There is no state where the salary needed for a comfortable lifestyle matches the state’s actual salaries. Some states are significantly further than others in being able to afford a comfortable cost of living. This comparison amounts to more than $75,000 in Hawaii and California, while on the low end just six states have a difference of $10,000 or less between the income needed and real earnings.
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To determine the difference between a salary needed to live comfortably compared to actual salaries, GOBankingRates reviewed various factors in each state, like the household median income and cost-of-living indexes. The 50/30/20 rule stating that needs should not exceed 50% of the household income was utilized to double the total cost of living and find the comfortable cost of living. Using the median household income and the total cost of living, the differences were calculated to showcase the difference between the comfortable cost of living and the actual incomes from each state.
Key Findings
Hawaii is the furthest from being able to afford a comfortable cost of living. The difference between the median household income and annual cost of living is $108,192. It is the only U.S. state with a six-figure salary difference.
The top six states share more than $40,000 difference in median income compared to actual salaries. Hawaii takes first place followed by California ($76,529), Massachusetts ($49,215), Washington ($45,647), Montana ($43,798) and Oregon ($42,913).
Six states share a difference of $10,000 or less in median vs. comfortable income. They include North Dakota ($9,877), Nebraska ($9,449), Minnesota ($9,414), Illinois ($6,014), Kansas ($5,707) and Iowa ($5,121).
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1. Hawaii
Median household income: $98,317
Annual cost of living comfortably: $206,509
Difference between median and comfortable income: $108,192
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2. California
Median household income: $96,334
Annual cost of living comfortably: $172,863
Difference between median and comfortable income: $76,529
3. Massachusetts
Median household income: $101,341
Annual cost of living comfortably: $150,556
Difference between median and comfortable income: $49,215
4. Washington
Median household income: $94,952
Annual cost of living comfortably: $140,599
Difference between median and comfortable income: $45,647
5. Montana
Median household income: $69,922
Annual cost of living comfortably: $113,720
Difference between median and comfortable income: $43,798
6. Oregon
Median household income: $80,426
Annual cost of living comfortably: $123,339
Difference between median and comfortable income: $42,913
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7. Nevada
Median household income: $75,561
Annual cost of living comfortably: $115,332
Difference between median and comfortable income: $39,771
8. Idaho
Median household income: $74,636
Annual cost of living comfortably: $113,054
Difference between median and comfortable income: $38,418
9. Maine
Median household income: $71,773
Annual cost of living comfortably: $108,287
Difference between median and comfortable income: $36,514
10. Rhode Island
Median household income: $86,372
Annual cost of living comfortably: $121,089
Difference between median and comfortable income: $34,717
11. Florida
Median household income: $71,711
Annual cost of living comfortably: $106,256
Difference between median and comfortable income: $34,545
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12. Colorado
Median household income: $92,470
Annual cost of living comfortably: $126,583
Difference between median and comfortable income: $34,113
13. Arizona
Median household income: $76,872
Annual cost of living comfortably: $110,431
Difference between median and comfortable income: $33,559
14. Utah
Median household income: $91,750
Annual cost of living comfortably: $123,424
Difference between median and comfortable income: $31,674
15. New York
Median household income: $84,578
Annual cost of living comfortably: $115,834
Difference between median and comfortable income: $31,256
16. Alaska
Median household income: $89,336
Annual cost of living comfortably: $119,367
Difference between median and comfortable income: $30,031
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17. New Jersey
Median household income: $101,050
Annual cost of living comfortably: $130,286
Difference between median and comfortable income: $29,236
18. Vermont
Median household income: $78,024
Annual cost of living comfortably: $106,678
Difference between median and comfortable income: $28,654
19. New Mexico
Median household income: $62,125
Annual cost of living comfortably: $89,235
Difference between median and comfortable income: $27,110
20. New Hampshire
Median household income: $95,628
Annual cost of living comfortably: $122,378
Difference between median and comfortable income: $26,750
21. North Carolina
Median household income: $69,904
Annual cost of living comfortably: $94,870
Difference between median and comfortable income: $24,966
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22. South Carolina
Median household income: $66,818
Annual cost of living comfortably: $89,464
