Here’s the Income It Takes to Live Comfortably in Each U.S. State – 2024 Study (2024)

Here’s the Income It Takes to Live Comfortably in Each U.S. State – 2024 Study (1)
Here’s the Income It Takes to Live Comfortably in Each U.S. State – 2024 Study (2)

Outside of the big cities, life can be cheaper for many Americans. Though, after years of high inflation, cost increases have affected almost everyone. If you aspire to maintain a comfortable lifestyle, the 50/30/20 budget rule recommends spending approximately 50% of your income on basic needs like food and housing, 30% on wants and putting away the remainder toward savings or paying off debt.

Keeping this in mind, SmartAsset applied the 50/30/20 budget rule to cost of living data in eachU.S. state to determine how much income a single adult needs to live comfortably, as well as two working adults raising two children.

Key Findings

  • Massachusetts is the most expensive state to live comfortably in. A single adult needs to make at least $116,022 to cover basics, wants and savings in Massachusetts, or $55.78 per hour. For a family with two working parents of two children, the total family income will need to be about $301,184 for the same level of comfort.
  • Relatively, it’s less expensive to raise a family in California than live comfortably alone. While California ranks third-most expensive for a single adult to live comfortably at $113,652, it only ranks fifth-most expensive for two working adults raising two children. The total family income should be at least $276,724 in the latter case. Connecticut ($279,884) and New York ($278,970) cut ahead of California when it comes to costs of raising a family comfortably.
  • Connecticut is third-most expensive for raising a family comfortably – and only 11th- most for single adults. While single adults in Connecticut have a bit of reprieve supporting themselves comfortably, requiring $100,380, the income needed across two working adults with kids comes out to $279,884, or third-most studywide.
  • It requires least for an adult to live comfortably in West Virginia: $78,790. West Virginia is least expensive for a single adult, who only needs to make an estimated $37.88 per hour pre-tax. When it comes to two working adults raising two children, the state is third-least expensive with the family requiring $189,364 in income across needs, wants and long-term goals.
  • Two working adults need the least money to raise children in Mississippi. A family in Mississippi would need about $177,798 to cover the basic needs, wants and savings goals. It’s relatively more expensive for a single adult to achieve the same at $82,742, which makes The Magnolia State eighth-least expensive.

Top 10 States Where It’s Most Expensive to Live Comfortably

States are ranked by the income needed to live comfortably as a single adult according to the 50/30/20 budget.

  1. Massachusetts
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $55.78
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $116,022
    Rank of income needed for a family: 1
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $301,184
  2. Hawaii
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $54.66
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $113,692
    Rank of income needed for a family: 2
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $294,612
  3. California
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $54.64
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $113,652
    Rank of income needed for a family: 5
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $276,724
  4. New York
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $53.72
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $111,738
    Rank of income needed for a family: 4
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $278,970
  5. Washington
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $51.20
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $106,496
    Rank of income needed for a family: 7
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $257,420
  6. Colorado
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $49.66
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $103,292
    Rank of income needed for a family: 6
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $264,992
  7. New Jersey
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $49.52
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $103,002
    Rank of income needed for a family: 9
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $251,180
  8. Maryland
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $49.48
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $102,918
    Rank of income needed for a family: 15
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $239,450
  9. Oregon
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $48.60
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $101,088
    Rank of income needed for a family: 8
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $257,338
  10. Rhode Island
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $48.48
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $100,838
    Rank of income needed for a family: 10
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $249,268

Top 10 States Where It’s Least Expensive to Live Comfortably

States are ranked by the income needed to live comfortably as a single adult according to the 50/30/20 budget.

  1. West Virginia
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $37.88
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $78,790
    Rank of income needed for a family: 3
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $189,364
  2. Arkansas
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $38.20
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $79,456
    Rank of income needed for a family: 2
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $180,794
  3. Oklahoma
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $38.66
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $80,412
    Rank of income needed for a family: 8
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $194,106
  4. North Dakota
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $38.72
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $80,538
    Rank of income needed for a family: 13
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $202,176
  5. Kentucky
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $38.80
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $80,704
    Rank of income needed for a family: 5
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $190,112
  6. Ohio
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $38.80
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $80,704
    Rank of income needed for a family: 20
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $209,332
  7. South Dakota
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $39.16
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $81,452
    Rank of income needed for a family: 6
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $192,608
  8. Louisiana
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $39.64
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $82,452
    Rank of income needed for a family: 4
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $189,612
  9. Mississippi
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $39.78
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $82,742
    Rank of income needed for a family: 1
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $177,798
  10. Iowa
    Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $40.08
    Salary needed for a single working adult: $83,366
    Rank of income needed for a family: 23
    Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $211,412

Data and Methodology

SmartAsset used MIT Living Wage Calculator data to gather the basic cost of living for an individual with no children and for two working adults with two children. Data includes cost of necessities that cover housing, food, transportation, income taxes and other miscellaneous items. It was last updated to reflect the most recent data available on Feb. 14, 2024.

