The Salary That Singles Need To Live Comfortably in 100 Major US Cities
A comfortable living may look different for everyone, but it typically means you can cover your basic expenditures and still have enough money for leisure, savings and even investing opportunities.
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This is easier for couples who often have two incomes, but when you’re a single person, the salary you need to live comfortably may actually have to be higher. Where you live also plays a role. For instance, you can get by on less than $65,000 in St. Louis, Missouri, but in many California cities, you need between $100,000 and $200,000 just to live comfortably!
To find out the salary that singles need to live comfortably in 100 major U.S. cities, GOBankingRates sourced data on population, total households and median household income, from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. GOBankingRates then sought out the cost of living index from Sperlings BestPlaces, the livability index from AreaVibes and the average single-family home value from February 2024 as sourced from Zillow Home Value Index.
Following the 50/30/20 rule that states that needs should be no more than 50% of your income, the cost of living was doubled to find the salary needed to afford a comfortable living in each city.
100. Irvine, California
Salary needed to live comfortably: $287,311
Median household income: $122,948
Average monthly cost of living: $11,971
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99. Fremont, California
Salary needed to live comfortably: $271,867
Median household income: $169,023
Average monthly cost of living: $11,328
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98. San Jose, California
Salary needed to live comfortably: $269,386
Median household income: $136,010
Average monthly cost of living: $11,224
97. San Francisco
Salary needed to live comfortably: $251,308
Median household income: $136,689
Average monthly cost of living: $10,471
96. Honolulu
Salary needed to live comfortably: $236,787
Median household income: $82,772
Average monthly cost of living: $9,866
95. San Diego
Salary needed to live comfortably: $211,007
Median household income: $98,657
Average monthly cost of living: $8,792
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94. Los Angeles
Salary needed to live comfortably: $193,581
Median household income: $76,244
Average monthly cost of living: $8,066
93. Arlington, Virginia
Salary needed to live comfortably: $191,110
Median household income: $137,387
Average monthly cost of living: $7,963
92. Anaheim, California
Salary needed to live comfortably: $181,711
Median household income: $88,538
Average monthly cost of living: $7,571
91. Seattle
Salary needed to live comfortably: $181,694
Median household income: $116,068
Average monthly cost of living: $7,571
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90. Scottsdale, Arizona
Salary needed to live comfortably: $177,688
Median household income: $104,197
Average monthly cost of living: $7,404
89. Chula Vista, California
Salary needed to live comfortably: $177,418
Median household income: $101,984
Average monthly cost of living: $7,392
88. Oakland
Salary needed to live comfortably: $176,894
Median household income: $94,389
Average monthly cost of living: $7,371
87. Long Beach, California
Salary needed to live comfortably: $175,114
Median household income: $78,995
Average monthly cost of living: $7,296
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86. Santa Ana, California
Salary needed to live comfortably: $170,634
Median household income: $84,210
Average monthly cost of living: $7,110
85. Santa Clarita, California
Salary needed to live comfortably: $166,698
Median household income: $116,186
Average monthly cost of living: $6,946
84. New York
Salary needed to live comfortably: $165,464
Median household income: $76,607
Average monthly cost of living: $6,894
83. Boston
Salary needed to live comfortably: $162,875
Median household income: $89,212
Average monthly cost of living: $6,786
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82. Washington, D.C.
Salary needed to live comfortably: $159,683
Median household income: $101,722
Average monthly cost of living: $6,653
81. Denver
Salary needed to live comfortably: $136,869
Median household income: $85,853
Average monthly cost of living: $5,703
80. Riverside, California
Salary needed to live comfortably: $133,917
Median household income: $83,448
Average monthly cost of living: $5,580
79. Jersey City, New Jersey
Salary needed to live comfortably: $130,918
Median household income: $91,151
Average monthly cost of living: $5,455
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78. Miami
Salary needed to live comfortably: $130,347
Median household income: $54,858
Average monthly cost of living: $5,431
77. Portland, Oregon
Salary needed to live comfortably: $125,672
Median household income: $85,876
Average monthly cost of living: $5,236
76. Gilbert, Arizona
Salary needed to live comfortably: $125,037
Median household income: $115,179
Average monthly cost of living: $5,210
75. Austin, Texas
Salary needed to live comfortably: $122,922
Median household income: $86,556
Average monthly cost of living: $5,122
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74. Aurora, Colorado
Salary needed to live comfortably: $122,350
Median household income: $78,685
Average monthly cost of living: $5,098
73. Reno, Nevada
Salary needed to live comfortably: $120,474
Median household income: $73,073
Average monthly cost of living: $5,020
72. Chandler, Arizona
Salary needed to live comfortably: $118,746
Median household income: $99,374
Average monthly cost of living: $4,948
71. Plano, Texas
Salary needed to live comfortably: $117,749
Median household income: $105,679
Average monthly cost of living: $4,906
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70. Sacramento, California
