Real estate report: Housing market predictions
Spring is just around the corner, which typically marks a rising real estate market but interest rates could hold the housing sector back. LiveNOW's Lexie Petrovic spoke about real estate with FOX Business contributor Katrina Campins.
Living in a major U.S. city comes at a price – and it sure isn't cheap.
In the study, researchers at SmartAsset analyzed data to determine the income required to "live comfortably" in the nation's 99 largest metropolitan areas.
The study, which was published on March 7, utilized the 50/30/20 rule to define a comfortable lifestyle, allocating 50% of income to basic living expenses, 30% to discretionary spending and 20% for savings or debt payments.
SmartAsset then used the most recent MIT Living Wage Calculator data to gather the basic cost of living for an individual with no children, along with two working adults with two children.
Person needs nearly six figures to live comfortably
The study found that a person needs an average of $96,500 for sustainable comfort in a major U.S. city. It’s even more expensive for families, who need to make an average combined income of about $235,000 to support two adults and two children without the pressure of living paycheck to paycheck.
The Manhattan skyline is seen at sunrise from the 86th floor observatory of the Empire State Building on April 3, 2021, in New York City. (Credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
The research also revealed that it takes the most money to live comfortably as a single person in New York City, requiring $66.62 in hourly wages, or an annual salary of $138,570.
In six cities, a family must make over $300k to raise two kids comfortably. Two working adults need to make a particularly high combined income in San Francisco ($339,123); San Jose ($334,547); Boston ($319,738); Arlington, VA ($318,573); New York City ($318,406); and Oakland, CA ($316,243) to raise two children with enough money for needs, wants and savings.
RELATED: This is how much money you need to 'live comfortably' in California, data shows
Top 10 Cities With the Lowest Salaries Needed to Live Comfortably
1. Houston, Texas
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $36.10
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $75,088
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $175,219
2. El Paso, Texas
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $36.18
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $75,254
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $180,461
3. Lubbock, Texas
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $36.24
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $75,379
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $181,043
4. Toledo, Ohio
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $37.26
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $77,501
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $208,416
5. Laredo, Texas
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $37.72
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $78,458
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $179,046
6. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $38.30
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $79,664
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $237,952
7. Lexington, Kentucky
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $38.46
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $79,997
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $196,102
8. Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $38.98
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $81,078
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $199,430
9. Wichita, Kansas
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $39.04
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $81,203
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $186,784
10. Cleveland, Ohio
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $39.32
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $81,786
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $217,984
Top 10 Cities With the Highest Salaries Needed to Live Comfortably
1. New York City, New York
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $66.62
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $138,570
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $318,406
2. San Jose, California
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $65.74
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $136,739
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $334,547
3. Irvine, California
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $60.96
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $126,797
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $291,450
4. Santa Ana, California
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $60.96
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $126,797
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $291,450
5. Boston, Massachusetts
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $60.08
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $124,966
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $319,738
6. San Diego, California
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $59.04
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $122,803
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $289,453
7. Chula Vista, California
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $59.04
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $122,803
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $289,453
8. San Francisco, California
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $57.48
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $119,558
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $339,123
9. Seattle, Washington
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $57.40
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $119,392
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $283,712
10. Oakland, California
- Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $57.10
- Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $118,768
- Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $316,243
See the full list of rankings here.
This story was reported from Los Angeles.
