7 Sneaky Costs of Moving to a New State

When you’re moving to a new state, it’s easy to focus on the immediate costs of moving and forget to research the sneaky costs that might be awaiting you in your new state.

What are sneaky costs exactly?

Sneaky costs are those pesky, often ongoing costs of living in a certain place that are infuriatingly easy to overlook. But every state has its quirks, and the odds are pretty good the state you’re moving to has at least some sneaky costs!

So, how can you avoid sneaky-cost sticker shock in your new state?

Your best line of defense is to do a little sleuthing ahead of your move, so that you can prepare and plan your budget accordingly.

Fortunately, with this handy list of 7 sneaky costs to research before you move to a new state, you can do just that.

Happy sleuthing!

Car registration fees

Of all the sneaky costs to be wary of when moving to a new state, this one is perhaps the sneakiest! I had absolutely no clue how much cash we’d have to cough up to register our 2014 Toyota in Iowa: $600 initially and then another $250/year to renew it – which feels like highway robbery after paying $70/year in Texas! The difference is that Iowa bases their renewal fee on a percentage of the list price of the car, while Texas has a flat rate.

Depending on what the state bases their fees on and how often they collect them, car registration renewal costs vary wildly from super affordable to jaw-droppingly expensive. Some states use really elaborate formulas to arrive at their cost, basing it on the car’s weight or age, taxable value, purchase date, or any number of other factors. Most states’ car registration fees fall somewhere in the middle.

You can check out for yourself which U.S. states and Canadian provinces have the highest and lowest car registration (and title) fees here.

Homeowners insurance

Average homeowners insurance premiums are much higher in some states than in others. The states with the highest susceptibility to natural disasters like tornadoes and hurricanes also have the highest homeowners insurance rates. These states include Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. The average cost for home insurance in 2019 ranges from about $600 in Oregon to $2,000 in Florida. To find out the average cost of homeowners insurance in each state, click here.

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Health Insurance

Like homeowners insurance, a multitude of factors play into this sneaky cost; however, location is a primary consideration. Health insurance companies determine the policies and cost of coverage based on the state and county you live in. For example, the average monthly cost for health insurance for a 21-year-old in 2019 ranges from $180 in Utah to $426 in Alaska. Curious to see the average cost of health insurance by state? You can check that out here.

Gasoline

Gasoline prices fluctuate all the time no matter where you live. But overall prices for gasoline tend to be cheaper in southern and southeastern states and more expensive on the West Coast and in Hawaii and Alaska. At the moment, gasoline prices range from $2.35 to $3.77 per gallon, depending on which state you’re in. You can get up to date gasoline prices for all states here.

State income taxes

Before you move, it’s a good idea to get a handle on how much of a tax bite – if any – a state is going to gobble out of your income every year. Seven states have no income tax:  Texas, Florida, Washington, Nevada, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Alaska. 2019 individual income tax rates for the remaining U.S. states range from 2% (on interest and income dividends only) in Tennessee to 13.3% in Hawaii. You can find the 2019 income tax rates for each U.S. state here and for Canadian provinces and territories here.

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Utilities

Electricity and natural gas costs also vary by state – sometimes by a substantial margin. Similar to gasoline prices, residential electric costs tend to be lower in southern states and higher in West Coast states, Hawaii and Alaska. Although there are exceptions (New Hampshire and Maine), natural gas costs are considerably higher in states with warmer climates. In 2017, Hawaii’s cost for natural gas was a whopping $38.88 per 1000 cubic feet, compared to the next-highest state rate of $21.15 per 1000 cubic feet in Florida. Both electricity and natural gas prices fluctuate, but you’ll find up-to-date costs by state for electricity here and natural gas here.

Toll roads and bridges

Like gasoline, this sneaky cost may not be as much of a concern if you don’t drive around a lot. But if you do, tolls can be steep and can add up over time, so it’s best to know what you’re getting yourself in for. I couldn’t believe my eyes recently when I saw the toll for the Golden Gate Bridge was $8.00! I remember when it was $1.00 a loooong time ago – and yeah, I know, inflation and all that, but really?! If you had to cross the bridge every workday, you’d spend $160 on tolls every month. That’s nuts! It’s also easy to forget just how commonplace toll roads have become. Only one state does not have any toll roads, and that’s Nevada. Want to check out toll roads and bridges by state? You can do that here.

Helping you find the right place to live.

Sneaky costs are just one example of the importance of finding out as much as possible about a place before you move, so you can avoid any ugly surprises and feel confident you’ll love the place you choose. Not sure you’re choosing the right place to move? Learn how the PlaceFinder program can help you find the right place to live!