The salary you need to live comfortably in 15 major U.S. cities (2024)

FAQs

The salary you need to live comfortably in 15 major U.S. cities? ›

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.

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.

To live “comfortably” as a single person in 99 of the largest U.S. metro areas, you'll need a median income of $93,933, according to a recent SmartAsset analysis.

According to the census, the median household income in 2022 was $74,580. A living wage would fall below this number while an ideal wage would exceed this number. Given this, a good salary would be around $80,000 because, hypothetically, it leaves room for flexibility.

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics's most recent data (May 2022), the average salary nationwide is $61,900, which means that $70,000 is a common salary — but above the national average.

In 2024, a large U.S. city's middle-class income averages between $52,000 and $155,000, with the median household income across all 345 cities at $77,345, making middle-class income limits fall between $51,558 and $154,590, SmartAsset noted.

Across the nation's largest cities, the range is between $51,558 and $154,590, according to SmartAsset. Depending on where you live, that range can vary greatly.

with a single adult needing a salary of $94,432 to “live comfortably.” While the hourly wage needed ranges from $43 to $48 in Florida, the minimum wage is currently $12 an hour. In November 2020, Florida voters approved incremental increases to the state's minimum wage.

What is the number 1 most expensive city to live in? ›

1. Zurich (tie with Singapore) Two locales shared the title of this year's most expensive city: Zurich and Singapore.

For most individuals and small families, the answer to “Is $100,000 a good salary?” is a resounding “yes.” Cost of living and family size can affect how far $100,000 will go, but generally speaking, you can live comfortably on $100,000 a year. Are you hoping to make the most of your salary?

Upper-middle class: $94,001 – $153,000. Upper class: greater than $153,000.

$50 an hour is how much a year? If you make $50 an hour, your yearly salary would be $104,000.

Whether $3000 a month is good for you depends on the number of family members you have and the quality of living you want to sustain. If you're single and don't have a family to take care of, $3000 is enough to get you through the month comfortably.

No, $30,000 is not a great salary for a single person, but it can be livable depending on the person's location and expenses. The average personal income in the United States is $63,214 per year, which is more than double the $30k mark. This initially makes you think that someone earning $30,000 is on a tight budget.

For this reason, I don't just consider $200k a year to be good income, but a very good income. Even if you reside in a high cost of living area like Manhattan, $200k a year would put you in the top 25% of households according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

What is the average cost of living in the US? The average cost of living in the United States is estimated to be between $2,500 and $3,500 per month, depending on your location and lifestyle. This includes housing, food, transportation, health care, taxes, and other expenses.