When you think about your ideal home, what factors come to mind? Maybe it’s the number of bedrooms or whether there’s a pool in the backyard. But for most people, location is king.

We want homes in close proximity to family and friends, good schools, and an abundance of entertainment options. But these amenities come with a price. How much does it cost to live in a certain area, and can you afford to do so?

The most and least expensive states

While home prices are generally back on the rise, there are still remarkable differences depending on which state you choose to call home. A single-family, three-bedroom home in Jackson, Mississippi, might cost you around $50,000. Meanwhile, a new condo with similar square footage in San Francisco could cost $4.5 million — or more. The only explanation: The condo is located in a city with astronomical job opportunities and a sky-high cost of living.

If you’re looking for a low-cost place to live with cheaper housing, groceries, and utilities, reviewing the least expensive states is a good place to start. The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center compiled a list of the cheapest states for 2018, ranked by overall cost of living index. We’ve narrowed it down to the 15 most cost-effective locations. Are you already living in one of the least expensive states? Let’s find out.

Editor’s note: Zillow prices were updated as of August 30, 2018.

15. Idaho

Cost of living: 92.7

Grocery index: 93.0

Housing index: 86.2

Utilities index: 87.6

Transportation index: 102.0

Health index: 101.3

Miscellaneous: 95.7

The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center used the nationwide average costs for each of these categories at the base. As a result, Idaho ranks 15th on our list of cheapest states for cost of living. With many categories falling 5-10% lower than the national average, it seems you’ll have no trouble adapting to life in Idaho. But adapt quickly. Home prices have risen by 12.5% in the last year, though they’re expected to fall by 3% in the next 12 months. The median Idaho home price is $235,500.

14. Kentucky

Cost of living: 92.6

Grocery index: 90.3

Housing index: 80.8

Utilities index: 93.8

Transportation index: 98.7

Health index: 92.5

Miscellaneous: 101.2

You’ll likely pay less for your cart of groceries while living in Kentucky. Food costs are about 10% lower in the Bluegrass State compared to national averages, according to the report. The median home value in Kentucky is $139,800, with current median sale prices around $152,000. Renting a home will cost around $1,145.

13. Iowa

Cost of living: 91.9

Grocery index: 94.3

Housing index: 78.9

Utilities index: 99.1

Transportation index: 98.6

Health index: 96.3

Miscellaneous: 97.1

The overall cost of living in Iowa is 8.1% less than the average cost of living in the United States as a whole. (By comparison, Hawaii’s cost of living index is 186.3, meaning it’s 86.3% more expensive to live there than the national average.) Even though Hawkeye State residents live in the No. 13 state on our list, we see index averages lower than average across the board.

12. Indiana

Cost of living: 91.5

Grocery index: 91.0

Housing index: 78.9

Utilities index: 96.9

Transportation index: 98.3

Health index: 96.3

Miscellaneous: 97.1

Indiana dropped 10 spots on this year’s list, from No. 2 to No. 12. Still, the Hoosier State is very affordable compared to the rest of the country.

You’ll notice in most of these states, housing is consistently the common factor for keeping the cost of living low. Seeing as most people spend a good portion of their incomes on housing, low housing costs can most directly affect the overall cost of living. Rent in Indiana is a median $1,100, and the median home value is $134,500.

11. Wyoming

Cost of living: 91.4

Grocery index: 105.7

Housing index: 81.9

Utilities index: 92.5

Transportation index: 98.7

Health index: 94.5

Miscellaneous: 91.1

Wyoming is No. 9 on our list of affordable states. While you’ll pay about 6% more on average for groceries in the Cowboy State, you’ll save on healthcare, utilities, and housing. Home values increased 5.6% over the past year to $220,900, but increases are expected to slow over the next 12 months. The median listing price for a home is $250,00, and the media rent is $1,100.

10. Texas

Cost of living: 91.3

Grocery index: 90.3

Housing index: 83.7

Utilities index: 101.1

Transportation index: 93.8

Health index: 95.9

Miscellaneous: 94.0

At a housing index of 83.7, Texas is the second highest among the states on this list, after Idaho. However, home prices are still relatively affordable. The median home value in the Lone Star state is $186,700, according to Zillow. But the median listing price of houses for sale is a much higher $279,500. If you plan to rent instead, the average price is $1,575 per month.

