This map shows how much money a family of 4 needs to earn to get by in every US state (2024)

Depending on where you live in the United States, the amount you need to make to get by and support a family can vary by a lot. While a household of two adults and two children can manage on less than $60,000 a year in Tennessee, for example, it takes at least $88,000 a year to make ends meet in New York.

That's according to updated data from MIT's living wage calculator, which determines the minimum amount necessary to meet basic needs without dipping into poverty or relying on outside help. The model takes into account factors such as food, housing, child care and health insurance, in addition to other regular costs, and doesn't include conveniences or luxuries such as restaurant meals, vacations or money left over for investments.

Here's a closer look at what a living wage would be, before taxes, for a family of four in every U.S. state.

Alabama

  • Total required income before taxes: $61,895
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,086
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Alaska

  • Total required income before taxes: $74,247
  • Estimated housing costs: $15,239
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Arizona

  • Total required income before taxes: $68,786
  • Estimated housing costs: $11,484
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Phoenix, Arizona.

Dennis Macdonald | Getty Images

Arkansas

  • Total required income before taxes: $59,001
  • Estimated housing costs: $8,584
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

California

  • Total required income before taxes: $81,056
  • Estimated housing costs: $19,875
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Colorado

  • Total required income before taxes: $73,132
  • Estimated housing costs: $14,799
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Connecticut

  • Total required income before taxes: $74,216
  • Estimated housing costs: $15,670
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

Delaware

  • Total required income before taxes: $67,632
  • Estimated housing costs: $13,456
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Downtown in Rehobeth Beach, a popular summer vacation town on the Delaware coast.

Darren LoPrinzi | Moment Mobile | Getty Images

Florida

  • Total required income before taxes: $66,057
  • Estimated housing costs: $13,259
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Georgia

  • Total required income before taxes: $63,209
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,932
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Hawaii

  • Total required income before taxes: $68,971
  • Estimated housing costs: $22,314
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Idaho

  • Total required income before taxes: $65,675
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,609
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Illinois

  • Total required income before taxes: $69,760
  • Estimated housing costs: $12,564
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Indiana

  • Total required income before taxes: $63,014
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,641
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Iowa

  • Total required income before taxes: $62,066
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,244
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Kansas

  • Total required income before taxes: $61,158
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,700
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Kentucky

  • Total required income before taxes: $64,017
  • Estimated housing costs: $8,872
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Louisiana

  • Total required income before taxes: $61,643
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,261
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Sean Pavone | Getty Images

Maine

  • Total required income before taxes: $66,125
  • Estimated housing costs: $11,284
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

Maryland

  • Total required income before taxes: $76,043
  • Estimated housing costs: $18,196
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Massachusetts

  • Total required income before taxes: $75,418
  • Estimated housing costs: $17,721
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

Michigan

  • Total required income before taxes: $64,858
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,382
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Minnesota

  • Total required income before taxes: $68,948
  • Estimated housing costs: $11,607
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Gian Lorenzo Ferretti Photography | E+ | Getty Images

Mississippi

  • Total required income before taxes: $54,933
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,009
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Missouri

  • Total required income before taxes: $62,943
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,597
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Montana

  • Total required income before taxes: $69,128
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,001
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Nebraska

  • Total required income before taxes: $64,281
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,699
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Nevada

  • Total required income before taxes: $67,137
  • Estimated housing costs: $11,581
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

The Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Doug McKinley | Lonely Planet Images | Getty Images

New Hampshire

  • Total required income before taxes: $66,943
  • Estimated housing costs: $13,761
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

New Jersey

  • Total required income before taxes: $75,884
  • Estimated housing costs: $17,409
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

New Mexico

  • Total required income before taxes: $66,852
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,859
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

New York

  • Total required income before taxes: $88,056
  • Estimated housing costs: $17,896
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

North Carolina

  • Total required income before taxes: $63,522
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,146
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA uptown skyline and park.

Sean Pavone | iStock | Getty Images

North Dakota

  • Total required income before taxes: $62,697
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,166
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Ohio

  • Total required income before taxes: $61,763
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,450
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Oklahoma

  • Total required income before taxes: $64,413
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,544
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Oregon

  • Total required income before taxes: $72,312
  • Estimated housing costs: $13,166
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Pennsylvania

  • Total required income before taxes: $65,502
  • Estimated housing costs: $12,070
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ranked as the second city in the U.S. where it's cheaper to buy a home than rent.

