As the cost of living continues to rise, many Americans may wonder how far their salary goes in the largest U.S. cities. While new data from GOBankingRates reveals the median income isn’t enough to cover living costs in every major metro, you may be surprised by the locations where it is enough money. The median income in five major California cities — including the notoriously expensive Bay Area hotspots San Francisco and Oakland — covers each spot’s living expenses.
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The GOBankingRates’ research team analyzed the most populated U.S. cities, sourcing key factors like household median income, the cost-of-living indexes and average expenditure costs. Each city’s monthly and annual cost of living was calculated using the average expenditure and mortgage costs. The average annual cost of living and median household income were then used to calculate the amount of coverage this income can cover in each location.
Key Findings
Los Angeles, not San Francisco, ranks as the least affordable city for median income earners. The median income is $80,336, covering just 79% of living expenses and resulting in a negative savings of $21,634 after this income pays the cost of living.
Los Angeles, Miami and New York’s median income covers up to just 85% of living expenses. These locations ranked as the top three cities with the least affordable median income, with every city experiencing negative savings after earnings covered living costs: Los Angeles ($21,634), Miami ($15,324) and New York ($14,598).
Seven Texas cities, the most out of any state, were among the 45 cities where the median income covers 100% or more of living expenses. These include Dallas (#23), Houston (#26), Austin (#29), El Paso (#35), San Antonio (#38), Arlington (#39) and Fort Worth (#47).
There are five surprising California cities where earning a median income does cover 100% or more of expenses: San Francisco (#8), Oakland (#9), Fresno (#13), Sacramento (#19) and Bakersfield (#31).
Ranked from least affordable to most affordable, let’s see how far the median income goes in America’s largest cities.
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1. Los Angeles
% of living expenses covered by income: 79%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: -$21,634
Household median income: $80,366
Annual cost of living: $102,000
Monthly cost of living: $8,500
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2. Miami
% of living expenses covered by income: 80%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: -$15,324
Household median income: $59,390
Annual cost of living: $74,714
Monthly cost of living: $6,226
3. New York City
% of living expenses covered by income: 85%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: -$14,598
Household median income: $79,713
Annual cost of living: $94,311
Monthly cost of living: $7,859
4. Long Beach, California
% of living expenses covered by income: 90%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: -$9,397
Household median income: $83,969
Annual cost of living: $93,366
Monthly cost of living: $7,780
5. San Diego
% of living expenses covered by income: 96%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: -$4,430
Household median income: $104,321
Annual cost of living: $108,751
Monthly cost of living: $9,063
6. San Jose, California
% of living expenses covered by income: 99.6%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: -$624
Household median income: $141,565
Annual cost of living: $142,189
Monthly cost of living: $11,849
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7. Boston
% of living expenses covered by income: 107%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $6,323
Household median income: $94,755
Annual cost of living: $88,432
Monthly cost of living: $7,369
8. San Francisco
% of living expenses covered by income: 107%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $9,447
Household median income: $141,446
Annual cost of living: $131,999
Monthly cost of living: $11,000
9. Oakland, California
% of living expenses covered by income: 113%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $10,972
Household median income: $97,369
Annual cost of living: $86,397
Monthly cost of living: $7,200
10. Tucson, Arizona
% of living expenses covered by income: 116%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $7,425
Household median income: $54,546
Annual cost of living: $47,121
Monthly cost of living: $3,927
11. Detroit
% of living expenses covered by income: 120%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $6,606
Household median income: $39,575
Annual cost of living: $32,969
Monthly cost of living: $2,747
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12. Las Vegas
% of living expenses covered by income: 120%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $11,958
Household median income: $70,723
Annual cost of living: $58,765
Monthly cost of living: $4,897
13. Fresno, California
% of living expenses covered by income: 126%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $13,804
