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For conversion formulas, overtime scenarios, and annual-pay planning, see the Hourly to Annual hub.
The salary you need to “live comfortably” ranges from $45,000 in Oklahoma City to $130,000+ in San Francisco — and the gap is growing. This guide breaks down exactly what you need to earn in 40+ major US cities, with real numbers for rent, taxes, food, and transportation so you can make informed decisions about where to live and work.
Most Affordable Cities
| City | Salary Needed | Avg Rent (1BR) | Median Home Price | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | $48,000 | $950 | $210,000 | Details |
| Indianapolis, IN | $50,000 | $1,050 | $235,000 | Details |
| Cleveland, OH | $48,000 | $950 | $195,000 | Details |
| Detroit, MI | $48,000 | $1,000 | $220,000 | Details |
| St. Louis, MO | $50,000 | $1,050 | $225,000 | Details |
| Kansas City, MO | $52,000 | $1,050 | $250,000 | Details |
| Columbus, OH | $52,000 | $1,100 | $260,000 | Details |
| Cincinnati, OH | $50,000 | $1,050 | $245,000 | Details |
| Memphis, TN | $48,000 | $1,000 | $215,000 | Details |
Mid-Cost Cities
| City | Salary Needed | Avg Rent (1BR) | Median Home Price | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio, TX | $55,000 | $1,100 | $265,000 | Details |
| Jacksonville, FL | $55,000 | $1,200 | $290,000 | Details |
| Charlotte, NC | $58,000 | $1,300 | $320,000 | Details |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $55,000 | $1,100 | $230,000 | Details |
| Houston, TX | $58,000 | $1,200 | $290,000 | Details |
| Dallas, TX | $62,000 | $1,350 | $340,000 | Details |
| Milwaukee, WI | $55,000 | $1,150 | $265,000 | Details |
| New Orleans, LA | $55,000 | $1,200 | $275,000 | Details |
| Baltimore, MD | $58,000 | $1,250 | $290,000 | Details |
| Las Vegas, NV | $58,000 | $1,250 | $385,000 | Details |
| Phoenix, AZ | $60,000 | $1,300 | $370,000 | Details |
| Tampa, FL | $60,000 | $1,400 | $350,000 | Details |
| Atlanta, GA | $62,000 | $1,450 | $370,000 | Details |
Above-Average Cost Cities
| City | Salary Needed | Avg Rent (1BR) | Median Home Price | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | $65,000 | $1,400 | $390,000 | Details |
| Minneapolis, MN | $65,000 | $1,350 | $340,000 | Details |
| Sacramento, CA | $68,000 | $1,500 | $450,000 | Details |
| Nashville, TN | $65,000 | $1,500 | $400,000 | Details |
| Orlando, FL | $62,000 | $1,500 | $375,000 | Details |
| Philadelphia, PA | $65,000 | $1,500 | $320,000 | Details |
| Chicago, IL | $68,000 | $1,600 | $340,000 | Details |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $68,000 | $1,400 | $450,000 | Details |
| Portland, OR | $72,000 | $1,550 | $480,000 | Details |
| Austin, TX | $72,000 | $1,600 | $450,000 | Details |
| Denver, CO | $75,000 | $1,650 | $530,000 | Details |
High-Cost Cities
| City | Salary Needed | Avg Rent (1BR) | Median Home Price | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $85,000 | $2,100 | $600,000 | Details |
| Seattle, WA | $90,000 | $2,100 | $750,000 | Details |
| Miami, FL | $85,000 | $2,200 | $550,000 | Details |
| Los Angeles, CA | $95,000 | $2,400 | $850,000 | Details |
| San Diego, CA | $92,000 | $2,300 | $800,000 | Details |
| Boston, MA | $95,000 | $2,600 | $700,000 | Details |
| New York City, NY | $110,000 | $3,200 | $750,000 | Details |
| San Jose, CA | $120,000 | $2,800 | $1,300,000 | Details |
| San Francisco, CA | $125,000 | $3,000 | $1,200,000 | Details |
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Expense | OKC ($48K) | Dallas ($62K) | Denver ($75K) | NYC ($110K) | SF ($125K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,400 | $4,300 | $5,000 | $6,800 | $7,600 |
| Rent/mortgage | $950 | $1,350 | $1,650 | $3,200 | $3,000 |
| Food/groceries | $400 | $500 | $550 | $700 | $750 |
| Transportation | $350 | $400 | $400 | $130 | $150 |
| Utilities | $200 | $250 | $250 | $200 | $200 |
| Insurance | $200 | $250 | $250 | $300 | $300 |
| Savings | $500 | $650 | $750 | $1,000 | $1,200 |
| Remaining | $800 | $900 | $1,150 | $1,270 | $2,000 |
Best Cities for Remote Workers
| City | Why | Salary Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | Lowest COL + decent nightlife/food | $48,000 |
| Salt Lake City | Mountains + tech ecosystem + moderate COL | $68,000 |
| Raleigh | Research triangle + affordable + great schools | $65,000 |
| Tampa | No state tax + beach + growing city | $60,000 |
| Nashville | No state tax + culture/food + booming economy | $65,000 |
Quick Reference Table
| Category | Cities |
|---|---|
| Under $55K needed | OKC, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis, Cincinnati |
| $55K-$70K needed | Houston, Dallas, Charlotte, Atlanta, Phoenix, Chicago |
| $70K-$90K needed | Austin, Denver, Portland, Seattle, DC, Miami |
| $90K+ needed | LA, Boston, San Diego, NYC, San Jose, San Francisco |
The Bottom Line
Where you live is the single biggest financial decision you make — bigger than what car you drive, what you invest in, or how frugal you are with groceries. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive cities on this list is $77,000 per year in salary needed. If your job allows remote work, moving from San Francisco to a city like Raleigh or Tampa can be the equivalent of a massive raise.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024.” bls.gov/oes
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