Wedding Costs by State Rankings
Wedding prices vary a lot by state because local venues, caterers, photographers and other vendors charge in line with local price levels. This page ranks all 50 states by overall cost of living (C2ER Cost of Living Index (via MERIC), Q2 2026; 100 = the national average), from Oklahoma at 83.0 to Hawaii at 185.8, as a guide to where the same wedding is likely to cost less.
- Oklahoma ranks #1 with the lowest col index at 83.
- Hawaii ranks last at 185.8 — the highest among all states.
- The top 5 states are Oklahoma, Alabama, Iowa, West Virginia, Kansas.
- The ranking basis, source limitations, and calculation method are documented in the Methodology section below.
Top 3 States
All 50 States Ranked
Lowest to highest by col index
| # | State | COL Index | Sales Tax | Median Income | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma | 83 | 4.50% | $66,148 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 2 | Alabama | 86 | 4.00% | $66,659 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 3 | Iowa | 86.1 | 6.00% | $75,501 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 4 | West Virginia | 87 | 6.00% | $60,798 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 5 | Kansas | 87.1 | 6.50% | $75,514 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 6 | Mississippi | 87.4 | 7.00% | $59,127 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 7 | Missouri | 88.2 | 4.225% | $71,589 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 8 | Arkansas | 89 | 6.50% | $62,106 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 9 | Indiana | 89.7 | 7.00% | $71,959 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 10 | Tennessee | 89.7 | 7.00% | $71,997 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 11 | Georgia | 90.1 | 4.00% | $79,991 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 12 | Nebraska | 90.1 | 5.50% | $76,376 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 13 | New Mexico | 90.2 | 4.875% | $67,816 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 14 | North Dakota | 90.5 | 5.00% | $77,871 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 15 | Texas | 90.8 | 6.25% | $79,721 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 16 | Louisiana | 91.3 | 5.00% | $60,986 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 17 | Michigan | 92.1 | 6.00% | $72,389 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 18 | South Carolina | 92.7 | 6.00% | $72,350 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 19 | Ohio | 93 | 5.75% | $72,212 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 20 | Minnesota | 93.4 | 6.875% | $87,117 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 21 | South Dakota | 93.5 | 4.20% | $76,881 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 22 | Kentucky | 94 | 6.00% | $64,526 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 23 | Wyoming | 94.4 | 4.00% | $75,532 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 24 | Illinois | 94.5 | 6.25% | $83,211 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | 95.3 | 6.00% | $77,545 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 26 | Wisconsin | 95.7 | 5.00% | $77,488 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 27 | North Carolina | 96.7 | 4.75% | $73,958 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 28 | Utah | 98.4 | 6.10% | $96,658 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 29 | Virginia | 99 | 5.30% | $92,090 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 30 | Idaho | 99.4 | 6.00% | $81,166 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 31 | Delaware | 100.6 | 0.00% | $87,534 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 32 | Florida | 100.8 | 6.00% | $77,735 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 33 | Colorado | 102.7 | 2.90% | $97,113 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 34 | Connecticut | 103.6 | 6.35% | $96,049 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 35 | Nevada | 105.4 | 6.85% | $81,134 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 36 | Montana | 106 | 0.00% | $75,340 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 37 | New Hampshire | 108.5 | 0.00% | $99,782 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 38 | Arizona | 108.6 | 5.60% | $81,486 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 39 | Oregon | 110.4 | 0.00% | $85,220 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 40 | Rhode Island | 110.9 | 7.00% | $83,504 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 41 | Maine | 112.9 | 5.50% | $76,442 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 42 | Vermont | 113.4 | 6.00% | $82,730 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 43 | Washington | 115.1 | 6.50% | $99,389 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 44 | Maryland | 118.8 | 6.00% | $102,905 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 45 | New Jersey | 119.2 | 6.625% | $104,294 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 46 | Alaska | 124.5 | 0.00% | $95,665 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 47 | New York | 132.6 | 4.00% | $85,820 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 48 | California | 140.3 | 7.25% | $100,149 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 49 | Massachusetts | 148.1 | 6.25% | $104,828 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
| 50 | Hawaii | 185.8 | 4.00% | $100,745 | Wedding Cost Calculator |
Methodology
How we collected and ranked the data
States are ranked by the composite C2ER Cost of Living Index (via MERIC), Q2 2026 (100 = the national average) as a proxy for local vendor pricing: no official series measures wedding spending by state, so the ranking shows overall price levels, not measured wedding costs. Sales tax rates are included because they apply to many wedding purchases such as attire, decorations and supplies.
Newsletter Signups Are Paused
We're building the email delivery behind our newsletter so we can do it properly — signups aren't open yet. Check back soon.
No form here and nothing is collected. Read our privacy policy.
Compare Two States
Compare taxes, housing, cost of living, and more between any two states.
View all 107 state comparisonsFrequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest state to get married in?
On the cost-of-living index this table ranks by (C2ER Cost of Living Index (via MERIC), Q2 2026; 100 = the national average), the lowest are Oklahoma (83.0), Alabama (86.0), and Iowa (86.1): overall prices there run about 14-17% below the national average. That is a proxy for vendor prices, not a measured wedding cost, so get local quotes and add them up in your state's wedding cost calculator.
How much does an average wedding cost?
No government agency publishes an average wedding cost, nationally or by state; the averages quoted online come from private surveys of couples, whose samples and definitions differ, so this page does not repeat one. What the data does show is how much local price levels differ: from 83.0 in Oklahoma to 185.8 in Hawaii on the C2ER Cost of Living Index (via MERIC), Q2 2026 (100 = the national average), so the same guest list and vendor choices can cost very different amounts. Your state's wedding cost calculator builds an estimate from your own guest count and quotes.
Does sales tax affect wedding costs?
Yes. Sales tax applies to many wedding purchases, such as attire, decorations, favors and supplies, and in many states to catering too. Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon have no statewide sales tax (local sales taxes can still apply in Alaska); the Sales Tax column shows each state's statewide rate.