Household median income: $66,804
Annual cost of living: $53,000
Monthly cost of living: $4,417
14. Washington, D.C.
% of living expenses covered by income: 128%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $23,449
Household median income: $106,287
Annual cost of living: $82,838
Monthly cost of living: $6,903
15. Seattle
% of living expenses covered by income: 130%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $28,000
Household median income: $121,984
Annual cost of living: $93,984
Monthly cost of living: $7,832
16. Milwaukee
% of living expenses covered by income: 131%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $12,217
Household median income: $51,888
Annual cost of living: $39,671
Monthly cost of living: $3,306
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17. Tampa, Florida
% of living expenses covered by income: 134%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $18,029
Household median income: $71,302
Annual cost of living: $53,273
Monthly cost of living: $4,439
18. Portland, Oregon
% of living expenses covered by income: 135%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $23,043
Household median income: $88,792
Annual cost of living: $65,749
Monthly cost of living: $5,479
19. Sacramento, California
% of living expenses covered by income: 136%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $22,158
Household median income: $83,753
Annual cost of living: $61,595
Monthly cost of living: $5,133
20. Denver
% of living expenses covered by income: 136%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $24,332
Household median income: $91,681
Annual cost of living: $67,349
Monthly cost of living: $5,612
21. Aurora, Colorado
% of living expenses covered by income: 138%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $23,255
Household median income: $84,320
Annual cost of living: $61,065
Monthly cost of living: $5,089
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22. Philadelphia
% of living expenses covered by income: 138%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $16,759
Household median income: $60,698
Annual cost of living: $43,939
Monthly cost of living: $3,662
23. Dallas
% of living expenses covered by income: 139%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $18,847
Household median income: $67,760
Annual cost of living: $48,913
Monthly cost of living: $4,076
24. Mesa, Arizona
% of living expenses covered by income: 139%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $22,024
Household median income: $78,779
Annual cost of living: $56,755
Monthly cost of living: $4,730
25. Phoenix
% of living expenses covered by income: 139%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $21,646
Household median income: $77,041
Annual cost of living: $55,395
Monthly cost of living: $4,616
26. Houston
% of living expenses covered by income: 141%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $18,162
Household median income: $62,894
Annual cost of living: $44,732
Monthly cost of living: $3,728
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27. Albuquerque, New Mexico
% of living expenses covered by income: 141%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $18,975
Household median income: $65,604
Annual cost of living: $46,629
Monthly cost of living: $3,886
28. Atlanta
% of living expenses covered by income: 141%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $23,810
Household median income: $81,938
Annual cost of living: $58,128
Monthly cost of living: $4,844
29. Austin, Texas
% of living expenses covered by income: 143%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $27,264
Household median income: $91,461
Annual cost of living: $64,197
Monthly cost of living: $5,350
30. Jacksonville, Florida
% of living expenses covered by income: 146%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $20,980
Household median income: $66,981
Annual cost of living: $46,001
Monthly cost of living: $3,833
31. Bakersfield, California
% of living expenses covered by income: 146%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $24,346
Household median income: $77,397
Annual cost of living: $53,051
Monthly cost of living: $4,421
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32. Charlotte, North Carolina
% of living expenses covered by income: 148%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $25,308
Household median income: $78,438
Annual cost of living: $53,130
Monthly cost of living: $4,428
33. Colorado Springs
% of living expenses covered by income: 148%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $27,147
Household median income: $83,198
Annual cost of living: $56,051
Monthly cost of living: $4,671
34. Raleigh, North Carolina
% of living expenses covered by income: 149%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $26,946
Household median income: $82,424
Annual cost of living: $55,478
Monthly cost of living: $4,623
35. El Paso, Texas
% of living expenses covered by income: 150%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $19,461
Household median income: $58,734
Annual cost of living: $39,273
Monthly cost of living: $3,273
36. Tulsa, Oklahoma
% of living expenses covered by income: 150%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $19,424
Household median income: $58,407
Annual cost of living: $38,983
Monthly cost of living: $3,249
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37. Memphis, Tennessee
% of living expenses covered by income: 151%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $17,313
Household median income: $51,211
Annual cost of living: $33,898
Monthly cost of living: $2,825
38. San Antonio, Texas
% of living expenses covered by income: 151%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $21,284
Household median income: $62,917
Annual cost of living: $41,633
Monthly cost of living: $3,469
39. Arlington, Texas
% of living expenses covered by income: 153%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $25,543
Household median income: $73,519
Annual cost of living: $47,976
Monthly cost of living: $3,998
40. Columbus, Ohio
% of living expenses covered by income: 154%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $22,789
Household median income: $65,327
Annual cost of living: $42,538
Monthly cost of living: $3,545
41. Baltimore
% of living expenses covered by income: 154%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $21,015
Household median income: $59,623
Annual cost of living: $38,608
Monthly cost of living: $3,217
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42. Chicago
% of living expenses covered by income: 155%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $26,708
Household median income: $75,134
Annual cost of living: $48,426
Monthly cost of living: $4,035
43. Indianapolis
% of living expenses covered by income: 158%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $23,134
Household median income: $62,995
Annual cost of living: $39,861
Monthly cost of living: $3,322
44. Omaha, Nebraska
% of living expenses covered by income: 161%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $27,605
Household median income: $72,708
Annual cost of living: $45,103
Monthly cost of living: $3,759
45. Kansas City, Missouri
% of living expenses covered by income: 162%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $25,869
Household median income: $67,449
Annual cost of living: $41,580
Monthly cost of living: $3,465
46. Minneapolis
% of living expenses covered by income: 163%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $30,927
Household median income: $80,269
Annual cost of living: $49,342
Monthly cost of living: $4,112
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47. Fort Worth, Texas
% of living expenses covered by income: 163%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $29,710
Household median income: $76,602
Annual cost of living: $46,892
Monthly cost of living: $3,908
48. Virginia Beach, Virginia
% of living expenses covered by income: 164%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $35,473
Household median income: $90,685
Annual cost of living: $55,212
Monthly cost of living: $4,601
49. Wichita, Kansas
% of living expenses covered by income: 168%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $25,418
Household median income: $63,072
Annual cost of living: $37,654
Monthly cost of living: $3,138
50. Oklahoma City
% of living expenses covered by income: 172%
Savings remaining after income covers living costs: $27,898
Household median income: $66,702
Annual cost of living: $38,804
Monthly cost of living: $3,234
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the most populated cities, as sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. Cost-of-living living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces. Using the cost of living indexes and the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each location was calculated. Mortgage costs were determined using Zillow Home Value Index for May 2025 and the Federal Reserve Economic Data. Using the average mortgage and average expenditure costs, the average cost of living was calculated. All data was collected on and is up to date as of July 3, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here’s How Far the Median Income Goes in America’s Largest Cities
