4. Arkansas - $59,461

Good news if you live in Arkansas (or bad news, depending on how you look at it) - you can live very comfortably here on a relatively low salary. Arkansas has the second-lowest living wage requirement anywhere in the United States of America. The annual cost of housing is barely above $8,500, with food costs coming in just below $7,000. If you could make Alaska money in Arkansas, you'd basically be living like royalty!

As we'll see with other states on this list, you'll find that the cost of living comes down when there are fewer people to look after. Vast areas of Arkansas are either parks or wilderness, and parks and wilderness don't need feeding or clothing. On balance, though, they also don't pay any taxes. If you ever pass through this state, by the way, try to work out where the Dover Lights come from. Scientists have been trying to explain them for years, and so far, they've got nothing!

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