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 (1)

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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? ›

Out of all 99 cities SmartAsset examined, a family of four would need a median of $226,886 to live comfortably. In Houston, the income needed drops to $175,219 — the lowest of all cities examined.

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.

What is the cost of living for a family of 4 in California? ›

What's the average cost of living for a family of 4 in Los Angeles? In Los Angeles, a family of four needs to budget approximately $7,712 per month to cover living expenses, which includes rent but varies based on lifestyle, location within the city, and other variables.

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

Typical Expenses
1 ADULT2 ADULTS (BOTH WORKING)
0 Children3 Children
Other$4,739$11,950
Required annual income after taxes$48,163$142,920
Annual taxes$8,661$24,496
8 more rows

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

The study found that a person needs an average of $96,500 for sustainable comfort in a major U.S. city. It's even more expensive for families, who need to make an average combined income of about $235,000 to support two adults and two children without the pressure of living paycheck to paycheck.

Is $100,000 good 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.

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? ›

One of the popular budgeting guidelines is the 50/30/20 rule. It says that 50% of your earnings should go to necessities, 30% to discretionary items and 20% to savings. For example, if you earn $8,000 per month, you should save $1,600 of it.

How much does it cost to live in USA per month? ›

What is the average cost of living in the US? The average cost of living in the United States is estimated to be between $2,500 and $3,500 per month, depending on your location and lifestyle. This includes housing, food, transportation, health care, taxes, and other expenses.

What state has the lowest cost of living? ›

Mississippi. Mississippi has the lowest cost of living in the United States. With a cost of living index of 83.3, expenses are nearly 17% less than the national average. Mississippi's housing costs are the lowest in the nation.

What is a comfortable income to live in California? ›

But just how much does a single person in California need to make to live comfortably? A new study from Smart Asset determined that a person must make at least $89,190 to get by comfortably.

What state has the highest cost of living? ›

Hawaii is the state with the highest cost of living in the US, with a cost of living index of 184.

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

Reams of hard data back up these casual observations: The MIT Living Wage Calculator finds that an L.A. County family of four with two working parents needs to earn at least $125,411 — before taxes — to support the household at a basic standard of living.

What is a good salary in US per month? ›

According to the latest figures by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average salary in USA per month is $5,677 or $68,124 per year. As of 2023, the gross minimum salary in the USA is $32.75 per hour. Salaries range from $32,916 to $112,268 per year and include housing, transport, and other benefits.

What is the middle class salary? ›

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.

How much should a family of 4 have in savings? ›

Most financial experts agree that individuals should have at least 6 to 12 months of savings in their account to serve as a safety net in the event of an emergency. This emergency fund doesn't include money for special purposes, such as a college fund, retirement account or down payment for a home.

How much should a family of 4 spend a month? ›

According to the most recent data, U.S. households that consist of four people spent an average of $8,640 per month in 2022. In 2021, the average four-person household spent $7749 per month. This works out to average annual expenditures of $101,514 in 2022, up from $92,989 in 2021.

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