Salary needed to live comfortably: $116,422
Median household income: $78,954
Average monthly cost of living: $4,851
69. Henderson, Nevada
Salary needed to live comfortably: $113,224
Median household income: $85,311
Average monthly cost of living: $4,718
68. Colorado Springs, Colorado
Salary needed to live comfortably: $110,944
Median household income: $79,026
Average monthly cost of living: $4,623
67. Newark, New Jersey
Salary needed to live comfortably: $110,518
Median household income: $46,460
Average monthly cost of living: $4,605
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66. Anchorage
Salary needed to live comfortably: $109,482
Median household income: $95,731
Average monthly cost of living: $4,562
65. Stockton, California
Salary needed to live comfortably: $107,904
Median household income: $71,612
Average monthly cost of living: $4,496
64. Virginia Beach, Virginia
Salary needed to live comfortably: $107,165
Median household income: $87,544
Average monthly cost of living: $4,465
63. Raleigh, North Carolina
Salary needed to live comfortably: $106,529
Median household income: $78,631
Average monthly cost of living: $4,439
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62. Boise, Idaho
Salary needed to live comfortably: $106,189
Median household income: $76,402
Average monthly cost of living: $4,425
61. Mesa, Arizona
Salary needed to live comfortably: $105,991
Median household income: $73,766
Average monthly cost of living: $4,416
60. Nashville, Tennessee
Salary needed to live comfortably: $105,525
Median household income: $71,328
Average monthly cost of living: $4,397
59. Atlanta
Salary needed to live comfortably: $105,469
Median household income: $77,655
Average monthly cost of living: $4,395
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58. Las Vegas
Salary needed to live comfortably: $105,021
Median household income: $66,356
Average monthly cost of living: $4,376
57. Madison, Wisconsin
Salary needed to live comfortably: $104,827
Median household income: $74,895
Average monthly cost of living: $4,368
56. Phoenix
Salary needed to live comfortably: $104,685
Median household income: $72,092
Average monthly cost of living: $4,362
55. Chesapeake, Virginia
Salary needed to live comfortably: $103,477
Median household income: $92,703
Average monthly cost of living: $4,312
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54. Orlando, Florida
Salary needed to live comfortably: $102,277
Median household income: $66,292
Average monthly cost of living: $4,262
53. Glendale, Arizona
Salary needed to live comfortably: $101,938
Median household income: $66,375
Average monthly cost of living: $4,247
52. North Las Vegas, Nevada
Salary needed to live comfortably: $101,938
Median household income: $66,375
Average monthly cost of living: $4,247
51. Durham, North Carolina
Salary needed to live comfortably: $100,570
Median household income: $71,774
Average monthly cost of living: $4,190
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50. St. Petersburg, Florida
Salary needed to live comfortably: $100,545
Median household income: $74,710
Average monthly cost of living: $4,189
49. Charlotte, North Carolina
Salary needed to live comfortably: $100,499
Median household income: $70,333
Average monthly cost of living: $4,187
48. Bakersfield, California
Salary needed to live comfortably: $100,386
Median household income: $74,070
Average monthly cost of living: $4,183
47. Tampa, Florida
Salary needed to live comfortably: $99,046
Median household income: $73,827
Average monthly cost of living: $4,127
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46. Fresno, California
Salary needed to live comfortably: $98,553
Median household income: $63,001
Average monthly cost of living: $4,106
45. Spokane, Washington
Salary needed to live comfortably: $98,378
Median household income: $63,316
Average monthly cost of living: $4,099
44. Richmond, Virginia
Salary needed to live comfortably: $96,481
Median household income: $59,606
Average monthly cost of living: $4,020
43. Minneapolis
Salary needed to live comfortably: $95,147
Median household income: $76,332
Average monthly cost of living: $3,964
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42. Irving, Texas
Salary needed to live comfortably: $93,652
Median household income: $76,686
Average monthly cost of living: $3,902
41. Dallas
Salary needed to live comfortably: $89,426
Median household income: $63,985
Average monthly cost of living: $3,726
40. Lincoln, Nebraska
Salary needed to live comfortably: $89,190
Median household income: $67,846
Average monthly cost of living: $3,716
39. Chicago
Salary needed to live comfortably: $89,158
Median household income: $71,673
Average monthly cost of living: $3,715
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38. Arlington, Texas
Salary needed to live comfortably: $88,582
Median household income: $71,736
Average monthly cost of living: $3,691
37. Tuscon, Arizona
Salary needed to live comfortably: $88,060
Median household income: $52,049
Average monthly cost of living: $3,669
36. Omaha, Nebraska
Salary needed to live comfortably: $87,509
Median household income: $70,202
Average monthly cost of living: $3,646
35. Albuquerque, New Mexico
Salary needed to live comfortably: $86,862
Median household income: $61,503
Average monthly cost of living: $3,619
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34. Fort Worth, Texas
Salary needed to live comfortably: $86,782
Median household income: $72,726
Average monthly cost of living: $3,616
33. Garland, Texas
Salary needed to live comfortably: $86,419
Median household income: $71,044
Average monthly cost of living: $3,601
32. Jacksonville, Florida
Salary needed to live comfortably: $85,864
Median household income: $64,138
Average monthly cost of living: $3,578
31. Norfolk, Virginia
Salary needed to live comfortably: $84,751
Median household income: $60,998
Average monthly cost of living: $3,531
