Apr 27, 2026
Living comfortably in America now effectively means earning six figures — and in some cities, even that won't cut it.
A new SmartAsset analysis using MIT's Living Wage Calculator found that New York City tops the list of the most expensive American cities, with a required salary of $158,954 to comfortably cover food, housing, savings, transportation and discretionary spending (1).
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San Jose comes in just behind NYC at $158,080, with much of California — including San Diego, San Francisco, Irvine, Los Angeles, Oakland and Sacramento — rounding out the top tier.
This pattern, however, extends far beyond the coasts. Cities like Denver, Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte and Boise all now require roughly $100,000 or more for a comfortable lifestyle, a sign that high living costs are no longer just a coastal problem.
Even at the more affordable end of the spectrum, the numbers are still hard to swallow. San Antonio, the least expensive city in the analysis, still requires $83,242 a year to live comfortably — a level of income that would have seemed substantial not long ago.
The most affordable places to live in the US
If six figures feels out of reach, some cities do offer a lower cost of living.
San Antonio leads the affordability rankings at $83,242, followed by Memphis at $86,320 and Tulsa at $88,317. In Houston, living comfortably will require $89,981 a year, while midwestern cities like Indianapolis and Kansas City require $90,896 and $92,144, respectively (2).
If you've dreamed of living on the beach, the coastal city of Jacksonville, Florida is ranked ninth on the most affordable list with an average comfortable salary of $92,518. If Ohio is on your radar, the state capital of Columbus rounds out the top 10 most affordable cities with an average ideal salary of $92,810 to live comfortably.
These numbers are meaningful because they show that even the most "affordable" cities still require a salary close to six figures to live comfortably. Meanwhile, the median weekly earnings of a full-time worker in the U.S. were $1,235 in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (3).
Multiplied by 52 weeks in a year, that equates to an annual salary of $64,220 — but that also assumes sick time and vacation time are paid, which isn't the case for those who are self employed, work gig jobs or work for smaller companies. In other words, even the most affordable major cities require a salary that's roughly $20,000 more than what the typical American worker actually earns.
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Is relocating worth it for a lower cost of living?
Looking at these numbers, you might be wondering whether it's worth relocating to get a bit of breathing room in your budget. It might be, but there are a few considerations to keep in mind.
Lower cost of living often means lower salaries
The most obvious drawback is salaries. While it might cost close to $159,000 to live comfortably in NYC, there are more jobs in the city that pay close to that range. Head west to rural Idaho, and finding a six-figure job is likely to be more difficult. However, if you work remotely or in a specialized field, moving to a more affordable city could put more money in your pocket.
Pay attention to taxes
Some states, like Florida, offer a lower cost of living and no income tax. Sounds pretty appealing, but property taxes can be higher. While the state of Florida only levies a .78% effective property tax rate (4), counties may charge additional rates. Miami-Dade County's rate, for example, is 19.9878 per thousand of the home's fair market value, or roughly about 2% (5). That can add up.
Moving costs money
Moving across the country isn't cheap. In fact, a long-distance move can cost $3,000 to $10,000 and maybe more, depending on distance and how much you're bringing (6). That upfront cost can eat into your first year or two of savings from the lower cost of living.
Losing access to your community
While moving away from friends and family comes with an emotional cost, it might also include a financial one as well. Depending on your situation, you might find yourself paying for services like babysitters, food delivery when you're sick or pet sitters rather than relying on friends and family.
Run the numbers before you start packing
Before deciding to make a big move, look for ways to trim your current budget or increase your earnings where you are now. If moving still seems worth it, calculate your break-even point. If relocating saves you $1,000 a month but the actual move costs $5,000, your breakeven point is about 5 months, which might be worth it. But if the savings are lower or moving costs are higher, it may not be worth the move.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
SmartAsset (1); Visual Capitalist (2); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (3); Tax Foundation (4); Virtuance (5); Moving.com (6).
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Danielle is a personal finance writer whose work has appeared in publications including Motley Fool and Business Insider. She believes financial literacy key to helping people build a life they love. She’s especially passionate about helping families and kids learn smart money habits early.
