- The cost of living is notoriously high in the US – but it can vary widely by state.
- Many Americans are reconsidering their living situations amid the coronavirus pandemic. More than 51 million Americans have filed for unemployment as months of lockdowns continue.
- GoBankingRates determined the “living wage” necessary to live comfortably in each US state.
- Some states, like New York, require an annual income of $95,724 to live comfortably. But the living wage for other states, like Mississippi, can be as low as $58,321.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
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: Over 51 million people filed for unemployment in 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.
GoBankingRates determined 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 2018 data from the US Census Bureau and the median price of homes listed for sale in each state from Zillow.
The living wage in Alabama is $60,016.
Median household income in 2018: $61,584
Median price of homes currently listed: $220,000
The living wage in Alaska is $91,996.
Median household income in 2018: $74,346
Median price of homes currently listed: $284,900
The living wage in Arizona is $68,504.
Median household income in 2018: $59,246
Median price of homes currently listed: $299,000
The living wage in Arkansas is $59,641.
Median household income in 2018: $47,062
Median price of homes currently listed: $176,000
The living wage in California is $99,971.
Median household income in 2018: $75,277
Median price of homes currently listed: $535,000
The living wage in Colorado in $74,215.
Median household income in 2018: $71,953
Median price of homes currently listed: $425,000
The living wage in Connecticut is $90,278.
Median household income in 2018: $76,348
Median price of homes currently listed: $312,900
The living wage in Delaware is $71,254.
Median household income in 2018: $64,805
Median price of homes currently listed: $299,990
The living wage in Florida is $67,614.
Median household income in 2018: $55,462
Median price of homes currently listed: $298,900
The living wage in Georgia is $62,074.
Median household income in 2018: $58,756
Median price of homes currently listed: $260,000
The living wage in Hawaii is $136,437.
Median household income in 2018: $80,212
Median price of homes currently listed: $639,000
The living wage in Idaho is $66,486.
Median household income in 2018: $55,583
Median price of homes currently listed: $334,115
The living wage in Illinois is $66,847.
Median household income in 2018: $65,030
Median price of homes currently listed: $229,000
The living wage in Indiana is $62,086.
Median household income in 2018: $55,746
Median price of homes currently listed: $186,870
The living wage in Iowa is $63,397.
Median household income in 2018: $59,955
Median price of homes currently listed: $174,900
The living wage in Kansas is $62,090.
Median household income in 2018: $58,218
Median price of homes currently listed: $184,900
The living wage in Kentucky is $63,086.
Median household income in 2018: $50,247
Median price of homes currently listed: $194,500
The living wage in Louisiana is $63,842.
Median household income in 2018: $58,218
Median price of homes currently listed: $212,790
The living wage in Maine is $80,336.
Median household income in 2018: $55,602
Median price of homes currently listed: $249,000
The living wage in Maryland is $92,227.
Median household income in 2018: $83,242
Median price of homes currently listed: $320,000
The living wage in Massachusetts is $93,895.
Median household income in 2018: $79,835
Median price of homes currently listed: $469,000
The living wage in Michigan is $67,712.
Median household income in 2018: $56,697
Median price of homes currently listed: $179,900
The living wage in Minnesota is $68,944.
Median household income in 2018: $70,315
Median price of homes currently listed: $270,000
The living wage in Mississippi is $58,321.
Median household income in 2018: $44,717
Median price of homes currently listed: $189,000
The living wage in Missouri is $60,858.
Median household income in 2018: $54,478
Median price of homes currently listed: $189,000
The living wage in Montana is $70,719.
Median household income in 2018: $55,328
Median price of homes currently listed: $324,500
The living wage in Nebraska is $65,162.
Median household income in 2018: $59,566
Median price of homes currently listed: $200,000
The living wage in Nevada is $75,902.
Median household income in 2018: $58,646
Median price of homes currently listed: $320,922
The living wage in New Hampshire is $74,415.
Median household income in 2018: $74,991
Median price of homes currently listed: $309,000
The living wage in New Jersey is $86,244.
Median household income in 2018: $81,740
Median price of homes currently listed: $340,000
The living wage in New Mexico is $63,629.
Median household income in 2018: $47,169
Median price of homes currently listed: $235,000
The living wage in New York is $95,724.
Median household income in 2018: $67,844
Median price of homes currently listed: $419,000
The living wage in North Carolina is $64,406.
Median household income in 2018: $53,855
Median price of homes currently listed: $275,000
The living wage in North Dakota is $69,085.
Median household income in 2018: $63,837
Median price of homes currently listed: $215,000
The living wage in Ohio is $63,204.
Median household income in 2018: $56,111
Median price of homes currently listed: $169,900
The living wage in Oklahoma is $60,318.
Median household income in 2018: $51,924
Median price of homes currently listed: $195,000
The living wage in Oregon is $93,285.
Median household income in 2018: $63,426
Median price of homes currently listed: $379,000
The living wage in Pennsylvania is $68,581.
Median household income in 2018: $60,905
Median price of homes currently listed: $212,900
The living wage in Rhode Island is $83,942.
Median household income in 2018: $64,340
Median price of homes currently listed: $319,000
The living wage in South Carolina is $65,953.
Median household income in 2018: $52,306
Median price of homes currently listed: $247,900
The living wage in South Dakota is $67,657.
Median household income in 2018: $56,274
Median price of homes currently listed: $224,900
The living wage in Tennessee is $60,682.
Median household income in 2018: $52,375
Median price of homes currently listed: $257,500
The living wage in Texas is $63,469.
Median household income in 2018: $60,629
Median price of homes currently listed: $274,900
The living wage in Utah is $67,807.
Median household income in 2018: $71,414
Median price of homes currently listed: $372,900
The living wage in Vermont is $83,878.
Median household income in 2018: $60,782
Median price of homes currently listed: $269,000
The living wage in Virginia is $69,886.
Median household income in 2018: $72,577
Median price of homes currently listed: $300,000
The living wage in Washington is $77,207.
Median household income in 2018: $74,073
Median price of homes currently listed: $415,000
The living wage in West Virginia is $62,635.
Median household income in 2018: $44,097
Median price of homes currently listed: $163,000
The living wage in Wisconsin is $67,667.
Median household income in 2018: $60,773
Median price of homes currently listed: $213,900
The living wage in Wyoming is $61,788.
Median household income in 2018: $61,584
Median price of homes currently listed: $260,000