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Salary needed to live comfortably in US cities

·Jaclyn DeJohn, CFP for SmartAsset

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StockImageFactory.com // Shutterstock
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Most households aim to maintain a cushion between the necessary spending for day-to-day necessities—like housing, food, utilities and childcare—while also enjoying life in the moment and saving for the future. This means keeping room in the budget for the occasional vacation or splurge, as well as savings for long-term goals like retirement or a child's college education. The 50/30/20 budget rule provides a framework for supporting such financial stability: 50% of a household's income is allocated to necessities, 30% for discretionary spending, and 20% for long-term goals.

To determine the salary required for Americans across the country to maintain this balance, SmartAsset analyzed the estimated cost of necessities in 100 of the largest U.S. cities, applying the 50/30/20 budget rule for both single adults and families of four.

Key Findings

  • The salary needed to live comfortably is higher than the U.S. household median in large U.S. cities. The national median household income is $80,610 according to the most recent Census data. But in the largest U.S. cities, a single adult needs at least $85,000 to sustain a comfortable lifestyle while a family of four requires nearly $200,000.
  • Indianapolis is least expensive for an adult to live comfortably. It takes an estimated salary of $85,197 to comfortably support a single adult in the capital of Indiana, the lowest among large U.S. cities. However, for a family of four, the city has the 28th highest salary needed at $222,726. Meanwhile, the city's median household income was last reported at a fraction of that at $66,629. 
  • Memphis, Tennessee, has the lowest household salary needed to raise a family comfortably. While Memphis ranks 12th lowest salary needed to support a single adult, a four-person family needs the least to live comfortably. A combined household salary of $198,349 is needed for two working adults with two children, the lowest of large cities nationwide.
  • San Jose, California, overtakes New York City for the highest salary needed to live comfortably. Last year, New York City topped the list, requiring $138,570 for a single adult to live comfortably. This year, San Jose, California, takes the lead with a $147,430 salary requirement. New York City now ranks second with single adults needing to bring in at least $136,656.
Table showing salary needed to live comfortably in 15 U.S. cities.

SmartAsset

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Top 10 Places With the Lowest Salary Needed to Live Comfortably

Large U.S. cities are ranked based on the projected full-time gross salary needed to cover basic expenses, occasional splurges and allow savings for long-term goals.

  1. Indianapolis
  • Annual salary needed for a single adult: $85,197
  • Full-time combined salary for two working adults with two children: $222,726
  • Median household income: $66,629
  1. Oklahoma City
    • Annual salary needed for a single adult: $85,446
    • Full-time combined salary for two working adults with two children: $211,494
    • Median household income: $67,015
  2. Tulsa, Oklahoma
    • Annual salary needed for a single adult: $85,571
    • Full-time combined salary for two working adults with two children: $210,912
    • Median household income: $56,821
  3. New OrleansAnnual salary needed for a single adult: $86,445
    • Full-time combined salary for two working adults with two children: $201,178
    • Median household income: $55,580
  4. Albuquerque, New Mexico
    • Annual salary needed for a single adult: $86,611
    • Full-time combined salary for two working adults with two children: $222,144
    • Median household income: $67,907
  5. San Antonio
    • Annual salary needed for a single adult: $86,694
    • Full-time combined salary for two working adults with two children: $199,181
    • Median household income: $62,322
  6. Tucson, Arizona (tie with Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
    • Annual salary needed for a single adult: $86,736
    • Full-time combined salary for two working adults with two children: $215,821
    • Median household income: $55,708
  7. Winston-Salem, North Carolina(tie with Tucson, Arizona)
    • Annual salary needed for a single adult: $86,736
    • Full-time combined salary for two working adults with two children: $201,011
    • Median household income: $59,189
  8. Spokane, Washington
    • Annual salary needed for a single adult: $87,818
    • Full-time combined salary for two working adults with two children: $233,043
    • Median household income: $65,016
  9. Baltimore
    • Annual salary needed for a single adult: $87,984
    • Full-time combined salary for two working adults with two children: $226,054
    • Median household income: $59,579

10 Places With the Highest Salary Needed to Live Comfortably

Large U.S. cities are ranked based on the projected full-time gross salary needed to cover basic expenses, occasional splurges and allow savings for long-term goals.

  1. San Jose, California
    • Annual salary needed to live comfortably for a single adult: $147,430
    • Full-time combined salary to live comfortably for two working adults with two children: $371,571
    • Local median household income: $136,229
  2. New York City
    • Annual salary needed to live comfortably for a single adult: $136,656
    • Full-time combined salary to live comfortably for two working adults with two children: $306,093
    • Local median household income: $76,577
  3. Anaheim, California
    • Annual salary needed to live comfortably for a single adult: $133,952
    • Full-time combined salary to live comfortably for two working adults with two children: $301,600
    • Local median household income: $84,872
  4. Irvine, California
    • Annual salary needed to live comfortably for a single adult: $133,952
    • Full-time combined salary to live comfortably for two working adults with two children: $301,600
    • Local median household income: $127,989
  5. Santa Ana, California
    • Annual salary needed to live comfortably for a single adult: $133,952
    • Full-time combined salary to live comfortably for two working adults with two children: $301,600
    • Local median household income: $85,914
  6. Boston
    • Annual salary needed to live comfortably for a single adult: $133,578
    • Full-time combined salary to live comfortably for two working adults with two children: $352,102
    • Local median household income: $96,931
  7. Seattle
    • Annual salary needed to live comfortably for a single adult: $128,211
    • Full-time combined salary to live comfortably for two working adults with two children: $327,475
    • Local median household income: $120,608
  8. San Diego
    • Annual salary needed to live comfortably for a single adult: $127,754
    • Full-time combined salary to live comfortably for two working adults with two children: $297,190
    • Local median household income: $105,780
  9. Chula Vista, California
    • Annual salary needed to live comfortably for a single adult: $127,754
    • Full-time combined salary to live comfortably for two working adults with two children: $297,190
    • Local median household income: $106,623
  10. Arlington, Virginia
    • Annual salary needed to live comfortably for a single adult: $127,046
    • Full-time combined salary to live comfortably for two working adults with two children: $355,430
    • Local median household income: $140,219

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 including housing, food, transportation and income taxes. It was last updated to reflect the most recent data available on Feb. 10, 2025.

Applying these costs to the 50/30/20 budget for 100 of the largest U.S. cities, MIT's living wage is assumed to cover needs (i.e., 50% of one's budget). From there the total annual wage was extrapolated for individuals and families to spend 30% of the total on wants and 20% on savings or debt payments. Median household income data for cities comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's 1 Year American Community Survey for 2023.

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