Household Bills In This State Are Nearly $1,000 A Month Below The U.S. Median

The 2026 State-by-State Bill Pay Market Report by Doxo Insights found that U.S. households spend a combined $5.03 trillion on bills each year, making payments toward expenses like rent, mortgages, electricity, transportation, insurance, cell phones, and more. The most common household bills account for about 30% of the typical household's annual income, coming out to a monthly expenditure of around $2,095. 

These expenses are part of the reason Americans are leaving pricier states like California and New York, and heading for more affordable areas with lower taxes, housing expenses, and general costs of living. Low-tax states like Florida, Texas, and South Carolina are among the most common destinations for relocating Americans in 2026, but West Virginia is also gaining in popularity: In addition to receiving the second-highest percentage of inbound moves in 2025, per United Van Lines' National Movers Study, West Virginia also has the lowest household bills in the country. 

According to Doxo's study, the median monthly cost of bills in West Virginia is $1,116 — $979 less than the national median. All told, Doxo found households in West Virginia spend about $11,749 less per year on bills than the median American household. Bill spending is estimated to make up about 22% of the median West Virginian's monthly income, which is also the lowest portion of any state. West Virginia residents save the most in three primary areas: mortgage payments, rent, and car loans, making it a great option for families trying to save money and retirees using Social Security as their primary income source.

Housing might be the largest source of savings for the typical West Virginian. Doxo reports that the national median monthly mortgage and rent payments are $1,764 and $1,453, respectively. The median monthly cost for these bills in West Virginia are only $1,024 and $870, respectively. The state's housing affordability is largely driven by lower home prices, affordable homeowners insurance rates, and low property taxes — all of which inform how much money homeowners are spending on their homes. According to Redfin, the median sale price for West Virginia homes was $259,255 in September 2026, significantly lower than the national median average of $393,895. Additionally, while the national average annual premium for $300,000 of dwelling coverage is $2,808, analysis by Insurify reveals the same coverage in West Virginia only costs an average of $1,536.

As for transportation, American households have a median monthly car loan payment of $483, according to Doxo's bill study, but West Virginians only pay a median monthly amount of $140. Vehicle prices, which could be lower in West Virginia due to the state's lower cost of living, can be a major factor affecting your monthly car payment. Analyzing 2025 data, LendingTree also reported that 43.7% of West Virginian borrowers have car loan terms over six years, which often result in lower monthly payments.