known as the Mountain State, is one of the cheapest states to live in with a plethora of beautiful rivers and mountains, as well as a vast park system. With low property taxes and real estate costs, West Virginia is one of the least expensive states to live in for housing.
Hawaii is the happiest state in America for the second year in a row. Hawaii landed the top spot on WalletHub's list with an overall score of 65.50. It ranked third for emotional and physical well-being, 16th for work environment and 13th for community and environment.
The monthly cost of living varies across India's states. Gujarat is the most expensive state to live in at ₹47K, followed by Maharashtra at ₹45K and Mizoram at ₹44K. On the cheaper side, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar have costs of ₹24K and ₹26K respectively.
Let's kick things off with the most budget-friendly spots. In Indore, the average rent is just around ₹20,000 a month. Lucknow is close behind at ₹22,000, followed by Kochi at ₹24,000, and Ahmedabad at roughly ₹25,500. These cities are honestly super pocket-friendly for working professionals and families.
South Sudan has the highest poverty rate, with approximately 82.3% of its population living in extreme poverty, largely due to ongoing civil conflict and economic collapse.
Nagaland has the lowest incidence of crime based on the percentage of share. India ranks 128 out of 177 countries in the 'Women, Peace And Security Index 2023'.
Kerala is often considered India's most developed state in terms of social progress. It consistently earns top ranks in Human Development Index (HDI), education and healthcare .
WCCO CBS reported, "The study found that Minnesota is the friendliest state." This edged out Texas and other notoriously friendly-seeming states in that region (depending on who you ask).
Copenhagen has an impressive résumé when it comes to high-quality living. This year, the Happy City Index ranked Copenhagen as the world's happiest city, based on factors like health, mobility, and environment. Plus, the World Happiness Report named Denmark the second-happiest country in 2025.
