Single Adults Need Six-Figure Incomes to Live Comfortably in the Most Expensive States

What We’re Showing?

The map above shows how much income single adults need to live comfortably in each U.S. state.

Methodology 

The calculations for income needed were done by SmartAsset, using the cost of necessities sourced from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, last updated on Feb. 14, 2024.

"Comfortable" in this case was defined as the annual income required to cover a 50/30/20 budget, allocating 50% of earnings to necessities such as housing and utility costs, 30% to discretionary spending, and 20% to savings or investments.

Key Takeaways

• Massachusetts is the most expensive state to live comfortably in. A single adult needs to make at least $116,022 annually or $55.78 per hour. 
• West Virginia is the least expensive for a single adult, who only needs to make an estimated $37.88 per hour, or $78,790 annually. 
• To live comfortably on your own in the top five states, a person would need to earn nearly double the typical income for single earners, as the U.S. median income for single, full-time workers is around $60,000, according to Labor Bureau data.