Applying these costs to the 50/30/20 budget for 50 U.S. states, MIT’s living wage is assumed to cover needs (i.e. 50% of one’s budget). From there the total wage was extrapolated for individuals and families to spend 30% of the total on wants and 20% on savings or debt payments.

Questions about our study? Contact us at [email protected]

Photo credit: ©iStock.com/monkeybusinessimages

Here’s the Income It Takes to Live Comfortably in Each U.S. State – 2024 Study (2024)

FAQs

Here’s the Income It Takes to Live Comfortably in Each U.S. State – 2024 Study? ›

A household with two adults and two children would need a combined income of around $235,000 to live without financial worries. The disparity in the cost of family life is particularly pronounced in certain cities. A family of four, two adults and children, need to make more than $300,000 to live comfortably.

How much do you need to make to live comfortably in 2024? ›

A household with two adults and two children would need a combined income of around $235,000 to live without financial worries. The disparity in the cost of family life is particularly pronounced in certain cities. A family of four, two adults and children, need to make more than $300,000 to live comfortably.

What is the average income in the US in 2024? ›

The average salary in the U.S. is $63,795, according to the latest data from the Social Security Administration.

What is the salary needed to live comfortably in the US? ›

Key Findings. On average, an individual needs $96,500 for sustainable comfort in a major U.S. city. This includes being able to pay off debt and invest for the future.

What state has the best income to cost of living ratio? ›

Utah came out on top as the most affordable state, thanks to manageable health care costs. On the other hand, the high homeownership costs landed New York as the least affordable state. We analyzed median incomes and five basic expenses: homeownership costs, groceries, health care, income tax and gasoline.

What does it take to live comfortably in each state? ›

While California ranks third-most expensive for a single adult to live comfortably at $113,652, it only ranks fifth-most expensive for two working adults raising two children. The total family income should be at least $276,724 in the latter case.

Is $25 an hour a livable wage? ›

An analysis of the living wage (as calculated in December 2022 and reflecting a compensation being offered to an individual in 2023), compiling geographically specific expenditure data for food, childcare, health care, housing, transportation, and other necessities, finds that: The living wage in the United States is ...

What is a really good salary in us? ›

A Smart Asset report based on MIT's Living Wage data found that the average salary required to live comfortably in the U.S. is $68,499 after taxes. This is nearly $10,000 higher than what the average salary currently is.

Is $75000 a good salary in USA? ›

While people have different qualifications and different ideas of what constitutes a good salary, most would consider $75,000 per year to be good pay.

What state is the best to live in financially? ›

Top 5 Best States for Families To Live on the Average Salary
  1. Connecticut: The Best State Financially for Families. Among all states, Connecticut provides the most optimal conditions for a comfortable lifestyle, with the average two-earner household earning $144,146 a year. ...
  2. New Hampshire. ...
  3. Maryland. ...
  4. New Jersey. ...
  5. Virginia.
Feb 20, 2024

What is the #1 cheapest state to live in? ›

  • 1- Alabama. Alabama is considered one of the cheapest states to live in the United States due to a combination of factors that make it an attractive and budget-friendly place to reside. ...
  • 2- Arkansas. ...
  • 3- Georgia. ...
  • 4- Indiana. ...
  • 5- Iowa. ...
  • 6- Kansas. ...
  • 7- Mississippi. ...
  • 8- Missouri.
Apr 24, 2024

What is the most unaffordable state to live in? ›

Utah ranks third in nation for most unaffordable housing market behind Hawaii, California.

Which state is worth moving to? ›

If you're thinking of relocating this year, consider New Hampshire, Wyoming, Virginia, Rhode Island and Wisconsin, which lead the most recent list of the best states to move to, according to immigration law experts Shoreline Immigration.

What is a good salary to live comfortably in Los Angeles 2024? ›

As a rule of thumb, a good salary in Los Angeles is between $100k and $200k gross per year. Based on the cost of living in Los Angeles, this should come down to a minimum of $76,710 yearly after taxes.

Is $75000 a good salary for a single person? ›

If you make $75,000 a year, you're earning more than half of all workers in the U.S. And in fact, many people would probably consider the salary as good pay. After all, a $75,000 salary works out to around $6,250 per month, $1,442.31 per week, or $36.06 an hour.

Is $80,000 a good salary for a single person? ›

Is $80K a good salary for a single person? $80,000 is about $5,000 higher than the U.S. median household income, so many people would consider it very good for a single person. “Good” is always a relative term when it comes to salary; whether or not the amount you earn covers your expenses is a highly personal dynamic.

Is $40,000 a year livable? ›

Well, it depends. A $40,000 salary may be sufficient for an individual in a low-cost area, but it may not be enough for a family to live comfortably in most parts of the US. Rising inflation has made it more challenging to live on a $40,000 salary, but it still exceeds the poverty threshold for families.

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