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 sourced from the Zillow Home Value Index.

Following the 50/30/20 rule that states rent 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

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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 June 22, 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