Personal Finance
Written by Taylor Borden and Dominic-Madori Davis
Updated
2021-03-10T15:18:26Z
Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate products and services to help you make smart decisions with your money.
- The cost of living is notoriously high in the US — but it can vary widely by state.
- GoBankingRates determined the "living wage" necessary to live comfortably in each US state late last year.
- Some states, like New York, require $95,724 to live comfortably, but in other states, it can be as low as $58,321.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Advertisem*nt
Living paycheck to paycheck is an unfortunately common hallmark of American life. And that's more evident than ever now, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Many are reconsidering their living situations as the US faces a recession: Earlier last year, over 51 million people filed for unemployment in just a 17-week period. For context, the Great Recession eliminated 37 million jobs over 18 months.
Having it all — the ability to cover basic expenses, while still having "fun money" and contributing to savings — currently seems like an impossible feat.
That total amount, also known as the minimum annual "living wage," varies significantly depending on what state you're in.
Advertisem*nt
In December, GoBankingRatesdetermined the necessary living wage in each state using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the 50/30/20 budgeting rule. This popular general budgeting rule allocates 50% of annual income to necessities like housing, 30% to discretionary expenses like travel, and the remaining 20% to savings.
The median necessary living wage across the entire US is $67,690. The state with the lowest annual living wage is Mississippi, with $58,321. The state with the highest living wage is Hawaii, with $136,437. Other expensive states (unsurprisingly) included New York and California, which have notoriously high costs of living and expensive housing markets.
Keep reading to see the annual wage necessary for living comfortably in every US state, listed in alphabetical order by state name. Also included is the actual median household income in each state, according to 2019 data from the US Census Bureau and the median price of homes listed for sale in each state from Zillow.
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Alabama is $60,016.
Median household income in 2019: $51,734
Median price of homes currently listed: $220,000
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Alaska is $91,996.
Median household income in 2019: $75,463
Median price of homes currently listed: $296,646
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Arizona is $68,504.
Median household income in 2019: $62,055
Median price of homes currently listed: $303,230
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Arkansas is $59,641.
Median household income in 2019: $48,952
Median price of homes currently listed: $140,986
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in California is $99,971.
Median household income in 2019: $80,440
Median price of homes currently listed: $609,757
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Colorado in $74,215.
Median household income in 2019: $77,127
Median price of homes currently listed: $431,100
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Connecticut is $90,278.
Median household income in 2019: $78,833
Median price of homes currently listed: $281,924
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Delaware is $71,254.
Median household income in 2019: $70,176
Median price of homes currently listed: $277,979
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Florida is $67,614.
Median household income in 2019: $59,227
Median price of homes currently listed: $264,149
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Georgia is $62,074.
Median household income in 2019: $61,980
Median price of homes currently listed: $218,609
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Hawaii is $136,437.
Median household income in 2019: $83,102
Median price of homes currently listed:$667,005
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Idaho is $66,486.
Median household income in 2019: $60,999
Median price of homes currently listed:$331,126
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Illinois is $66,847.
Median household income in 2019: $69,187
Median price of homes currently listed: $217,105
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Indiana is $62,086.
Median household income in 2019: $57,603
Median price of homes currently listed:$169,156
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Iowa is $63,397.
Median household income in 2019: $61,691
Median price of homes currently listed: $157,308
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Kansas is $62,090.
Median household income in 2019: $62,087
Median price of homes currently listed: $164,336
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Kentucky is $63,086.
Median household income in 2019: $52,295
Median price of homes currently listed: $156,926
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Louisiana is $63,842.
Median household income in 2019: $51,073
Median price of homes currently listed:$177,548
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Maine is $80,336.
Median household income in 2019: $58,924
Median price of homes currently listed: $269,753
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Maryland is $92,227.
Median household income in 2019: $86,738
Median price of homes currently listed: $335,260
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Massachusetts is $93,895.
Median household income in 2019: $85,843
Median price of homes currently listed: $464,279
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Michigan is $67,712.
