California isn’t known for its affordability. It can be challenging for a two-income household to keep up with the high cost of living expenses and even more difficult for a single person.
But just how much does a single person in California need to make to live comfortably? A new study from Smart Asset determined that a person must make at least $ 89,190 to get by comfortably.
Here’s the breakdown.
Using data from the latest MIT Living Wage Calculator and the 50/30/20 budgeting method, Smart Asset calculated the pre-tax salary a single person without kids would need to earn to “live comfortably” in 99 of the largest cities in the U.S., including those in California.
The 50/30/20 budgeting method separates one’s budget into three categories: basic living expenses, discretionary spending, and saving or paying off debt.
The budgeting method calls for 50% of the salary to be used to pay for basic living expenses, such as rent and bills, 30% for personal spending, and 20% to be put into a savings account or used to pay down debt.
The data used in the study analyzed the cost of living in each city as of 2024.
In some California cities, like Bakersfield and Fresno, a single person would need to make at least $89,190 to “live comfortably,” the data shows.
However, the salary requirement is higher in cities like Sacramento, Los Angeles, Irvine, and San Diego. To live comfortably, people in these areas should make over $104,000.
The study found that 7 of the 10 cities with the highest salaries needed to live comfortably are in California.
- New York City: $138,570
- San Jose, California: $136,739
- Irvine, California: $126,797
- Santa Ana, California: $126,797
- Boston: $124,966
- San Diego: $122,803
- Chula Vista, California: $122,803
- San Francisco: $119,558
- Seattle: $119,392
- Oakland, California: $118,768
In contrast, according to Smart Asset, people in Houston, Tulsa, and Cleveland needed to make between $75,000 and $82,000 pre-tax to afford a comfortable life.
These are the top 10 cities with the lowest salary requirement to live comfortably.
- Houston, Texas: $75,088
- El Paso, Texas: $75,254
- Lubbock, Texas: $75,379
- Toledo, Ohio: $77,501
- Laredo, Texas: $78,458
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin: $79,664
- Lexington, Kentucky: $79,997
- Tulsa, Oklahoma: $81,078
- Wichita, Kansas: $81,203
- Cleveland, Ohio: $81,786
Researchers found that, on average, single adults living in 99 of the largest metro areas in the U.S. need to make $96,500 to sustain comfortable living.
FAQs
But just how much does a single person in California need to make to live comfortably? A new study from Smart Asset determined that a person must make at least $ 89,190 to get by comfortably.
What salary do you need to live alone in California? ›
While California ranks third-most expensive for a single adult to live comfortably at $113,652, it only ranks fifth-most expensive for two working adults raising two children. The total family income should be at least $276,724 in the latter case.
Is $75000 a good salary for a single person? ›
If you make $75,000 a year, you're earning more than half of all workers in the U.S. And in fact, many people would probably consider the salary as good pay. After all, a $75,000 salary works out to around $6,250 per month, $1,442.31 per week, or $36.06 an hour.
What is a liveable wage in California? ›
Living Wage Calculation for California
| 1 ADULT | 2 ADULTS (BOTH WORKING) |
|---|
| 0 Children | 2 Children |
|---|
| Living Wage | $27.32 | $33.26 |
| Poverty Wage | $7.24 | $7.50 |
| Minimum Wage | $16.00 | $16.00 |
To live comfortably on your own in these states, you'd need to earn nearly double what most single earners typically make, as the U.S median income for single, full-time workers is around $60,000, per Labor Bureau data.
What is a comfortable salary for a single person living in California? ›
But just how much does a single person in California need to make to live comfortably? A new study from Smart Asset determined that a person must make at least $ 89,190 to get by comfortably.
Is $80,000 a good salary for a single person? ›
Is $80K a good salary for a single person? $80,000 is about $5,000 higher than the U.S. median household income, so many people would consider it very good for a single person. “Good” is always a relative term when it comes to salary; whether or not the amount you earn covers your expenses is a highly personal dynamic.
What is low income in California for a single person? ›
Very-Low, Low and Moderate-Income Limits
| Household Size | Very-Low Income | Moderate-Income |
|---|
| 1 | $11,550 or less | $19,301 - $30,850 |
| 2 | $13,200 or less | $22,051 - $35,250 |
| 3 | $14,900 or less | $24,801 - $39,650 |
| 4 | $16,550 or less | $27,551 - $44,100 |
4 more rowsTo live “comfortably” as a single person in 99 of the largest U.S. metro areas, you'll need a median income of $93,933, according to a recent SmartAsset analysis.
What salary is considered rich for a single person? ›
Based on that figure, an annual income of $500,000 or more would make you rich. The Economic Policy Institute uses a different baseline to determine who constitutes the top 1% and the top 5%. For 2021, you're in the top 1% if you earn $819,324 or more each year. The top 5% of income earners make $335,891 per year.
California ranks number 4 out of 50 states nationwide for 30$ An Hour job salaries. To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for 30$ An Hour jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.
Is $25 an hour good in California? ›
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $59,215 and as low as $26,153, the majority of 25 Hr salaries currently range between $37,000 (25th percentile) to $47,400 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $54,773 annually in California.
How much do you need to make in California to buy a house? ›
Looking to enter the homeowners' club in California? If you want to comfortably afford a home in the United States, you'll need to earn an annual income of over $106,000, according to a new report from Zillow.
Is $1500 rent too much? ›
According to the 30% rule, a person earning $5,000 gross per month could reasonably afford to spend $1,500 per month on rent. However, it's important to remember that this is only a guideline.
How much yearly is $30 an hour? ›
$30 an hour is how much a year? If you make $30 an hour, your yearly salary would be $62,400.
What is the median income for a single person in California? ›
The median income for single, full-time workers is $57,200, CNBC reported. GoBankingRates is an online personal finance resource.
What is the average cost of living alone in California? ›
According to 2021 research from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, California's average cost of living is $53,082 annually (rising above $ 70,000 for heavily populated areas like Los Angeles).
What is the average income in California for a single family? ›
In 2022, the median household income in California amounted to 85,300 U.S. dollars.
What is the average salary to own a home in California? ›
Affordability depends on both the costs of the housing, as well as the income and/or wages of households. Annual household income needed to qualify for a mortgage on a mid-tier California home in March 2024 was about $235,000—over 2 times the median California household income in 2022 ($85,300).
