California households shell out an average of $2,838 a month on recurring bills — a staggering $34,056 a year — making it the second-most expensive state in America for household expenses, according to a 2024 snapshot of bill-paying data.
Only notoriously pricey Hawaii topped California, with households in the Aloha State coughing up an average of $3,091 per month, or $37,092 annually. California’s monthly tab was a whopping $712 above the $2,126 national benchmark, meaning Golden State households were saddled with $8,544 more in recurring bills over the course of a year.
The figures come from doxoINSIGHTS, 2024 U.S. Household Bill Pay Market Size and Category Breakout report, and cover 10 common recurring categories, including mortgage and rent, car loans, utilities, insurance, cable, internet, mobile phone bills and home security.
Massachusetts ranked third at $2,685 per month, or $32,220 annually. That puts California $153 a month, or $1,836 a year, above the Bay State.
Hawaii, meanwhile, beat California by $253 a month, translating to a $3,036 annual difference. California and Hawaii were the only states where recurring household bills eclipsed $2,800 per month.
The rest of the Top 10 was rounded out by New Jersey at $2,563 a month, Maryland at $2,569, Washington at $2,568, Connecticut at $2,505, New York at $2,495, New Hampshire at $2,479 and Colorado at $2,473.
Each state in the Top 10 came in at least 16.3% higher than the national benchmark.
The $34,056 annual figure doesn’t represent the full cost of living in California. The analysis covers recurring household bills rather than every expense, meaning it does not capture the full cost of groceries, gasoline, or discretionary spending.
How the financial squeeze hits Californian’s depends on where they live. Coastal hubs like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are crushed under heaving housing costs, while residents in the Inland Empire or Central Valley reportedly face a different wallet drain: longer commutes, higher auto payments and car insurance.
Data was also analyzed from the California Public Utilities Commission, CARE and FERA guidance, California Department of Community Services and Development, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program guidance, California Department of Veterans Affairs, and County Veterans Service Offices.
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