Median household income in 2019: $59,584
Median price of homes currently listed: $187,747
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Minnesota is $68,944.
Median household income in 2019: $74,593
Median price of homes currently listed:$277,276
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Mississippi is $58,321.
Median household income in 2019: $45,792
Median price of homes currently listed: $131,973
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Missouri is $60,858.
Median household income in 2019: $57,409
Median price of homes currently listed: $176,609
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Montana is $70,719.
Median household income in 2019: $57,153
Median price of homes currently listed:$313,261
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Nebraska is $65,162.
Median household income in 2018:$63,229
Median price of homes currently listed:$189,139
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Nevada is $75,902.
Median household income in 2019: $63,276
Median price of homes currently listed:$327,714
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in New Hampshire is $74,415.
Median household income in 2019: $77,933
Median price of homes currently listed:$321,496
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in New Jersey is $86,244.
Median household income in 2019: $85,751
Median price of homes currently listed:$367,103
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in New Mexico is $63,629.
Median household income in 2019: $51,945
Median price of homes currently listed:$224,374
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in New York is $95,724.
Median household income in 2019: $72,108
Median price of homes currently listed:$343,164
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in North Carolina is $64,406.
Median household income in 2018:$57,341
Median price of homes currently listed: $220,710
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in North Dakota is $69,085.
Median household income in 2019: $64,577
Median price of homes currently listed: $236,012
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Ohio is $63,204.
Median household income in 2018:$58,642
Median price of homes currently listed:$164,968
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Oklahoma is $60,318.
Median household income in 2019: $54,449
Median price of homes currently listed:$139,409
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Oregon is $93,285.
Median household income in 2019: $67,058
Median price of homes currently listed:$393,710
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Pennsylvania is $68,581.
Median household income in 2018:$63,463
Median price of homes currently listed:$211,287
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Rhode Island is $83,942.
Median household income in 2019: $71,169
Median price of homes currently listed:$331,458
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in South Carolina is $65,953.
Median household income in 2019: $56,227
Median price of homes currently listed: $203,328
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in South Dakota is $67,657.
Median household income in 2019: $59,533
Median price of homes currently listed: $222,435
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Tennessee is $60,682.
Median household income in 2019: $56,071
Median price of homes currently listed:$203,134
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Texas is $63,469.
Median household income in 2019: $64,034
Median price of homes currently listed:$220,034
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Utah is $67,807.
Median household income in 2019: $75,780
Median price of homes currently listed:$386,723
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Vermont is $83,878.
Median household income in 2019: $63,001
Median price of homes currently listed: $273,024
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Virginia is $69,886.
Median household income in 2019: $76,456
Median price of homes currently listed:$302,369
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Washington is $77,207.
Median household income in 2019: $78,687
Median price of homes currently listed: $458,313
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in West Virginia is $62,635.
Median household income in 2019: $48,850
Median price of homes currently listed: $110,544
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Wisconsin is $67,667.
Median household income in 2019: $64,168
Median price of homes currently listed: $207,018
Advertisem*nt
The living wage in Wyoming is $61,788.
Median household income in 2019: $65,003
Median price of homes currently listed: $258,280
Reporter
Taylor reports on real estate, wealth, and travel. She covers the housing market and where people are moving, from up-and-coming cities to noted luxurious enclaves. She joined Business Insider in 2019. Since then, she has investigated how the richest ZIP code in the US obtained coronavirus antibody tests for residents before they were readily available, interviewed Michelin-starred chefs, and analyzed how the pandemic rendered the American dream of homeownership practically unattainable. Taylor is from Miami, Florida, and holds a master's in journalism from Northwestern University. Let her know where you're trying to buy a house or secure a second passport at tborden@businessinsider.com. Follow her on Twitter @taylormborden.
Reporter
Dom covered entrepreneurs. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California, where she studied French, film, theatre, and literature.
Read next
Advertisem*nt
