A new study from SmartAsset evaluates the income needed to live comfortably in America's largest cities. Researchers assessed the salary need by a single adult and by a working family of four to follow the so-called 50/30/20 rule:
- 50% of post-tax income to basic necessities, such as housing, groceries, utilities and transportation
- 30% to wants, likely discretionary spending on hobbies, activities and other enrichment
- 20% to saving for emergencies, investments, retirement, education and other long-term goals
SmartAsset used MIT Living Wage Calculator data to gather the basic cost of living and income taxes for an individual with no children and for two working adults with two children. The calculator was last updated to reflect the most recent data available Feb. 15.
Applying these costs to the 50/30/20 budget for 100 of the biggest U.S. cities, researchers assumed MIT's living wage covers needs (i.e. 50% of a household budget). From there, they extrapolated total annual wage for individuals and families to spend 30% of the total on wants and 20% on savings or debt payments.
They gathered median household income data for cities from the U.S. Census Bureau's 1 Year American Community Survey for 2024.
Here are the 12 U.S. cities where a single adult needs the highest salary to live comfortably using the 50/30/20 budgeting rule.
12. Honolulu
Salary needed for a single adult: $128,253
Salary needed for a working family of four: $321,069
Median household income: $86,169
11 (tie). Oakland, California
Salary needed for a single adult: $134,410
Salary needed for a working family of four: $371,488
Median household income: $102,235
11 (tie). Fremont, California
Salary needed for a single adult: $134,410
Salary needed for a working family of four: $371,488
Median household income: $175,816
9. San Francisco
Salary needed for a single adult: $134,950
Salary needed for a working family of four: $407,597
Median household income: $139,801
8 (tie). Chula Vista, California
Salary needed for a single adult: $136,781
Salary needed for a working family of four: $312,915
Median household income: $105,101
8 (tie). San Diego
Salary needed for a single adult: $136,781
Salary needed for a working family of four: $312,915
Median household income: $111,032
6. Boston
Salary needed for a single adult: $139,776
Salary needed for a working family of four: $368,742
Median household income: $97,791
5 (tie). Santa Ana, California
Salary needed for a single adult: $151,965
Salary needed for a working family of four: $327,226
Median household income: $95,118
5 (tie). Anaheim, California
Salary needed for a single adult: $151,965
Salary needed for a working family of four: $327,226
Median household income: $101,145
5 (tie). Irvine, California
Salary needed for a single adult: $151,965
Salary needed for a working family of four: $327,226
Median household income: $145,731
2. San Jose, California
Salary needed for a single adult: $158,080
Salary needed for a working family of four: $402,771
Median household income: $148,226
1. New York
Salary needed for a single adult: $158,954
Salary needed for a working family of four: $337,875
Median household income: $81,228
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