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Outside of major cities, many Americans find life to be more affordable. However, years of high inflation have increased costs for almost everyone. To maintain a comfortable lifestyle, the 50/30/20 budget rule suggests spending about 50% of your income on necessities like food and housing, 30% on wants, and saving or paying off debt with the remaining 20%.
With this in mind, SmartAsset applied the 50/30/20 budget rule to cost of living data in each U.S. state to determine how much income a single adult needs to live comfortably, as well as for two working adults raising two children.
The map of the United States below, created by VisualCapitalist, illustrates the income necessary for two working adults with two children to maintain a comfortable lifestyle in each state.
In the top five most expensive U.S. states, families need an annual income exceeding $270,000 to live comfortably.
Here are the U.S. states ranked by the income needed for a single adult to live comfortably according to the 50/30/20 budget rule.
Top 10 Most Expensive States to Live Comfortably
Rank
State
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult
Salary needed for a single working adult
Rank of income needed for a family
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children
1
Massachusetts
$55.78
$116,022
1
$301,184
2
Hawaii
$54.66
$113,692
2
$294,612
3
California
$54.64
$113,652
5
$276,724
4
New York
$53.72
$111,738
4
$278,970
5
Washington
$51.20
$106,496
7
$257,420
6
Colorado
$49.66
$103,292
6
$264,992
7
New Jersey
$49.52
$103,002
9
$251,180
8
Maryland
$49.48
$102,918
15
$239,450
9
Oregon
$48.60
$101,088
8
$257,338
10
Rhode Island
$48.48
$100,838
10
$249,268
Here are the U.S. states ranked by the income required for a single adult to live comfortably based on the 50/30/20 budget rule.
Top 10 Cheapest States to Live Comfortably
Rank
State
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult
Salary needed for a single working adult
Rank of income needed for a family
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children
1
West Virginia
$37.88
$78,790
3
$189,364
2
Arkansas
$38.20
$79,456
2
$180,794
3
Oklahoma
$38.66
$80,412
8
$194,106
4
North Dakota
$38.72
$80,538
13
$202,176
5
Kentucky
$38.80
$80,704
5
$190,112
6
Ohio
$38.80
$80,704
20
$209,332
7
South Dakota
$39.16
$81,452
6
$192,608
8
Louisiana
$39.64
$82,452
4
$189,612
9
Mississippi
$39.78
$82,742
1
$177,798
10
Iowa
$40.08
$83,366
23
$211,412
Key Findings:
Massachusetts is the most expensive state to live comfortably in. A single adult needs to earn at least $116,022 to cover basic needs, wants, and savings, equating to $55.78 per hour. For a family with two working parents and two children, the total family income needs to be about $301,184 for the same level of comfort.
Raising a family in California is relatively less expensive than living comfortably alone. While California ranks as the third most expensive state for a single adult to live comfortably at $113,652, it ranks fifth for two working adults raising two children, with the total family income needing to be at least $276,724. Connecticut ($279,884) and New York ($278,970) surpass California in the costs of raising a family comfortably.
Connecticut is the third most expensive state for raising a family comfortably but only eleventh for single adults. While single adults in Connecticut need $100,380 to live comfortably, two working adults with children require an income of $279,884, placing Connecticut third in the study.
West Virginia is the least expensive state for a single adult to live comfortably, requiring $78,790 annually or $37.88 per hour pre-tax. For two working adults raising two children, the state is the third least expensive, with the family needing $189,364 for their needs, wants, and savings.
Mississippi requires the least money for two working adults to raise children. A family in Mississippi needs about $177,798 to cover basic needs, wants, and savings goals. For a single adult to achieve the same, it costs $82,742, making Mississippi the eighth least expensive state.
