“$266K Salary Required to Live Comfortably in This California City”
When considering a move to a new city, it’s essential to ensure your salary can cover the cost of living. Cities across the U.S. offer different advantages, from lifestyle to affordability, and having the right salary is key to living comfortably in your new location.
GOBankingRates recently released a report detailing the salary required to live comfortably in the 50 largest U.S. cities by population. The report used data from sources such as the U.S. Census, Zillow, BestPlaces, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine the necessary income for each city.
The study applied the “50/30/20” rule to define what “living comfortably” means—where no more than 50% of an individual’s income should go toward essential needs.
Additionally, researchers ranked these cities based on population growth between 2021 and 2022, household median income, average home values, livability scores, and the total annual cost of living.
According to the findings, six of the eight most expensive cities requiring high salaries to live comfortably are in California. In the priciest city, San Jose, an annual income of nearly $266,000 is needed to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. Meanwhile, the least expensive city on the list requires less than $65,000 annually to live comfortably.
Top 20 Most Expensive Cities to Live Comfortably:
- San Jose, California – $265,926
- San Francisco, California – $252,878
- San Diego, California – $207,332
- Los Angeles, California – $194,500
- Seattle, Washington – $179,547
- Long Beach, California – $177,553
- New York City, New York – $175,909
- Oakland, California – $171,898
- Boston, Massachusetts – $164,993
- Washington, D.C. – $153,061
- Miami, Florida – $143,861
- Denver, Colorado – $132,096
- Portland, Oregon – $126,083
- Austin, Texas – $125,372
- Sacramento, California – $119,057
- Las Vegas, Nevada – $112,763
- Atlanta, Georgia – $111,835
- Mesa, Arizona – $109,900
- Nashville, Tennessee – $109,251
- Phoenix, Arizona – $108,919
For the complete list and to see the salary needed in each city to live comfortably, click here.