14 States With The Highest Average Credit Card Debt

Americans are heavily dependent upon credit cards, with 81% of people utilizing this popular payment method, according to Motley Fool. However, many U.S. adults own more than one credit card. Unsurprisingly, this ubiquity of credit leads to some hefty debt balances. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reports that credit card balances across the country topped $1.23 trillion in 2025, highlighting the dependency on borrowed funds.

Although this mountain of debt is sometimes visualized on a per-head basis, the reality is a little more complex. Credit card debt isn't evenly spread throughout the country. It varies greatly based on age, income, and other demographic features. One of the more interesting and helpful ways to dissect the country's colossal debt bubble is how it breaks down among individual states. Due to practical hurdles, tax burdens, and income averages, some residents tend to accumulate more credit card debt than others.

To get an accurate picture, Money Digest looks at the highest average credit card balances per customer, as calculated by TransUnion's Credit Industry Snapshot report, along with cost-of-living metrics from SoFi. Without affecting the ranking, each state's average credit line per customer and percentage of customers with positive Active Effective Payment (AEP) is also noted — a custom metric used by TransUnion describing borrowers who make timely payments and keep balances from getting out of hand.

Alaska tops the list of states with the highest average credit card debt, contrary to what many Americans might think about the affordability of the country's sparsely populated northern territory. On average, Alaskans shoulder a staggering debt burden of $7,683, per TransUnion. The average credit line per customer reaches $27,164. Despite owing more on average than other Americans, 89% of Alaskans maintain positive AEP on their account, indicating that the overwhelming majority stay on top of their debt to a reasonable degree.

Americans in the contiguous U.S. often mistakenly assume that frontier life is less expensive than more urban areas of the country. It's actually the fifth-most-expensive state in which to live. SoFi reports that the average Alaskan spends around $62,900 annually. Housing and healthcare account for the majority of these expenses, totaling $9,146 and $13,015, respectively.

There are some perks to living in the upper corner of the country, though. Alaska won't tax your Social Security income, and residents get an annual dividend from the local government from natural resource profits. The Last Frontier state is also one of the few states that doesn't charge any income tax, helping to offset some of the higher costs of living there.

Hawaii may come as less of a surprise than Alaska, as the Pacific state is commonly associated with a higher cost of living. Here, the average person carries around $7,330 worth of credit card debt, according to the TransUnion report. Hawaiian banks generally allot $30,781 of credit for each person across all their cards. 91.3% of consumers are judged to have a positive AEP on their accounts. To make matters worse, Hawaii has one of the worst economies in the country.

Reflecting a high debt-per-person ratio, the Aloha State is among the costliest in the country, with average annual expenses stretching to $58,115 per year, according to SoFi. $11,600 of that is dedicated to housing, while another $9,107 goes to healthcare. Housing prices sit above the national average by a jaw-dropping 226%. Food is also a considerable expense at $5,507.

According to the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii, the remote state is plagued by a steep cost of living due to a combination of geographical obstacles and government restrictions. To protect the islands, the state government heavily limits new construction, keeping the housing stock low and prices high. Furthermore, the federal government artificially inflates transport costs to Hawaii by forcing everything involved in the shipping of goods to be U.S.-based, resulting in higher prices down the line.

Marylanders manage $7,243 of credit card debt, with a revolving credit line of $29,348 per customer, on average, according to the TransUnion report. Once again, most residents handle their revolving accounts well, as 87% have a positive AEP. Maryland is one of the many Northeastern states on this list of the nation's highest credit card debt averages, mirroring this region's higher-than-average living expenses.

SoFi estimates that the average person spends $56,052 each year to live in Maryland. As with other states, housing and medical costs are the largest expenses. Housing, including utilities, eats about $10,839 from a Marylander's annual budget. Healthcare isn't far behind at $8,838. Fortunately, Maryland is one of the states with the highest average salary, helping to offset some of the elevated costs.

Housing has become a central lightning rod in the state's discussion of affordability. The nonprofit Maryland Matters reports that the small state is suffering from a shortage of 100,000 units. Furthermore, the group reports a net loss of residents reaching 40,000 annually, as they flee to states with lower housing prices. Maryland's proximity to Washington, D.C. — which actually carries the highest credit card debt if it were considered a state — also increases living costs.

Nevada is a place where retirees can live on Social Security alone, yet it still has one of the highest debt-per-customer averages in the country. TransUnion notes typical resident has a credit card debt balance of $7,214 at any given point. That's up from $7,058 the year prior. In total, banks tend to lend each customer around $27,938 on average. Still, 85.5% of Nevadans are judged to have positive AEP. The average credit score in the state is 691, lower than but not far from the national average, according to Equifax.

SoFi indicates that Nevada offers one of the most manageable costs of living when compared to other states in the Far West. Nevertheless, residents spend $54,054 per year on average. Housing costs reach $10,329, and healthcare expenses stand at $7,198, comprising the overarching majority of living expenditure in the Silver State. The average yearly spending on food and beverages is moderately high at $4,562. Luckily, Nevada is one of the few states without income tax, allowing residents to put more of their income towards living expenses.

