January 12, 2025 | 11:10 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In this day and age, maintaining a secure and steady lifestyle in the United States (U.S.) is hands down challenging. With costs like rent, groceries, and utilities consistently climbing, many people are left wondering: how much does it really take to enjoy a comfortable life?
From urban life in places like New York or San Francisco to smaller towns with a lower cost of living, the average income to live comfortably in the U.S. varies widely. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the average income needed to maintain a comfortable life across the country, citing Visual Capitalist and CNBC.
How Much Should I Earn to Live Comfortably in the U.S.?
Before jumping into the numbers, let’s define what "comfortably" really means here. For most people, living comfortably means being able to afford your essential bills without financial stress.
However, as per CNBC, you can see “living comfortably” as when your earnings can cover a 50/30/20 rule for budgeting: spend 50 percent of your income on needs, 30 percent on discretionary spending, and save or invest the remaining 20 percent.
In the U.S. itself, data from the Labor Bureau revealed that a single adult working full-time generally earns around US$60,000. Even this figure falls short of the national median for living comfortably alone, coming in at approximately $89,461.
You even have to put in extra effort in certain states, in which you need to earn at least a six-figure income to achieve the so-called comfortable life. Let’s take a look at the top five U.S. states with the highest average income to live comfortably, citing Visual Capitalist and Investopedia:
1. Massachusetts (US$116,022 annually)
Massachusetts is currently regarded to be the most costly state for single workers. Your annual earnings need to at least reach US$116,022 for a financially stress-free life, because the cost of living here is nearly US$54,000.
2. Hawaii (US$113,693 annually)
In terms of the pricey cost of living, Hawaii is second to none. Housing and transportation prices are the highest across the country, revealing an eye-popping figure of US$2,423 and US$7,458, respectively, making it among the highest cost of living states in America.
Therefore, a single adult must generate an annual income of US$113,693.
3. California (US$113,651 annually)
Comfortable living in California is attainable if you have earnings of US$113,652 per year. The state, aside from its high cost of housing, is reportedly the highest in terms of grocery costs, coming in at US$297.72.
4. New York (US$111,738 annually)
When deciding to live in New York, you must be prepared to face the high income tax of around US$7,116. In order to save money while making ends meet, your annual income has to be around US$111,738.
5. Washington (US$106,496 annually)
Prices of food and transportation in Washington are among the highest throughout the country. An annual earning of about US$106,496 is key to a comfortable life in this state.
The Average Income Needed to Live Comfortably in Every State of the U.S.
The following data is sourced from Visual Capitalist, and all information is valid as of February 2024. Please note that changes may occur as of the time of writing this article.
Without further ado, scroll down to see the average income you need to make for a comfortable life in every U.S. state.
Massachusetts: US$116,022
Hawaii: US$113,693
California: US$113,651
New York: US$111,738
Washington: US$106,496
Colorado: US$103,293
New Jersey: US$103,002
Maryland: US$102,918
Oregon: US$101,088
Rhode Island: US$100,838
Connecticut: US$100,381
Virginia: US$99,965
New Hampshire: US$98,093
Arizona: US$97,344
Georgia: US$96,886
Alaska: US$96,762
Vermont: US$95,763
Illinois: US$95,098
Delaware: US$94,141
Utah: US$93,683
Nevada: US$93,434
Florida: US$93,309
Maine: US$91,686
Pennsylvania: US$91,312
North Carolina: US$89,690
Minnesota: US$89,232
Idaho: US$88,733
South Carolina: US$88,317
Wyoming: US$87,651
Texas: US$87,027
Tennessee: US$86,403
Indiana: US$85,030
Montana: US$84,739
Kansas: US$84,656
Michigan: US$84,365
Wisconsin: US$84,115
Missouri: US$84,032
Alabama: US$83,824
Nebraska: US$83,699
New Mexico: US$83,616
Iowa: US$83,366
Mississippi: US$82,742
Louisiana: US$82,451
South Dakota: US$81,453
Ohio: US$80,704
Kentucky: US$80,704
North Dakota: US$80,538
Oklahoma: US$80,413
Arkansas: US$79,456
West Virginia: US$78,790
In the current economic climate, you must earn a six-figure income in order to maintain a comfortable lifestyle in the U.S., especially in Massachusetts. To achieve this goal, it is essential to generate additional revenue streams beyond your 9-to-5 job.
Starting a side hustle can be an ideal option to earn passive income. Discover an array of passive income ideas that can help you generate extra dollars with no hassle here on Tempo.
Editor's Choice: 10 Side Hustle Ideas You Can Do From Your Couch at Home
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