Hawaii Named Least Affordable State for College Grads

from Upgraded Points, Aug 18, 2025 (excerpt)

...Affordability patterns at the state level echo many of the same trends seen in big cities. The least affordable states fall into 2 main camps: high-cost coastal states like California, New York, and Hawaii, and parts of the South, including Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, and South Carolina. In places like California and New York, even strong starting salaries can’t keep pace with the high cost of living — especially housing. In the Southern states, it’s often the opposite problem: Costs are lower, but so are wages, and that gap still makes it hard for recent graduates to get ahead.

The most affordable states, on the other hand, tend to be in the middle of the country, including the Midwest, Southwest, and Rocky Mountain states. Wyoming comes out on top, with recent grads earning about $15,000 more than they need to cover the basics. States like Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Nevada also offer a strong balance between earnings and expenses. For graduates looking for a place to get a financial foothold, these states show that it’s not just about how much you make, but how far that paycheck actually goes.

Here is a summary of the data for Hawaii:

• Recent college grad earnings gap: -$11,840
• Median earnings for recent college grads: $53,530
• Income required to cover necessities: $65,370
• Housing costs: $19,620
• Food costs: $5,540
• Transportation costs: $13,110
• Healthcare costs: $5,390
• Other necessities costs: $8,470
• Income taxes: $13,240

For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:

• Recent college grad earnings gap: +$2,410
• Median earnings for recent college grads: $54,560
• Income required to cover necessities: $52,150
• Housing costs: $14,700
• Food costs: $4,350
• Transportation costs: $12,540
• Healthcare costs: $5,520
• Other necessities costs: $6,410
• Income taxes: $8,630

For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, see The Most and Least Affordable Cities for Recent College Graduates on Upgraded Points.