Single? This Is How Much You Have To Earn To Live Comfortably (2024)

Single? This Is How Much You Have To Earn To Live Comfortably (1)

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The rising cost of living continues to take a bite out of American’s budgets. From groceries and utilities to transportation and housing, earning enough income to live comfortably as a single person in the U.S. is more difficult in these 25 U.S. cities, according to a recent SmartAsset report.

In fact, to live comfortably in 99 of the largest U.S. metro areas, you’ll need a median income of $93,933. In New York, the amount is $138,570.

Comfortable is defined as earning enough income to cover a 50/30/20 budget, where 50% of your income each month pays for necessities, 30% covers discretionary spending and 20% is set aside for savings and investments or paying down debt.

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New York the most expensive city for singles

  • New York City tips the scale as the city where you must earn the most money to live comfortably. To cover basic necessities as a single person in New York City, you’ll need an annual salary of $138,570, and an estimated $70,000 in wages.
  • An individual needs $96,500, on average, to live comfortably in a major U.S. city. That figure is even higher for families, who need to earn an average combined income of about $235,000 to support two adults and two children.
  • To raise two kids and still live comfortably in six U.S. cities, a family must earn over $300k. The six cities are: San Francisco ($339,123); San Jose ($334,547); Boston ($319,738); Arlington, VA ($318,573); New York City ($318,406); and Oakland, CA ($316,243).
  • Seven cities where a single person must earn the most to live comfortably are located in California. Texas claims four cities where a single person can earn less and still live comfortably, while the remaining six cities are located in the Midwest.

Using the MIT Living Wage Calculator, Smart Asset gathered data for 99 of the largest U.S. cities. We’re looking at the ten cities with the highest and the lowest annual salary needed for a single adult to live in sustainable comfort using the 50/30/20 budgeting rule.

Top 10 cities with the highest salary needed to live comfortably

Swipe to scroll horizontally

RankCityHourly wage neededAnnual salary needed
1New York, New York$66.62$138,570
2San Jose, California$65.74$136,739
3Irvine, California$60.96$126,797
4Santa Ana, California$60.96$126,797
5Boston, Massachusetts$60.08$124,966
6San Diego, California$59.04$122,803
7Chula Vista, California$59.04$122,803
8San Francisco, California$57.48$119,558
9Seattle, Washington$57.40$119,392
10Oakland, California$57.10$118,768

Top 10 cities with the lowest salary needed to live comfortably

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RankCityHourly wage neededAnnual salary needed
1Houston, Texas$36.10$75,088
2El Paso, Texas$36.18 $75,254
3Lubbock, Texas$36.24$75,379
4Toledo, Ohio$37.26$77,501
5Laredo, Texas$37.72$78,458
6Milwaukee, Wisconsin$38.30 $79,664
7Lexington, Kentucky$38.46$79,997
8Tulsa, Oklahoma$38.98$81,078
9Wichita, Kansas$39.04$81,203
10Cleveland, Ohio$39.32$81,786

From metro areas on both coasts to the Midwest, weigh the pros and cons

The difference between the priciest places to live and cheapest places to live in the U.S. is glaring.While employers in high-cost cities typically offer higher-than-average salaries, rent and housing costs can make it difficult to pay for essentials, while also paying off debt and saving for a rainy day.

On the other hand, high-paying Jobs can be harder to come by in lower cost areas, even if housing and other expenses are more affordable.

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For the past 18+ years, Kathryn has highlighted the humanity in personal finance by shaping stories that identify the opportunities and obstacles in managing a person's finances. All the same, she’ll jump on other equally important topics if needed. Kathryn graduated with a degree in Journalism and lives in Duluth, Minnesota. She joined Kiplinger in 2023 as a contributor.

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Single? This Is How Much You Have To Earn To Live Comfortably (2024)

FAQs

Single? This Is How Much You Have To Earn To Live Comfortably? ›

The national median for living comfortably alone is $89,461, which suggests that a 50/30/20 budget might not be practical for most single people.

