The average cost of flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is about $976 per year in 2026, or roughly $81 a month — but the state you live in changes that dramatically. This guide shows the average premium in every state, from the cheapest to the most expensive, using FEMA’s “Policy Information by State” data.
The short answer
Flood insurance is cheapest in Alaska ($428/yr) and most expensive in West Virginia ($1,840/yr) — a more than fourfold gap. Coastal states get the headlines for flooding, but several of the priciest states are inland, where river overflow and flash floods drive high expected losses.
Cheapest and most expensive states
| Rank | Cheapest states | Avg premium/yr | Most expensive states | Avg premium/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $428 | West Virginia | $1,840 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $463 | Vermont | $1,697 |
| 3 | Maryland | $505 | Pennsylvania | $1,513 |
| 4 | Utah | $689 | Connecticut | $1,502 |
| 5 | South Carolina | $764 | Kentucky | $1,472 |
See the full, sortable list on our flood insurance cost by state page, or jump to the most expensive and cheapest rankings.
Why premiums vary so much
Since 2023, FEMA prices every policy with Risk Rating 2.0 — premiums reflect each property’s true risk (distance to water, flood type, foundation, lowest-floor elevation and rebuild cost) rather than a flat zone rate. State averages therefore reflect the mix of properties, flood history and policy base in each state. A high-claims coastal state like Florida can have a mid-range average premium because it has so many policies, while a small inland state with severe river flooding ranks near the top.
How to find your own cost
A state average is a benchmark, not a quote. Use our flood insurance estimator for a rough figure based on your state, coverage and flood zone, then get a real quote from an NFIP agent or FloodSmart.gov. This article is general information, not insurance advice.