Shocking that Illinois is almost average. Notice how Colorado is Californicating itself.
Probably Downstate offsetting Crook County and the suburbs.
If you eliminated the northeast corner of Illinois, would the cost of living be closer to Indiana? What about New York minus its southeast corner or Colorado minus the Front Range cities? Some living costs are tax related and regulation related, but tend to be focused on the metro areas.
notice that the last three digits In the New York Numbers are 6. dollars and 66...Cents
But people in CO can smoke dope, so they don’t care