How Much Does $100 Really Buy in Your State?
Mississippi residents are about 15 percent richer than their incomes suggest, at least for the purposes of day-to-day living expenses.
That's one way to look at a state-by-state analysis released last week by the nonprofit Tax Foundation. The results map out how much $100 buys in each state and the District of Columbia.
The same goods are often cheaper in some states and more expensive in others. Mississippi is where $100 buys you the most stuff. Washington, D.C., is where $100 gives you the least bang for your buck.
The states where $100 is worth the most are:
Mississippi ($115.21)
Arkansas ($114.29)
South Dakota ($114.16)
Alabama ($114.03)
West Virginia ($113.12)
That same $100 is worth the least in:
District of Columbia ($84.96)
Hawaii ($86.06)
New York ($86.73)
New Jersey ($87.34)
California ($89.05)
These findings are based on the latest price data (which is for 2013) published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a federal agency that tracks purchasing power.
