Here’s How Much More You Need To Make To Live Comfortably in Your State

There is no state where the salary needed for a comfortable lifestyle matches the state’s actual salaries. Some states are significantly further than others in being able to afford a comfortable cost of living. This comparison amounts to more than $75,000 in Hawaii and California, while on the low end just six states have a difference of $10,000 or less between the income needed and real earnings.

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To determine the difference between a salary needed to live comfortably compared to actual salaries, GOBankingRates reviewed various factors in each state, like the household median income and cost-of-living indexes. The 50/30/20 rule stating that needs should not exceed 50% of the household income was utilized to double the total cost of living and find the comfortable cost of living. Using the median household income and the total cost of living, the differences were calculated to showcase the difference between the comfortable cost of living and the actual incomes from each state.

Plane traveling to hawaii with sunset and palm trees stock photo

Key Findings

  • Hawaii is the furthest from being able to afford a comfortable cost of living. The difference between the median household income and annual cost of living is $108,192. It is the only U.S. state with a six-figure salary difference.
  • The top six states share more than $40,000 difference in median income compared to actual salaries. Hawaii takes first place followed by California ($76,529), Massachusetts ($49,215), Washington ($45,647), Montana ($43,798) and Oregon ($42,913). 
  • Six states share a difference of $10,000 or less in median vs. comfortable income. They include North Dakota ($9,877), Nebraska ($9,449), Minnesota ($9,414), Illinois ($6,014), Kansas ($5,707) and Iowa ($5,121). 

See how much more salary you need to receive in order to live comfortably in your state. Also see America’s fastest-growing suburbs and what it takes to afford them.

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Mahaulepu trail Koloa Poipu Waiopili Heiau rough coastline on Kauai Hawaii USA.

1. Hawaii

  • Median household income: $98,317
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $206,509
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $108,192

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Half Moon Bay California iStock

2. California

  • Median household income: $96,334 
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $172,863 
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $76,529
Marblehead is a coastal New England town located in Essex County, Massachusetts.

3. Massachusetts

  • Median household income: $101,341
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $150,556
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $49,215
Editorial, landscape images of the riverfront in Hoquiam, Washington.

4. Washington

  • Median household income: $94,952
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $140,599
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $45,647
City view.

5. Montana

  • Median household income: $69,922
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $113,720
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $43,798
Sunrise at Portland, Oregon.

6. Oregon

  • Median household income: $80,426
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $123,339
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $42,913

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Reno, USA - May 31, 2016: Reno, known as The Biggest Little City in the World, is famous for it's casinos, and is the birthplace of the gaming corporation Harrah's Entertainment.

7. Nevada

  • Median household income: $75,561
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $115,332
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $39,771
Deer Creek in Hailey Idaho

8. Idaho

  • Median household income: $74,636
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $113,054
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $38,418
South Portland, Maine, USA at the Portland Breakwater Light.

9. Maine

  • Median household income: $71,773
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $108,287
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $36,514
Newport, Rhode Island.

10. Rhode Island

  • Median household income: $86,372
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $121,089
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $34,717
Fort Lauderdale Broward County Florida iStock

11. Florida

  • Median household income: $71,711 
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $106,256
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $34,545

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Boulder Reservoir stock photo

12. Colorado

  • Median household income: $92,470
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $126,583
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $34,113
Downtown Phoenix Aerial View stock photo

13. Arizona

  • Median household income: $76,872
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $110,431
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $33,559
Salt Lake City skyline at sunset with Wasatch Mountains in the background, Utah, USA.

14. Utah

  • Median household income: $91,750
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $123,424 
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $31,674
New York, Old buildings in Tribeca district, with distinctive roof cornices and external fire escape.

15. New York

  • Median household income: $84,578
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $115,834
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $31,256
Aerial View of Downtown Fairbanks, Alaska during a stormy Summer Sunset.

16. Alaska

  • Median household income: $89,336
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $119,367
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $30,031

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Newark is the largest city in New Jersey.

17. New Jersey

  • Median household income: $101,050
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $130,286
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $29,236
Rutland is a city in Rutland County, Vermont, United States.

18. Vermont

  • Median household income: $78,024
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $106,678
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $28,654
Carson National Forest route 75 in Vadito, New Mexico with Sangre de Cristo mountains and pine trees in summer at high road to Taos.

19. New Mexico

  • Median household income: $62,125
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $89,235
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $27,110
Spring in Nashua, New Hampshire stock photo

20. New Hampshire

  • Median household income: $95,628
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $122,378
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $26,750
Downtown Hickory NC stock photo

21. North Carolina

  • Median household income: $69,904
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $94,870
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $24,966

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Georgetown, SC/USA - 04/29/2021 - Retail stores on Front Street.