New Jersey residents carry an average credit card debt of $7,066, up only slightly from $6,928 the year before, per TransUnion. This firmly places the Garden State in the fifth position of the states with the highest average credit card debt. The average credit line per customer clocks in at $31,457, and a solid 88.9% of credit card users have a positive AEP. Interestingly, Equifax notes residents maintain an average credit score 10 points above the national average.

Revealingly, the cost of living in New Jersey is higher than in any of the states with a higher average credit card debt. SoFi analysts estimate that the typical person spends $63,814 per year to live in the state. Non-restaurant food and beverage expenses are $4,432 of that total amount. Once again, housing and healthcare stand out as the most expensive items, costing the average New Jerseyan $11,405 and $9,762, respectively. New Jersey ranks among the 10 states with the highest property taxes, further elevating the cost of living.

Georgians hold an average credit card debt of $7,062 — not too far from the 2024 levels of $6,893, according to the TransUnion report. Generally, banks provide $26,288 of total credit to a single resident across their credit cards, representing a decent amount of potential borrowing. Even with this higher-than-average debt balance, 84.2% of adults in the Peach State have a positive AEP rating. The average credit score is 686, per Equifax, slightly below the national average.

The real value of $100 in Georgia is actually more than $100. Compared to other places in the U.S., an individual's money goes further due to an economically beneficial balance of income and cost of living. SoFir reports that the Peach State is the 12th most affordable in the country, with an average personal expenditure hovering around $50,282. Overall housing costs are notably lower than in other states on this list, settling at $8,726. Still, some advocates are pushing for more controls over how much real estate large corporations can own, arguing that the lack of restrictions is driving up housing prices and monthly rent, according to Courthouse News. Interestingly, SoFi found that medical costs don't stray far from housing expenses at $8,008. On average, Georgians spend about $4,444 on food and drinks. Gasoline and other energy costs tally up to about $1,506.

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that seems to extend to personal credit card debt, too. While not the most egregious in the nation, the Lone Star State has the seventh highest amount of average credit card debt per individual. At any given point, a Texan adult owes about $7,043 to creditors per TransUnion. Across their plastic, residents can receive a total credit line of about $26,510, leaving plenty of room to take on debt. Most people still manage their debts to a degree deemed reasonable by TransUnion, with 84.6% of Texans having a positive AEP. Texas might boast a slightly lower per-person credit card debt than Georgia, but they're tied for credit scores at 686, according to Equifax.

The average Texan spends about $4,358 a month to live in the state, per SoFi. That adds up to $52,299 annually. For reference, an annual income of $52,000 means you're in the middle class. With one of the largest populations in the country, Texas housing costs are relatively high, requiring residents to spend $9,428 every year. Healthcare, which is one of the primary reasons retirees regret moving to Texas, hovers around $7,411. Food and beverage expenses average out at $4,123, and gas and other energy costs are a flat $1,500, according to the SoFi data.

The Golden State isn't a surprising inclusion on the list of states with the highest average credit card debt, given its reputation for being extremely expensive. With 88.1% of consumers boasting a positive AEP, it turns out Californians are financially shrewd despite facing higher-than-average living expenses. The average credit card debt in the state is $7,034, up from $6,862 in 2024, per the TransUnion report. Above other states with similar per-person debt averages, credit card companies lend $30,508 on average per customer. The average Californian has an average credit score of 712, further demonstrating their financial prudence, according to Equifax.

SoFi recognizes the country's most populous state as the most expensive in terms of living. The typical person coughs up $64,835 annually to take advantage of what the Golden State has to offer. Housing and healthcare, as with many states, make up most of these living expenses. Food and drinks total $4,708, and energy products are $1,320. The notoriously pricey real estate market siphons $12,188 out of a resident's budget yearly. Medical costs aren't far behind at $10,373. The California minimum wage is increasing in 2026 to help offset the rising cost of living.

Florida is an appealing state to many people due to its relative affordability, year-round warm weather, and long-held reputation as a retirement destination, according to TransUnion. Regardless of the veracity of these claims, there's no denying the aptly named Sunshine State is popular. Its booming population of around 21.5 million boasts an 86.4% positive AEP rate, pointing to responsible credit management. The average Floridian holds around $6,985 in debt and can gain access to roughly $28,271 across all credit cards, if desired. The average credit score is 698, per Equifax, a few notches below the national average, but still reasonably good.

Given Florida's large size, residents can find pockets of extreme affordability, but the state doesn't offer the low cost of living that some might expect. Overall, residents have to pay $60,204 per year across essentials and personal expenditures to live there comfortably, SoFi notes. In recent years, the state's exploding popularity has driven real estate upward. Now, the average Floridian is spending about $12,191 on housing and utilities alone. That's higher than California's, although not by much. Annual medical expenses are closer to the norm at $8,996. Residents are also seeing yearly grocery and energy bills of $4,736 and $1,168, respectively.