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30. St. Paul, Minnesota
Salary needed to live comfortably: $82,823
Median household income: $69,919
Average monthly cost of living: $3,451
29. Lexington, Kentucky
Salary needed to live comfortably: $81,888
Median household income: $66,087
Average monthly cost of living: $3,412
28. Houston
Salary needed to live comfortably: $80,983
Median household income: $60,440
Average monthly cost of living: $3,374
27. Greensboro, North Carolina
Salary needed to live comfortably: $79,181
Median household income: $55,051
Average monthly cost of living: $3,299
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26. Columbus, Ohio
Salary needed to live comfortably: $78,618
Median household income: $62,994
Average monthly cost of living: $3,276
25. Buffalo, New York
Salary needed to live comfortably: $78,440
Median household income: $46,184
Average monthly cost of living: $3,268
24. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Salary needed to live comfortably: $78,367
Median household income: $54,416
Average monthly cost of living: $3,265
23. San Antonio, Texas
Salary needed to live comfortably: $77,809
Median household income: $59,593
Average monthly cost of living: $3,242
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22. Pittsburgh
Salary needed to live comfortably: $75,446
Median household income: $49,191
Average monthly cost of living: $3,144
21. Cincinnati
Salary needed to live comfortably: $75,446
Median household income: $49,191
Average monthly cost of living: $3,144
20. Philadelphia
Salary needed to live comfortably: $74,871
Median household income: $57,537
Average monthly cost of living: $3,120
19. New Orleans
Salary needed to live comfortably: $74,676
Median household income: $51,116
Average monthly cost of living: $3,112
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18. Kansas City, Missouri
Salary needed to live comfortably: $73,829
Median household income: $65,256
Average monthly cost of living: $3,076
17. Louisville, Kentucky
Salary needed to live comfortably: $73,278
Median household income: $63,114
Average monthly cost of living: $3,053
16. Indianapolis
Salary needed to live comfortably: $73,041
Median household income: $59,110
Average monthly cost of living: $3,043
15. Lubbock, Texas
Salary needed to live comfortably: $72,082
Median household income: $58,734
Average monthly cost of living: $3,003
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14. Wichita, Kansas
Salary needed to live comfortably: $72,078
Median household income: $60,712
Average monthly cost of living: $3,003
13. Milwaukee
Salary needed to live comfortably: $71,963
Median household income: $49,733
Average monthly cost of living: $2,998
12. Corpus Christie, Texas
Salary needed to live comfortably: $71,391
Median household income: $64,449
Average monthly cost of living: $2,975
11. Fort Wayne, Indiana
Salary needed to live comfortably: $70,890
Median household income: $58,233
Average monthly cost of living: $2,954
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10. Tulsa, Oklahoma
Salary needed to live comfortably: $70,337
Median household income: $56,648
Average monthly cost of living: $2,931
9. Oklahoma City
Salary needed to live comfortably: $70,333
Median household income: $64,251
Average monthly cost of living: $2,931
8. El Paso, Texas
Salary needed to live comfortably: $69,024
Median household income: $55,710
Average monthly cost of living: $2,876
7. Baltimore
Salary needed to live comfortably: $67,753
Median household income: $58,349
Average monthly cost of living: $2,823
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6. Laredo, Texas
Salary needed to live comfortably: $66,115
Median household income: $60,928
Average monthly cost of living: $2,755
5. St. Louis
Salary needed to live comfortably: $64,504
Median household income: $52,941
Average monthly cost of living: $2,688
4. Memphis, Tennessee
Salary needed to live comfortably: $61,459
Median household income: $48,090
Average monthly cost of living: $2,561
3. Toledo, Ohio
Salary needed to live comfortably: $56,939
Median household income: $45,405
Average monthly cost of living: $2,372
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2. Cleveland
Salary needed to live comfortably: $56,044
Median household income: $37,271
Average monthly cost of living: $2,335
1. Detroit
Salary needed to live comfortably: $51,144
Median household income: $37,761
Average monthly cost of living: $2,131
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the top 100 US cities in terms of population, as sourced from the US Census American Community Survey. The total households and median household income was also found from the same source. For each city on the list a number of factors were found including; cost of living indexes as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces, livability index as sourced from AreaVibes, and the average single family home value from Feb 2024 as sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. Using the cost of living indexes and using the average expenditure costs as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for single residents, the average expenditure costs can be calculated for each city. Using the average home value and using the national 30 year fixed rate mortgage, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data while assuming a 10% down payment, the average mortgage cost can be calculated. Adding the average mortgage and the average expenditure costs gives the average total cost of living for each city. Following the 50/30/20 rule that states that needs should be no more than 50% of your income, the cost of living was doubled to find the salary needed to afford a comfortable living in each city. All data was collected on and is up to date as of April 17, 2024.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Salary That Singles Need To Live Comfortably in 100 Major US Cities
