Generally, your dollar stretches furthest in the Midwest and South. Compared to the national average ($100), you get the most bang for your buck in Mississippi ($115.34), Arkansas ($114.29), Alabama ($113.90), South Dakota ($113.64), and West Virginia ($112.49).
The cost of living is a lot higher in the West and Northeast. So the relative value of $100 dollars is $84.67 in Washington, $85.62 in Hawaii, $86.43 in New York, $87.34 in New Jersey, and $88.97 in California.
It's true that states where the cost of goods is higher tend to have higher paying jobs. But that's not always the case. Take North Dakota, for example, where consumers benefit from relatively high incomes and low prices.
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