9. Georgia

Cost of living: 90.8

Grocery index: 99.1

Housing index: 74.9

Utilities index: 96.5

Transportation index: 99.2

Health index: 96.7

Miscellaneous: 96.0

With a cost of living index lower than most, life in Georgia will be peachy. The overall cost of living in this southern state is about 9% lower than the national average. Housing prices vary in certain cities, but the median sale price statewide is about $183,600. The median rent in the state is $1,400.

8. Kansas

Cost of living: 89.5

Grocery index: 91.6

Housing index: 76.2

Utilities index: 102.8

Transportation index: 96.7

Health index: 96.4

Miscellaneous: 92.8

We continue our tour of affordable Midwestern states with Kansas, which is about 10% below the national cost of living. Median rent in Kansas is $1,095, and median home values across the state are about $135,100. Houses on the market now are listed for a median sale price of $189,000.

7. Tennessee

Cost of living: 89.4

Grocery index: 93.3

Housing index: 78.4

Utilities index: 95.0

Transportation index: 91.1

Health index: 88.2

Miscellaneous: 95.0

The Volunteer State has a lower-than-average housing index. Plus, transportation and health care are particularly affordable, at least compared to national averages. The median listing price of homes in the state is $242,000 — a bit higher than many of the other states on this list. Rent is also a bit higher, with a median of $1,315. Home values have increased 8.6% over the past year.

6. Missouri

Cost of living: 88.9

Grocery index: 97.2

Housing index: 73.0

Utilities index: 100.3

Transportation index: 93.9

Health index: 97.7

Miscellaneous: 92.8

Relatively low housing costs put Missouri as the No. 6 most affordable state in the nation. The state enjoys housing prices about 25% cheaper than the rest of the country. You’ll pay an average of just $998 for rent, and median home prices on the market are around $180,000.

5. Alabama

Cost of living: 88.8

Grocery index: 95.5

Housing index: 72.1

Utilities index: 106.1

Transportation index: 91.2

Health index: 85.9

Miscellaneous: 94.4

We move back to the South to find our next cheapest state. Alabama is about 6% more expensive than average for utilities, but it makes up for it with one of the lowest housing prices. You can expect to pay about $151,800 for a home in Alabama or rent for $1,050.

4. Arkansas

Cost of living: 88.8

Grocery index: 91.8

Housing index: 75.9

Utilities index: 90.2

Transportation index: 91.3

Health index: 88.0

Miscellaneous: 97.0

Although housing costs are very affordable in this state, Arkansas also scored well in terms of health, grocery, and transportation costs. Houses in the state have a median listing price of $175,000, with average rent sitting around $1,095.

3. Michigan

Cost of living: 88.7

Grocery index: 86.3

Housing index: 76.7

Utilities index: 94.5

Transportation index: 100.0

Health index: 93.5

Miscellaneous: 94.1

We head north for our next cheapest state. This northern Rust Belt state earned its No. 3 ranking for relatively low grocery prices and housing costs, among other things. However, with Zillow showing a 8.6% increase in home values from 2017 to 2018 and an expected rise of another 9.6% over the next 12 months, it might not hold on to this ranking for long. Right now, houses are still at a median selling price of $147,200, with average rent at around $1,150.

2. Oklahoma

Cost of living: 88.3

Grocery index: 94.9

Housing index: 74.0

Utilities index: 94.6

Transportation index: 90.8

Health index: 93.5

Miscellaneous: 93.5

The housing index in Oklahoma is quite low on our list, with consumers paying approximately 23% less for their homes than the national average. The median home value of properties in Oklahoma is $119,800, but Zillow experts predict the market is on the rise. The median listing price is $182,633, with average rent at $1,000 per month.

1. Mississippi

Cost of living: 84.0

Grocery index: 91.3

Housing index: 68.5

Utilities index: 89.9

Transportation index: 93.0

Health index: 88.6

Miscellaneous: 89.1

We stay in the South for the most affordable state in the country. According to the report, living in Mississippi costs around 16% less overall than what it costs to live in the United States on average. With a housing index of 68.5, Mississippi residents are paying over 30% less for their homes than the average home buyer in the U.S. Median home values in the state are just $123,300, with current listing prices around a median of $180,000. And median rent prices are around $1,190, in line with many of the other affordable states in the country.

Nikelle Murphy and Megan Elliott also contributed to this article.