doxoINSIGHTS’ 2022 State by State Bill Pay Market Report Reveals Hawaii Most Expensive For Household Bills, West Virginia Least
Today we released our 2022 State by State Bill Pay Market report, a look at the $4.6 trillion U.S. consumer bill pay market, with specific state level break out of the 10 most common household bill payment categories. The report, which reflects actual bill payment activity across more than 97% U.S. zip codes, reveals the most and least expensive states for Americans to live based on average spend per month on actual household bill payments. While the average U.S. household spends $24,032 annually on bills, 36% of the U.S. household median income ($67,521) and roughly $2,003 per month (up 6% year over year, in line with the increase in total consumer spending as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis for the same period), plenty of states rank well above or below this figure.
This unique view of relative expenses, and how much of household income is required to cover bills in each state, is especially relevant given recent strains on household budgets due to inflation. Consumers are indeed feeling the 6% year over year increase in the amount paid on household bills. A recent doxoINSIGHTS study found that 9 out of 10 Americans (89%) have seen a jump in their household bills over the past 12 months, with those in the utilities category rising the most. The study also found that 87% of Americans worry about their ability to pay their bills if inflation rates continue to rise.
The findings outlined in the 2022 State by State Bill Pay Market report include, for each state, the total monthly spend for bills each month, as well as a breakout of each of the ten most common household bills, including: Mortgage; Rent; Auto Loan; Utilities (electric, gas, water & sewer, and waste & recycling); Auto Insurance; Cable & Internet & Phone; Health Insurance (consumer paid portion); Mobile Phone; Alarm & Security; and Life Insurance.
The report shows that Hawaiians spend $2,911 each month on the ten most common household bills, 45.4% above the national average. At the other end of the spectrum, households in West Virginia spend an average of $1,452 across the top ten categories, 27.5% below the average nationwide. The 10 most expensive and least expensive states to live are outlined below.
10 Most Expensive States for Household Bills
| State | Monthly Bill Expense per Household* | Percent of Household Income | Percent +/- National Average |
| Hawaii | $2,911 | 44% | +45.4% |
| California | $2,649 | 41% | +32.3% |
| New Jersey | $2,610 | 36% | +30.3% |
| Massachusetts | $2,511 | 36% | +25.4% |
| Maryland | $2,456 | 34% | +22.7% |
| Connecticut | $2,380 | 35% | +18.8% |
| New York | $2,361 | 39% | +17.9% |
| Alaska | $2,334 | 36% | +16.6% |
| Washington | $2,277 | 37% | +13.7% |
| New Hampshire | $2,256 | 35% | +12.6% |
10 Least Expensive States for Household Bills
| State | Monthly Bill Expense per Household* | Percent of Household Income | Percent +/- National Average |
| Nebraska | $1,696 | 34% | -15.3% |
| Alabama | $1,688 | 41% | -15.7% |
| New Mexico | $1,663 | 41% | -17.0% |
| South Dakota | $1,654 | 35% | -17.4% |
| Oklahoma | $1,634 | 37% | -18.4% |
| Kentucky | $1,627 | 39% | -18.8% |
| Indiana | $1,607 | 34% | -19.8% |
| Mississippi | $1,559 | 42% | -22.2% |
| Arkansas | $1,552 | 40% | -22.5% |
| West Virginia | $1,452 | 38% | -27.5% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense averages shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage). See report for details.
State by State Bill Pay Market Report for 2022
doxoINSIGHTS’ 2022 State by State Bill Pay Market report is a look at the $4.6 trillion U.S. consumer bill pay market, with specific state level break out of the 10 most common household bill payment categories.