Difference between median and comfortable income: $22,646
23. Wyoming
Median household income: $74,815
Annual cost of living comfortably: $97,247
Difference between median and comfortable income: $22,432
24. Connecticut
Median household income: $93,760
Annual cost of living comfortably: $116,004
Difference between median and comfortable income: $22,244
25. Tennessee
Median household income: $67,097
Annual cost of living comfortably: $89,009
Difference between median and comfortable income: $21,912
26. Delaware
Median household income: $82,855
Annual cost of living comfortably: $104,058
Difference between median and comfortable income: $21,203
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27. Georgia
Median household income: $74,664
Annual cost of living comfortably: $93,919
Difference between median and comfortable income: $19,255
28. South Dakota
Median household income: $72,421
Annual cost of living comfortably: $90,000
Difference between median and comfortable income: $17,579
29. Wisconsin
Median household income: $75,670
Annual cost of living comfortably: $92,642
Difference between median and comfortable income: $16,972
30. Mississippi
Median household income: $54,915
Annual cost of living comfortably: $71,167
Difference between median and comfortable income: $16,252
31. Kentucky
Median household income: $62,417
Annual cost of living comfortably: $78,306
Difference between median and comfortable income: $15,889
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32. Alabama
Median household income: $62,027
Annual cost of living comfortably: $77,196
Difference between median and comfortable income: $15,169
33. Arkansas
Median household income: $58,773
Annual cost of living comfortably: $73,764
Difference between median and comfortable income: $14,991
34. Virginia
Median household income: $90,974
Annual cost of living comfortably: $105,402
Difference between median and comfortable income: $14,428
35. Louisiana
Median household income: $60,023
Annual cost of living comfortably: $73,671
Difference between median and comfortable income: $13,648
36. Texas
Median household income: $76,292
Annual cost of living comfortably: $89,753
Difference between median and comfortable income: $13,461
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37. West Virginia
Median household income: $57,917
Annual cost of living comfortably: $70,520
Difference between median and comfortable income: $12,603
38. Missouri
Median household income: $68,920
Annual cost of living comfortably: $80,823
Difference between median and comfortable income: $11,903
39. Oklahoma
Median household income: $63,603
Annual cost of living comfortably: $75,353
Difference between median and comfortable income: $11,750
40. Indiana
Median household income: $70,051
Annual cost of living comfortably: $81,447
Difference between median and comfortable income: $11,396
41. Pennsylvania
Median household income: $76,081
Annual cost of living comfortably: $86,945
Difference between median and comfortable income: $10,864
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42. Ohio
Median household income: $69,680
Annual cost of living comfortably: $80,525
Difference between median and comfortable income: $10,845
43. Maryland
Median household income: $101,652
Annual cost of living comfortably: $112,368
Difference between median and comfortable income: $10,716
44. Michigan
Median household income: $71,149
Annual cost of living comfortably: $81,502
Difference between median and comfortable income: $10,353
45. North Dakota
Median household income: $75,949
Annual cost of living comfortably: $85,826
Difference between median and comfortable income: $9,877
46. Nebraska
Median household income: $74,985
Annual cost of living comfortably: $84,434
Difference between median and comfortable income: $9,449
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47. Minnesota
Median household income: $87,556
Annual cost of living comfortably: $96,970
Difference between median and comfortable income: $9,414
48. Illinois
Median household income: $81,702
Annual cost of living comfortably: $87,716
Difference between median and comfortable income: $6,014
49. Kansas
Median household income: $72,639
Annual cost of living comfortably: $78,346
Difference between median and comfortable income: $5,707
50. Iowa
Median household income: $73,147
Annual cost of living comfortably: $78,268
Difference between median and comfortable income: $5,121
Methodology: GOBankingRates found household median income from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The annual cost of living was determined using data from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, Zillow Home Value Index for March 2025 and the Federal Reserve Economic Data. Using the 50/30/20 finance rule that states that needs should not exceed 50% of the household income, the total cost of living was doubled to find the comfortable cost of living. Using the median household income and the total cost of living, the difference between the comfortable cost of living and the actual income from each state was determined. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 9, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here’s How Much More You Need To Make To Live Comfortably in Your State
