Living isn’t cheap, and living in these cities is sure to put a dent in your wallet and your lifestyle if you don’t have a high enough salary.
SmartAsset looked at the pre-tax salary needed to live comfortably in 99 U.S. cities and compiled a list of the most expensive cities to live in.
SmartAsset defines comfortable living as the ability to follow the 50/30/20 budget. This is where you put 50% of your salary towards needs like housing, groceries and transportation. You put 30% towards entertainment, hobbies and other discretional spending, and 20% goes to paying off debt, building your savings and other financial goals.
On average, an individual needs a salary of about $96,500 to live comfortably in a major U.S. city. But, in the following cities, you’ll need far more than that.
10. Oakland, California
To live comfortably in this city:
- A single adult needs a salary of: $118,768
- Two adults with two children need a combined salary of: $316,243
Oakland has plenty of attractions that raise demand for the city. It has a rich cultural presence with the Art Deco Paramount Theater and the Oakland Museum of California (the largest collection of “art, culture and history” in California), among other things.
9. Seattle
To live comfortably in this city:
- A single adult needs a salary of: $119,392
- Two adults with two children need a combined salary of: $283,712
Although the city is expensive, Seattle also provides public transportation in the form of buses and trains used by about a quarter of the population. Low-income residents are able to get discounted fares.
A draw for Seattle is its numerous majestic outdoor spaces like Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park and North Cascades National Park. We cover more in “7 Great Places to Retire in the Pacific Northwest.”
8. San Francisco
To live comfortably in this city:
- A single adult needs a salary of: $119,558
- Two adults with two children need a combined salary of: $339,123
One aspect of San Francisco’s high cost of living is insufficient housing production as the city expanded into the booming area it is now. The low supply of housing, combined with high tech worker incomes, means a number of residents are homeless.
And it’s not just housing that’s expensive. According to the moving assistance site PODS, “If you’re thinking about living in San Francisco, get ready to face constant sticker shock.”
6. Chula Vista, California (tie)
To live comfortably in this city:
- A single adult needs a salary of: $122,803
- Two adults with two children need a combined salary of: $289,453
In the late 1800s, the State Commissioner of Agriculture noticed that citrus trees were particularly successful in the Chula Vista area. This discovery led to Chula Vista becoming, globally, the largest lemon-growing center for a period.
Its successful history doesn’t make it cheap, though. Necessities like housing, food, child care, transportation, health care and taxes are well above the national average.
6. San Diego (tie)
To live comfortably in this city:
- A single adult needs a salary of: $122,803
- Two adults with two children need a combined salary of: $289,453
Like many cities nowadays, housing is a major factor in San Diego’s cost of living.
It’s a quality area to live in with a good food scene and health care, coastal living and warm climate — but that attractive lifestyle comes at a cost for residents.
5. Boston
To live comfortably in this city:
- A single adult needs a salary of: $124,966
- Two adults with two children need a combined salary of: $319,738
A study from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Foundation demonstrates worry over significant numbers of residents planning to leave in the coming years — particularly people aged 20 to 30.
Rent costs, job availability, the ability to buy a home and wages were major points of importance for surveyed residents.
3. Irvine, California (tie)
To live comfortably in this city:
- A single adult needs a salary of: $126,797
- Two adults with two children need a combined salary of: $291,450
In Irvine’s early days (the 1800s), it was a farming community with a focus on lima beans, barley, asparagus, olives, strawberries and oranges.
Irvine is still known for its green spaces, and now for being an educational hub.
3. Santa Ana, California (tie)
To live comfortably in this city:
- A single adult needs a salary of: $126,797
- Two adults with two children need a combined salary of: $291,450
Established in 1886, Santa Ana is about 35 miles south of Los Angeles and often referred to as Downtown Orange County. It has strong public transportation infrastructure with access to buses and trains, as well as walking and cycling areas.
2. San Jose, California
To live comfortably in this city:
- A single adult needs a salary of: $136,739
- Two adults with two children need a combined salary of: $334,547
San Jose is located in the heart of Silicon Valley — making it a tech and entrepreneurial hub. Companies like Google and Apple operate in the area.
It houses numerous museums, vineyards, wineries, gardens and other cultural staples.
1. New York City
To live comfortably in this city:
- A single adult needs a salary of: $138,570
- Two adults with two children need a combined salary of: $318,406
New York City is home to dozens of Fortune 500 companies and many other major businesses. These big businesses, a massive population and a high demand for housing all contribute to high costs.
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