For those who received a job supply in Massachusetts, might you afford to maneuver there? What about Hawaii? Monetary website SmartAsset used the newest knowledge out there (February 2025) from the MIT Residing Wage Calculator to assemble the essential price of residing, together with requirements like housing, meals, transportation, and earnings taxes, to seek out how a lot wage it takes to reside “comfortably” in every state.
Researchers utilized the price of residing in each U.S. state to a 50/30/20 finances (50% for wants, 30% for desires, and 20% for financial savings) to type the record. Unsurprisingly, Hawaii was discovered to be the costliest state for a single grownup to reside comfortably.
Associated: Here is How A lot a Household of 4 Must Dwell ‘Comfortably’ in Each U.S. State, Based on a New Report
Residing “comfortably” is outlined as incomes sufficient cash for wants like housing and needs like attempting that expensive restaurant, whereas nonetheless having the ability to put away cash for long-term financial savings. Based on the report, it takes a minimal wage of $124,467 for a single grownup to reside comfortably there.
Based on a 2023 report from Hawaii Governor Josh Inexperienced, the Aloha State’s housing market is the costliest within the nation, and an annual earnings of $252K could be wanted to afford a median-priced new dwelling.
West Virginia, in the meantime, was discovered to be the most cost effective state for single adults, the place a wage of “solely” $80,829 is required to reside comfortably. Housing in West Virginia is 27% decrease than the nationwide common, and utilities are 6% decrease, in response to RentCafe. Nonetheless, because of this in your complete U.S., having a wage underneath $80,829 means you will not be “comfy.”
Listed below are the ten most (and least) costly states for a single grownup with no youngsters.
Most Costly States for a Single Grownup With No Youngsters to Dwell Comfortably
1. Hawaii
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $124,467.20
2. Massachusetts
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $120,140.80
3. California
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $119,475.20
4. New York
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $114,691.2
5. Washington
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $109,657.60
6. New Jersey
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $108,992.00
7. Maryland
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $108,867.20
8. Virginia
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $106,704.00
9. Colorado
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $105,955.20
10. Connecticut
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $105,164.80
Least Costly States for a Single Grownup With No Youngsters to Dwell Comfortably
1. West Virginia
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $80,828.80
2. Arkansas
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $81,078.40
3. South Dakota
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $82,160.00
4. North Dakota
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $82,284.80
5. Kentucky
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $83,574.40
6. Oklahoma
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $84,281.60
7. Ohio
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $84,780.80
8. Alabama
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $85,280.00
9. Louisiana
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $85,321.60
10. Mississippi
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $86,320.00
Click on right here for SmartAsset’s full report.
For those who received a job supply in Massachusetts, might you afford to maneuver there? What about Hawaii? Monetary website SmartAsset used the newest knowledge out there (February 2025) from the MIT Residing Wage Calculator to assemble the essential price of residing, together with requirements like housing, meals, transportation, and earnings taxes, to seek out how a lot wage it takes to reside “comfortably” in every state.
Researchers utilized the price of residing in each U.S. state to a 50/30/20 finances (50% for wants, 30% for desires, and 20% for financial savings) to type the record. Unsurprisingly, Hawaii was discovered to be the costliest state for a single grownup to reside comfortably.
Associated: Here is How A lot a Household of 4 Must Dwell ‘Comfortably’ in Each U.S. State, Based on a New Report
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