Cost of recreation by state
What hobbies cost in all 50 states.
Fishing, golf, gardening, boating, classes, and social life do not cost the same everywhere. This ranks the same hobby-cost model used on each state guide.
Hobby cost estimate
The annual figure estimates a simple hobby basket, using state fees where available plus recurring costs like gear, trips, memberships, and upkeep.
About $856/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$856
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Recreation value
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Sales tax
- Storm risk
About $892/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$892
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Recreation value
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Sales tax
- Water access
City guides in Louisiana
About $897/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$897
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Recreation value
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Rural access
City guides in Kentucky
About $941/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$941
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Recreation value
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Sales tax
- Storm risk
About $929/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$929
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Recreation value
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Sales tax
- Storm risk
City guides in Missouri
About $896/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$896
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Recreation value
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Water access
About $945/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$945
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Recreation value
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Storm risk
About $927/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$927
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Recreation value
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Warm winters
City guides in Nebraska
About $983/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$983
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- Recreation value
- Mountain towns
Trade-offs
- State tax
- SS taxed
- Warm winters
About $990/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$990
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Recreation value
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Warm winters
City guides in Ohio
About $1,014/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,014
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Recreation value
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Warm winters
City guides in Pennsylvania
About $986/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$986
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Recreation value
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Sales tax
City guides in Kansas
About $1,013/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,013
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Recreation value
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Warm winters
City guides in Indiana
About $1,008/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,008
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Recreation value
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Rural access
About $1,025/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,025
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Recreation value
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Warm winters
City guides in Idaho
About $1,039/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,039
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Recreation value
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Warm winters
City guides in Michigan
About $1,026/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,026
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Recreation value
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Sales tax
- Storm risk
City guides in Oklahoma
About $1,023/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,023
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
Trade-offs
- Care access
About $1,076/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,076
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Warm winters
City guides in Wisconsin
About $1,051/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,051
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- Town guides
- Mountain towns
Trade-offs
- State tax
- SS taxed
- Rural access
City guides in New Mexico
About $1,027/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,027
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Warm winters
About $2,214/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$2,214
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
Trade-offs
- Sales tax
- Storm risk
City guides in Tennessee
About $1,091/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,091
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
Trade-offs
- Property tax
- Sales tax
- Storm risk
City guides in Texas
About $1,094/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,094
per year
Why it could work
- Water access
Trade-offs
- State tax
- SS taxed
- Sales tax
About $1,094/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,094
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Water access
City guides in North Carolina
About $1,130/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,130
per year
Why it could work
No signal
Trade-offs
- State tax
- SS taxed
- Property tax
About $1,057/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,057
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- Lake life
Trade-offs
- State tax
- SS taxed
- Property tax
About $1,135/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,135
per year
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
- Water access
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Water access
City guides in Maryland
About $1,151/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,151
per year
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
- Water access
Trade-offs
- Higher prices
- State tax
- Sales tax
City guides in California
About $1,050/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,050
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Warm winters
About $1,317/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,317
per year
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
- Lake life
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Sales tax
City guides in Illinois
About $1,273/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,273
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Hobby costs
- Water access
City guides in South Carolina
About $1,150/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,150
per year
Why it could work
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
- Outdoor life
Trade-offs
- Hobby costs
- Warm winters
About $1,156/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,156
per year
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Sales tax
- Hobby costs
City guides in Arizona
About $1,246/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,246
per year
Why it could work
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- Hobby costs
- Storm risk
City guides in Florida
About $1,082/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,082
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
Trade-offs
- Property tax
- Hobby costs
- Warm winters
About $1,126/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,126
per year
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
- Water access
Trade-offs
- Higher prices
- State tax
- Property tax
City guides in Massachusetts
About $1,277/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,277
per year
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
- Water access
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Hobby costs
- Water access
City guides in Virginia
About $1,193/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,193
per year
Why it could work
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
- Mountain towns
Trade-offs
- Property tax
- Hobby costs
- Warm winters
About $1,211/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,211
per year
Why it could work
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- Higher prices
- Sales tax
- Hobby costs
City guides in Washington
About $1,251/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,251
per year
Why it could work
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- Sales tax
- Hobby costs
About $8,944/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$8,944
per year
Why it could work
No signal
Trade-offs
- State tax
- SS taxed
- Property tax
About $1,199/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,199
per year
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Water access
Trade-offs
- Higher prices
- State tax
- Property tax
About $1,252/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,252
per year
Why it could work
- Town guides
- Outdoor life
Trade-offs
- State tax
- SS taxed
- Hobby costs
City guides in Utah
About $10,305/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$10,305
per year
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Water access
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Hobby costs
- Water access
About $5,564/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$5,564
per year
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Hobby costs
- Water access
About $8,272/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$8,272
per year
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- Higher prices
- State tax
- Hobby costs
City guides in Hawaii
About $14,475/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$14,475
per year
Why it could work
- Town guides
- Mountain towns
Trade-offs
- State tax
- SS taxed
- Hobby costs
City guides in Colorado
About $1,247/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,247
per year
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
- Warm winters
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Hobby costs
About $1,362/yr for the modeled hobby basket.
Hobby cost
$1,362
per year
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
- Mountain towns
Trade-offs
- Higher prices
- State tax
- Property tax
City guides in New York
Estimator assumptions
What the index counts.
Golf
24 public rounds per year, plus equipment refresh, range balls, carts, and other course extras.
Fishing
One resident annual license, plus tackle, bait, simple access trips, and replacement gear.
Gardening
Seeds, soil, tools, replacement plants, water, and a modest home or community-garden setup.
Hiking & trails
12 trail or park visits per year, plus footwear, basic gear, parking, and local travel.
Boating & water
A modest owned boat, including registration, insurance, storage, maintenance, fuel, and basic upkeep.
Pickleball & tennis
30 court visits per year, plus paddle replacement, balls, league fees, and small club costs.
Arts & culture
8 museum, theater, or cultural visits per year, plus a modest membership or ticket budget.
Social & community
Senior-center, club, class, trip, or program costs beyond any published membership fee.