What is a comfortable income for a single person? ›

Salary Needed to Live Comfortably in Each State
RankStateSalary needed for a single working adult
3California$113,651
4New York$111,738
5Washington$106,496
6Colorado$103,293
11 more rows
Apr 10, 2024

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

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. Luckily, whether a person is just starting out in a new role or already has some experience, there are indeed many opportunities in this pay range.

What is a good hourly wage to live comfortably? ›

SmartAsset says a single working adult must earn at least $114,000, or about $55 an hour, to support themselves in the Golden State. When it comes to a basic “living wage,” MIT says a single adult in California needs to earn $27.32 per hour or $56,800 per year.

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

The findings are eye-opening: to lead a comfortable life in a major U.S. city, an individual needs to earn, on average, an annual pre-tax salary of $96,500. This takes into account necessities, debt obligations, and investments for the future.

What is middle class income for a single person? ›

Middle Class Income Ranges in U.S. States
RankStateLower bound on middle class income
5California$61,028
6Washington$60,865
7New Hampshire$59,989
8Colorado$59,529
11 more rows
Apr 24, 2024

What is a livable salary in the US? ›

According to research from MIT, the living wage in the United States was $25.02 per hour ($104,077.70 per year) before taxes per year in 2022 for a family of four (two working adults with two children). That's an increase from $24.16 ($100,498.60 per year) in 2021.

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 ...

How much is $500 a week annually? ›

What is 500 a week annually? Earning $500 in weekly wages is the equivalent of earning $26,000 a year. This calculation is based on the person working 52 weeks a year; the math is 500 x 52, which equals $26,000.

How much yearly is $30 an hour? ›

$30 an hour is how much a year? If you make $30 an hour, your yearly salary would be $62,400.

Is $17 an hour a livable wage? ›

“The minimum wage, in almost every location in the United States does not cover a living wage,” Glasmeier said. She said even the highest minimum wage, $17 an hour, doesn't cut it. A livable wage, nationwide, would be closer to $25 an hour, according to her research.

Is $15 an hour a livable wage? ›

If we could, we'd realize that $15 an hour amounts to only $31,200 a year, assuming full-time work—about half of the U.S. median income and a painfully small amount for living and raising children in most American cities.” It can be painfully small outside of cities, too.

Is $16 an hour a livable wage? ›

California's $16-an-hour minimum wage may be much higher than a “poverty wage” by federal standards, but high housing costs still make it difficult for low wage workers to live and make ends meet in the state, according to a new report by the state's Legislative Analyst's Office.

What is a comfortable income? ›

Comfortable is defined as earning enough income to cover a 50/30/20 budget, where 50% of your income each month pays for necessities, 30% covers discretionary spending and 20% is set aside for savings and investments or paying down debt.

What state can you live comfortably in? ›

Massachusetts. Massachusetts frequently ranks among the best states to live in, especially for families, but the price of entry is steep. The living wage for an individual is $19.91 an hour, or $41,416 a year.

What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

What is a realistic living budget for a single person? ›

The average monthly expenses for one person can vary, but the average single person spends about $3,405 per month. Housing tends to consume the highest portion of monthly income, with the average annual spending on housing at $1,885 per month per person.

What is considered lower class income for a single person? ›

Very-Low, Low and Moderate-Income Limits
Household SizeVery-Low IncomeModerate-Income
1$11,550 or less$19,301 - $30,850
2$13,200 or less$22,051 - $35,250
3$14,900 or less$24,801 - $39,650
4$16,550 or less$27,551 - $44,100
4 more rows

What is a good salary in the US per month? ›

According to the latest figures by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average salary in USA per month is $5,677 or $68,124 per year. As of 2023, the gross minimum salary in the USA is $32.75 per hour. Salaries range from $32,916 to $112,268 per year and include housing, transport, and other benefits.

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