Not surprisingly, a six-figure income is a requirement to achieve the American dream if you reside in the Western region of the United States. The amount of money needed, however, does fluctuate depending on your city and state of residence. A comfortable lifestyle in San Jose requires earning at least $319,000 while someone residing in Albuquerque can achieve the same dream for less than $115,000 annually.
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GOBankingRates found the salary needed to achieve the American dream in the 50 largest U.S. cities and pulled each city in the West.
Find out how much the American dream will cost you in these 18 Western cities.
San Jose, California
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Household income for the American dream: $319K
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Total annual cost of living: $160K
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Grocery costs per year: $10,302
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $9,228
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San Francisco
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Household income for the American dream: $297K
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Total annual cost of living: $149K
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Grocery costs per year: $10,565
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $8,110
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San Diego
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Household income for the American dream: $242K
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Total annual cost of living: $121K
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Grocery costs per year: $9,940
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $6,660
Los Angeles
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Household income for the American dream: $234K
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Total annual cost of living: $117K
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Grocery costs per year: $9,433
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $6,007
Long Beach, California
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Household income for the American dream: $215K
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Total annual cost of living: $108K
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Grocery costs per year: $9,233
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $5,321
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Seattle
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Household income for the American dream: $212K
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Total annual cost of living: $106K
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Grocery costs per year: $9,849
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $5,433
Oakland, California
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Household income for the American dream: $205K
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Total annual cost of living: $102K
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Grocery costs per year: $10,085
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $4,761
Denver
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Household income for the American dream: $159K
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Total annual cost of living: $80K
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Grocery costs per year: $9,233
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,452
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Portland, Oregon
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Household income for the American dream: $156K
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Total annual cost of living: $78K
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Grocery costs per year: $9,396
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,228
Sacramento, California
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Household income for the American dream: $150K
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Total annual cost of living: $75K
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Grocery costs per year: $9,496
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,864
Las Vegas
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Household income for the American dream: $143K
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Total annual cost of living: $71K
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Grocery costs per year: $9,269
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,656
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Mesa, Arizona
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Household income for the American dream: $138K
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Total annual cost of living: $68K
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Grocery costs per year: $8,807
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,617
Phoenix
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Household income for the American dream: $136K
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Total annual cost of living: $68K
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Grocery costs per year: $8,816
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,485
Colorado Springs, Colorado
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Household income for the American dream: $134K
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Total annual cost of living: $67K
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Grocery costs per year: $8,916
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,704
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Bakersfield, California
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Household income for the American dream: $130K
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Total annual cost of living: $65K
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Grocery costs per year: $8,970
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,323
Fresno, California
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Household income for the American dream: $130K
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Total annual cost of living: $65K
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Grocery costs per year: $8,989
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,308
Tucson, Arizona
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Household income for the American dream: $117K
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Total annual cost of living: $58K
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Grocery costs per year: $8,653
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,983
For You: What Is the Estimated Median Income for the Upper-Middle Class in 2025?
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Household income for the American dream: $114K
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Total annual cost of living: $57K
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Grocery costs per year: $8,699
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Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,965
Methodology: The largest 50 cities were sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces. Average expenditure costs were from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Home value and mortgage data came from Zillow Home Value Index for January 2025 and Federal Reserve Economic Data. Using the 50/30/20 rule that states 50% of household income goes to needs, 30% goes to discretionary spending and 20% is used for savings, the cost of living was doubled to find the income needed to live the American Dream. All data was collected on and is up to date as of March 4, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here’s How Expensive the American Dream Is in 18 Western Cities
