Here’s How Much a Family of 4 Needs to Live ‘Comfortably’ in Every U.S. State, According to a New Report
In 26 states, a family of four has to earn at least $100,000 a year to be considered “financially secure.”
As the cost of living in the U.S., a family of four needs to earn more than ever to live “comfortably,” according to a by .
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center’s 2024 Cost of Living data series, GOBankingRates researchers analyzed annual living expenses for a family of four in all 50 states. For the report, a “living wage” is defined as the income required to cover 50% of necessities, 30% for discretionary spending, and 20% placed into savings.
The data tells an expensive story.
Every state’s living wage was at least $82,000 a year. In 26 states, a family of four has to earn at least $100,000 a year to be considered “financially secure,” while in four states, a family of four would need to earn $150,000 to have a living wage: Hawaii ($259K), Massachusetts ($200K), California ($188K), and New York ($155K).
Related: Millions of Americans Are Getting a Pay Bump This Year. Here’s Where.
States once considered “affordable,” according to the report, (Florida, Virginia, Wisconsin, and North Carolina) now require a family of four to earn more than $100,000 to be “comfortable.”
Here are the most and least expensive states with living wages needed for a family of four.
Least expensive:
1. West Virginia
- Living wage for a family of four: $82,338
- Annual cost of housing: $13,454
- Annual cost of groceries: $5,731
- Annual cost of healthcare: $7,465
2. Mississippi
- Living wage for a family of four: $87,564
- Annual cost of housing: $15,846
- Annual cost of groceries: $6,750
- Annual cost of healthcare: $7,373
3. Alabama
- Living wage for a family of four: $87,607
- Annual cost of housing: $15,670
- Annual cost of groceries: $6,675
- Annual cost of healthcare: $6,949
4. Kansas
- Living wage for a family of four: $87,944
- Annual cost of housing: $15,517
- Annual cost of groceries: $6,610
- Annual cost of healthcare: $7,141
5. Arkansas
- Living wage for a family of four: $88,312
- Annual cost of housing: $16,504
- Annual cost of groceries: $7,030
- Annual cost of healthcare: $6,617
Related: Young People Earning More Than $200,000 a Year Are Fleeing 1 U.S. State — and Flocking to 2 Others
Most expensive:
46. Alaska
- Living wage for a family of four: $136,990
- Annual cost of housing: $25,854
- Annual cost of groceries: $11,013
- Annual cost of healthcare: $11,290
47. New York
- Living wage for a family of four: $155,738
- Annual cost of housing: $37,354
- Annual cost of groceries: $15,912
- Annual cost of healthcare: $8,607
48. California
- Living wage for a family of four: $188,269
- Annual cost of housing: $45,891
- Annual cost of groceries: $19,549
- Annual cost of healthcare: $8,213
49. Massachusetts
- Living wage for a family of four: $199,671
- Annual cost of housing: $49,600
- Annual cost of groceries: $21,129
- Annual cost of healthcare: $10,033
50. Hawaii
- Living wage for a family of four: $258,918
- Annual cost of housing: $66,412
- Annual cost of groceries: $28,290
- Annual cost of healthcare: $9,540
Read the full report to see where all 50 states rank, click .
As the cost of living in the U.S., a family of four needs to earn more than ever to live “comfortably,” according to a by .
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center’s 2024 Cost of Living data series, GOBankingRates researchers analyzed annual living expenses for a family of four in all 50 states. For the report, a “living wage” is defined as the income required to cover 50% of necessities, 30% for discretionary spending, and 20% placed into savings.
The data tells an expensive story.
