SmartAsset: Comfortable living now costs over $80,000 in every state

Earning a six-figure salary no longer ensures financial stability in many parts of the United States.

SmartAsset, a financial planning company, released a report on November 1 stating that a single adult requires a minimum pre-tax income of $80,000 to live comfortably in all 50 states. For households with two working adults and two children, the required income reaches as high as $329,000 annually. The report defines comfort using the 50/30/20 budgeting rule, which allocates half of income to necessities, 30% to discretionary spending, and 20% to savings.

The analysis draws on data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, which was last updated in February 2026. SmartAsset adjusted the MIT figures to reflect the specific budgeting framework. The resulting estimates represent the annual income necessary to cover minimum basic needs while maintaining a financial buffer for retirement and emergencies.

Costs vary widely by location. Massachusetts presents the highest barrier for families, requiring an income of $329,555. For single adults, Hawaii is the most expensive state, with a threshold of $129,002. Mississippi and West Virginia remain the most affordable options. In Mississippi, a family of four needs $187,533, while a single adult in West Virginia needs $81,245.

Rising costs dominated the year-over-year changes. Forty states now require families of four to earn at least $200,000. Montana recorded the steepest increase for single adults, with the required income jumping 8.6% since 2025. New York followed with an 8.4% increase, pushing the single-adult threshold to $124,342. Maine, California, and Massachusetts also saw increases ranging from 5.9% to 6.5%.

Six states saw the income needed for comfortable living decline. Tennessee recorded the largest drop, with the single-adult requirement falling by 1.7% to $89,898. Maryland, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Texas also reported decreases, ranging from 0.2% to 0.9%. In Texas, the threshold for a single adult sits at $90,563.

The report notes that source data providers are not affiliated with SmartAsset or the study. The figures rely on the most recent data available from MIT, meaning 2025 comparisons reflect the latest full year of data. The analysis does not account for regional differences within states or specific local tax rates, treating each state as a single unit for calculation purposes.