Connecticut joins New Jersey and Maryland as a Northeastern state with a higher average debt per customer. Residents stare down a credit card balance of $6,985 at any given time, per the TransUnion report. Still, 89.2% of Connecticut residents have an AEP rating above water. This responsible handling of debt helps equip the average consumer with $29,860 of potential credit across all cards. Further proof of the average Nutmegger's ability to handle debt responsibly, the average resident maintains a respectable credit score of 717, according to Equifax. 

Similar to many other states with higher per-person credit card debt, the Constitution State is not a cheap place to live. In fact, retiring in Connecticut with $250,000 in savings isn't likely to last you long. The pricey real estate market spikes housing and utility costs, setting people back $11,560 annually, per SoFi. Not to be outdone, healthcare costs reach up to $10,103 per person on a yearly basis. Groceries sit at $4,474, and gas and transportation expenses are around $1,128. Once you mix in other personal expenses, the company found, Connecticut requires about $65,128 of your hard-earned money each year.

Virginia joins several other states from the Eastern Seaboard — all known for their high cost of living — on this list of the states with the highest average credit card debt. The average resident holds $6,959 worth of debt across their accounts, according to the TransUnion report. In total, banks in the Old Dominion state provide an impressive $29,686 of credit to the average consumer. Altogether, about 88.2% of residents maintain a positive AEP. Virginia is yet another example of how higher average per-person debt is correlated with an elevated cost of living. In fact, it's one of the reasons retirees regret moving to the state.

The typical person will spend about $55,776 per year or $4,648 per month, SoFi found. Notably, these expenses only account for the basics. Groceries and energy costs are among the least burdensome of a resident's overall budget, accounting for $4,389 and $1,404, respectively. Medical costs, according to SoFi, clock in at $8,434, making it a Virginian's second-highest cost. As with all other states, Virginia's priciest component is housing. Residents spend about $10,281 on accommodation. 

The Centennial State features an average credit card debt of $6,914, up from $6,767 in 2024, per the TransUnion report. The average credit line per customer across all their plastics is $30,902, meaning the typical person has access to a decent amount of cash. However, Coloradoans still manage their debts responsibly, with TransUnion giving 88.8% of consumers a positive AEP. Furthermore, Equifax notes that the average resident has a credit score of 720, among the highest in the country, pointing to extremely well-maintained debt.

In recent years, Colorado has exploded from a relatively affordable, sparsely populated Western state to one of the trendiest places to live. With this increase in popularity came a higher cost of living. Residents spend about $63,781 per year for the basics in Colorado, according to SoFi. Put another way, you need to budget $5,315 every month. Annually, Coloradans can expect to pay $12,600 in accommodation, whether that's rent or a mortgage. Medical costs are another significant living expense at $8,415. Grocery costs are higher in Colorado than in other states on this list at $4,922. Finally, residents pay about $1,383 in energy costs. If you're interested in moving to this sought-after state, you can still find some lesser-known, affordable places to live in Colorado. 

Washington, D.C., didn't qualify for this ranking since it's not a state, but the Northwestern state of the same name made the cut. Banks in the Evergreen State dole out roughly $30,867 in credit to the average consumer, according to TransUnion. This helps contribute to an average credit card debt above the national average, with the typical Washingtonian owing $6,820. Still, residents manage their debt favorably. TransUnion places 89.3% of consumers in their positive AEP ranking.

This level of debt and an affinity for using credit cards make more sense when looking at the state's high cost of living. SoFi reports that Washingtonians pay the seventh most in the entire country to live in the state. Average annual costs for the essentials hit $60,528. That comes out to around $5,044 monthly. Whether buying a house or renting, accommodation takes up the largest chunk, costing $11,785 yearly. The Evergreen State's high healthcare costs spike annual spending in this crucial area to $9,013. Groceries account for $4,543, and gas eats up $1,146. Unfortunately, Washington is the U.S. state with the highest gas prices.

New York rounds out the list of the states with the highest average credit card debt, but the Empire State's balances aren't too far from the others. At any given point, the average New Yorker is running up $6,689 of credit card debt, per the TransUnion report. That's about $1,000 less than Alaskans, but only a few hundred dollars down from California, Florida, or Connecticut. For perspective, this average credit card balance is up from $6,559 in 2024. All in all, a New Yorker can accrue up to $28,015 in credit across all credit cards. TransUnion estimates around 88.2% of the state's consumers have a positive AEP.

Although New York is one of the states with the absolute highest median income, the heightened cost of living throughout the Northeastern state necessitates an income above the national average. SoFi recommends New Yorkers budget about $58,571 in annual expenses, or about $4,881, per SoFi. Keep in mind these funds are for the most essential items. Residents spend roughly the same amount on housing and healthcare, with annual costs of each coming in around $10,666 and $10,124, respectively. Food and beverages, excluding restaurants, cost slightly higher than others at $4,119. Gas and other energy costs are actually on the lower end at $942.