22. South Carolina

  • Median household income: $66,818 
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $89,464
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $22,646
summer scenery at Jackson hole (a very small village).

23. Wyoming

  • Median household income: $74,815
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $97,247
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $22,432
Yale University campus stock photo

24. Connecticut

  • Median household income: $93,760
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $116,004
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $22,244
Broadway in downtown Nashville, Tennessee stock photo

25. Tennessee

  • Median household income: $67,097
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $89,009
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $21,912
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek.

26. Delaware

  • Median household income: $82,855
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $104,058
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $21,203

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Augusta, Georgia

27. Georgia

  • Median household income: $74,664
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $93,919
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $19,255
Rapid City, South Dakota, USA - May 2, 2019: Evening view of Main Street Square in the Heart of Downtown Rapid City.

28. South Dakota

  • Median household income: $72,421
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $90,000
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $17,579
The Madison, Wisconsin skyline showing buildings, green trees and Wisconsin State Capitol on a sunny day

29. Wisconsin

  • Median household income: $75,670 
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $92,642
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $16,972
Jackson, Mississippi stock photo

30. Mississippi

  • Median household income: $54,915
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $71,167
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $16,252
Overlooking the Paducah Kentucky Riverfront of the Ohio River.

31. Kentucky

  • Median household income: $62,417
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $78,306
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $15,889

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Aerial drone view of Birmingham, Alabama skyline with park and train station in the foreground.

32. Alabama

  • Median household income: $62,027
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $77,196
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $15,169
Little Rock, Arkansas, USA skyline on the river at twilight.

33. Arkansas

  • Median household income: $58,773
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $73,764
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $14,991
Blacksburg is an incorporated town in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States.

34. Virginia

  • Median household income: $90,974
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $105,402
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $14,428
City of New Orleans sunset stock photo

35. Louisiana

  • Median household income: $60,023
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $73,671
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $13,648
Cityscape of downtown Austin from the west in Zilker park 2025 stock photo

36. Texas

  • Median household income: $76,292
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $89,753
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $13,461

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Dramatic image of Woodburn Hall at West Virginia University or WVU in Morgantown WV as the sun sets behind the illuminated historic building.

37. West Virginia

  • Median household income: $57,917
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $70,520
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $12,603
Kansas City skyline.

38. Missouri

  • Median household income: $68,920
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $80,823
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $11,903
Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA - April 24, 2018: Daytime view of the enlarged bronze replica of 'The Bronco Buster' by famed sculptor Frederic Remington in a roundabout on Main Street in Stillwater Oklahoma.

39. Oklahoma

  • Median household income: $63,603
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $75,353
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $11,750
Image of Bloomington Indiana downtown The Square with courthouse aerial.

40. Indiana

  • Median household income: $70,051
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $81,447
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $11,396
Sunny spring in Slatington, Pennsylvania.

41. Pennsylvania

  • Median household income: $76,081
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $86,945
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $10,864

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High Angle View of Downtown Columbus Skyline featuring buildings and trees on Clear Day

42. Ohio

  • Median household income: $69,680
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $80,525
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $10,845
View on Baltimore skyline and Inner Harbor from Federal Hill at dusk, Maryland.

43. Maryland

  • Median household income: $101,652
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $112,368
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $10,716
Detroit Aerial view sunset.

44. Michigan

  • Median household income: $71,149
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $81,502
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $10,353
Fargo, North Dakota, USA - June 12, 2017: Daytime view of the Fargo Theatre along Broadway N in the Downtown Historic District.

45. North Dakota

  • Median household income: $75,949
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $85,826
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $9,877
Frozen pond in a park in downtown Omaha.

46. Nebraska

  • Median household income: $74,985
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $84,434
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $9,449

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Aerial View of the Twin Cities Suburb of Hopkins, Minnesota.

47. Minnesota

  • Median household income: $87,556
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $96,970
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $9,414 
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will counties in the U.

48. Illinois

  • Median household income: $81,702
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $87,716
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $6,014
topeka kansas downtown at night.

49. Kansas

  • Median household income: $72,639
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $78,346
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $5,707
Cedar Rapids is the second-largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County.

50. Iowa

  • Median household income: $73,147
  • Annual cost of living comfortably: $78,268
  • Difference between median and comfortable income: $5,121

Methodology: GOBankingRates found household median income from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The annual cost of living was determined using data from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, Zillow Home Value Index for March 2025 and the Federal Reserve Economic Data. Using the 50/30/20 finance rule that states that needs should not exceed 50% of the household income, the total cost of living was doubled to find the comfortable cost of living. Using the median household income and the total cost of living, the difference between the comfortable cost of living and the actual income from each state was determined. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 9, 2025.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here’s How Much More You Need To Make To Live Comfortably in Your State

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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