Jon Lovette | DigitalVision | Getty Images

Rhode Island

  • Total required income before taxes: $70,153
  • Estimated housing costs: $12,375
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

South Carolina

  • Total required income before taxes: $59,902
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,168
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

South Dakota

  • Total required income before taxes: $60,064
  • Estimated housing costs: $8,936
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Tennessee

  • Total required income before taxes: $58,199
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,723
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Texas

  • Total required income before taxes: $61,501
  • Estimated housing costs: $11,880
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Dallas, Texas.

joe daniel price | Moment | Getty Images

Utah

  • Total required income before taxes: $67,277
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,963
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Vermont

  • Total required income before taxes: $68,657
  • Estimated housing costs: $13,744
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

Virginia

  • Total required income before taxes: $72,223
  • Estimated housing costs: $14,900
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Washington

  • Total required income before taxes: $72,673
  • Estimated housing costs: $16,321
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

West Virginia

  • Total required income before taxes: $60,313
  • Estimated housing costs: $8,749
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

Twenty20

Wisconsin

  • Total required income before taxes: $66,742
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,115
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Wyoming

  • Total required income before taxes: $67,888
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,227
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

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This map shows how much money a family of 4 needs to earn to get by in every US state (2024)

FAQs

How much money does a family of 4 need to live comfortably in USA? ›

Out of all 99 cities SmartAsset examined, a family of four would need a median of $226,886 to live comfortably.

What is the average budget for a family of 4? ›

The average monthly expenses for a family of four range from $7,875 to $9,168 (depending on the ages of your kids). For single folks, the average monthly expenses are $4,337.

How much do you need to make to support a family? ›

Typical Expenses
1 ADULT2 ADULTS (BOTH WORKING)
0 Children2 Children
Required annual income after taxes$48,163$119,956
Annual taxes$8,661$18,401
Required annual income before taxes$56,825$138,357
8 more rows

Is 150k a good salary for a family of 4? ›

Using the BLS study of household earnings from 2021-2022, we found that an average household of 4 people spends approximately $97,000 per year. With a $150,000 salary, this would be sufficient to cover all your expenses and save $15,000 annually.

How much salary is enough to live a good life in USA? ›

Overall, Americans need an average post-tax income of $68,499 to live comfortably in the U.S., according to recent data from SmartAsset. SmartAsset's study analyzed the after-tax income needed to live in the nation's 25 largest metro areas comfortably.

How much do you need to make a year to live comfortably in USA? ›

On average, an individual needs $96,500 for sustainable comfort in a major U.S. city. This includes being able to pay off debt and invest for the future.

Can I afford 3 kids? ›

The cost of raising three children averages more than $50k per year during the early years. Roughly 50% of that goes to childcare, 14% to additional housing costs and 14% to food. Medical costs, transportation and other necessities make up the rest.

How much should a family of 4 save? ›

A family of four is defined as a married couple with two children, the oldest aged 6 to 17. With a 50/30/20 budget, 50% of your budget is spent on necessities, like housing or utilities, 30% goes toward discretionary spending, and 20% is left for savings or investments.

Can I live on 40k a year? ›

A $40,000 salary may be sufficient for an individual in a low-cost area, but it may not be enough for a family to live comfortably in most parts of the US. Rising inflation has made it more challenging to live on a $40,000 salary, but it still exceeds the poverty threshold for families.

Can a family of 4 live on 100k a year? ›

On the other side of that, the states where you need the most money to earn a living wage for four people all require an income of more than $100,000. These are all coastal states known for high real estate prices, including Hawaii, Massachusetts, California, New York and Alaska.

What is a livable hourly wage? ›

California's living wage is $19.41, or $40,371 a year for an individual. A family of four requires $27.42, or $101,378 a year.

What is the middle class salary? ›

Middle-class households have an income that is two-thirds to double that of the U.S. median household income, after it has been adjusted for household size, which in 2021 was $70,784, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

What salary is upper middle class? ›

Many have graduate degrees with educational attainment serving as the main distinguishing feature of this class. Household incomes commonly exceed $100,000, with some smaller one-income earners household having incomes in the high 5-figure range. "The upper middle class has grown...and its composition has changed.

What salary is upper class? ›

In 2020, according to Pew Research Center analysis, the median for upper income households was around $220,000 and the median for middle income households was slightly above $90,000.

Is 150k a year middle class? ›

There are three U.S. cities where people making a $150,000 income qualify as lower middle class and two of them are in California, according to recent research from GOBankingRates.

Is $100,000 a good salary for a family of 4? ›

In some U.S. states, a family of four needs to earn at least $100,000 to get by, a new analysis reveals. In Hawaii, the living wage for a married couple with two children is $182,900 — the highest in the country — according to a study by personal finance website GOBankingRates.com.

Is 200K a good salary for a family of 4? ›

According to Curbed LA, the median family income in Los Angeles County is $69,300 per year as of 2018. To have any chance of buying a condo or house, you need at least $200K, which could be two incomes combined. now. If you want a home in a good neighborhood, you will need $300K.

Can a family of 4 live off 50k? ›

$50,000 per year is considered a moderate income in the United States, and many individuals and families manage to live comfortably on this income.

What is considered middle class in America for a family of 4? ›

The Pew Research Center defines the middle class as households that earn between two-thirds and double the median U.S. household income, which was $65,000 in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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