When it comes to relocating, cost of living is top-of-mind for consumers, beating out other considerations such as crime, price of insurance, state taxes and how welcoming the community is, according to a survey by Insure.com. In line with this, the biggest motivating factor behind a move to a state with a higher cost of living is money. The potential to earn a bigger salary was the most common driver behind such relocations. In fact, "great job opportunities" ranked equal with "being near loved ones" when deciding to move to a place with a higher cost of living. However, 11% of consumers said they would never move to a higher-cost city, Insure.com found. "During the winter, people in harsh climates may dream of moving to places that promise mild weather," Les Masterson, managing editor for Insure.com, said in a release. "But it can be helpful to understand how costs for housing, healthcare, groceries and other items vary by location before relocating." Cost of living scores are based on a scale where 100 is the average cost of living for the entire country, according to Insure.com. For example, Maryland has an average cost of living score of 121.01, meaning its average is 21.01% higher than the national average. The above slideshow highlights states with the highest and lowest average costs of living, according to Insure.com. While the ranking looks at states, it should be noted that if the District of Columbia were a state, it would rank second, with an average cost of living score of 157.7. That's 57.7% higher than the national average. Related: |

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