Earn Silicon Valley Wages, Pay Oklahoma Rent: The ‘Geo-Arbitrage’ Trend

Emily Fowler

Mon, February 23, 2026 at 9:24 AM GMT+9 3 min read

Remote work has already changed how people earn and spend money in the U.S., making it possible to save aggressively and build real wealth. Even a modest lifestyle in a low-cost state can turn a high salary into serious savings over time.

While some companies prefer employees back in the office, there were still almost 37 million people working from home in November 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many of those people are eligible to exploit arbitrage between lower expenses in a cheap city and salaries in a major urban hub, where income is affixed to higher costs of living. A software engineer could live in Tulsa while collecting a San Jose paycheck, for example.

A study from international shipping firm Seven Seas Worldwide shows exactly how big the difference is. The study ranked all 50 states, with No. 1 being the best and 50 being the worst, using six costs that affect moving and living: rent, home prices, utility bills, driver’s license fees, car registration fees and what movers charge. Each cost was given a score based on how much it matters.

10 States Where Money Goes Furthest

Here are the states where a paycheck can go far, making the richest Americans even richer, as well as some where it won’t.

Find Out: How Much You Need To Be in the Top 5% in Every State

See Next: 6 Subtly Genius Moves All Wealthy People Make With Their Money

1. Arkansas

Ranking: 1

Rent: $1,093

Median Home

Price: $255,300

Utilities: $404.19

Driver’s License Fee: $40

Car Registration Fee: $24

Moving Labor Cost: $21.19

2. Mississippi

Ranking: 2

Rent: $1,305

Median Home

Price: $255,100

Utilities: $412.31

Driver’s License Fee: $24

Car Registration Fee: $12.75

Moving Labor Cost: $20.90

3. Nebraska

Ranking: 3

Rent: $1,285

Median Home

Price: $288,800

Utilities: $379.34

Driver’s License Fee: $21.50

Car Registration Fee: $20.50

Moving Labor Cost: $22.93

4. Iowa

Ranking: 4

Rent: $1,220

Median Home

Price: $230,600

Utilities: $423.88

Driver’s License Fee: $17.50

Car Registration Fee: $40

Moving Labor Cost: $23.05

5. Oklahoma

Ranking: 5

Rent: $1,035

Median Home

Price: $245,900

Utilities: $407.69

Driver’s License Fee: $33.50

Car Registration Fee: $96

Moving Labor Cost: $20.61

6. Louisiana

Ranking: 6

Rent: $1,235

Median Home

Price: $253,200

Utilities: $389.62

Driver’s License Fee: $32.25

Car Registration Fee: $51

Moving Labor Cost: $21.75

7. Missouri

Ranking: 7

Rent: $1,273

Median Home

Price: $263,300

Utilities: $447.05

Driver’s License Fee: $10

Car Registration Fee: $24.75

Moving Labor Cost: $21.66

8. Kansas

Ranking: 8

Rent: $1,243

Median Home

Price: $280,900

Utilities: $430.78

Driver’s License Fee: $4

Car Registration Fee: $44

Moving Labor Cost: $22.49

 






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9. New Mexico

Ranking: 9

Rent: $1,389

Median Home

Price: $370,600

Utilities: $362.81

Driver’s License Fee: $18

Car Registration Fee: $45

Moving Labor Cost: $21.83

10. South Dakota

Ranking: 10

Rent: $1,127

Median Home

Price: $325,700

Utilities: $408.75

Driver’s License Fee: $28

Car Registration Fee: $82

Moving Labor Cost: $20.87

3 States Where Costs Hit Hardest

1. Hawaii

Ranking: 50

Rent: $2,668

Median Home

Price: $975,500

Utilities: $563.53

Driver’s License Fee: $32

Car Registration Fee: $12

Moving Labor Cost: $30.89

2. Massachusetts

Ranking: 49

Rent: $2,837

Median Home

Price: $749,900

Utilities: $440.37

Driver’s License Fee: $85

Car Registration Fee: $30

Moving Labor Cost: $24.75

3. California

Ranking: 48

Rent: $2,587

Median Home

Price**:** $866,100

Utilities: $437.92

Driver’s License Fee: $33

Car Registration Fee: $64

Moving Labor Cost: $24.90

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Earn Silicon Valley Wages, Pay Oklahoma Rent: The ‘Geo-Arbitrage’ Trend

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