How Far a 50K Salary Would Get You in 30 American Cities (2024)

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How Far a 50K Salary Would Get You in 30 American Cities (2)

Wondering, “What can I afford with $50,000 a year?” We’ve taken a closer look at the basic expenses of 30 American cities to see where you’d be able to live comfortably on a fairly average yearly salary.

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How Far a 50k Salary Would Get You in 30 American Cities Transcript

The Average Costs of Necessary Expenses Vs. Minimum Wage and Average Income in the Most Populated Cities of the US

CityLouisville, KYBaltimore, MDLas Vegas, NVOklahoma City, OKPortland, ORNashville, TNBoston, MAMemphis, TNWashington, D.C.
Food$2986$2986$3564$2986$3564$2986$3467$2986$2986
Medical$2298$2507$2242$2195$2030$2237$2688$2237$2506
Housing$6565$10836$7560$6762$11352$8231$13333$7504$17078
Transportation$4236$4236$3860$4236$3860$4236$3609$4236$4236
Other$2656$2656$2803$2656$2803$2656$2656$2656$2656
Annual Income Taxes$3496$4406$2794$3367$4975$2838$3593$2737$5700
Total income needed$22237$27627$22823$22202$28584$23186$29346$22356$35162
Minimum Wage Salary$15080 ($7.25/hr)$19240 ($9.25/hr)$17,160 ($8.25/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$21320 ($10.25/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$22,880 ($11/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$26,000 ($12.50/hr)
Living Wage Salary $22235 ($10.69/hr)$27622 ($13.28/hr)$22817

($10.97/hr)

$22193 ($10.67/hr)$28579 ($13.74/hr)$23192 ($11.15/hr)$29348 ($14.11/hr)$22360 ($10.75/hr)$35152 ($16.90/hr)
Average Salary$48821$56177$47968$47965$55438$51263$70983$47264$71007
Detroit, MIEl Paso, TXDenver, COSeattle, WACharlotte, NCFort Worth, TXColumbus, OHIndianapolis, INSan Fransisco, CA
Food$3050$2986$3564$3564$2986$2986$3050$3050$3564
Medical$2243$2203$2395$1984$2195$2203$2361$2297$2150
Housing$6961$6553$10128$12226$8190$8179$6924$7035$19566
Transportation$4173$4236$3860$3860$4236$4236$4173$4173$3860
Other$2877$2656$2803$2803$2656$2656$2877$2877$2803
Annual Income Taxes$3506$2599$4186$3409$3961$2826$2965$3337$4999
Total income needed$22810$21233$26937$27846$24224$23086$22350$22769$36942
Minimum Wage Salary$19240 ($9.25/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$21216 ($10.20/hr)$23920 ($11.50/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$17,264 ($8.30/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$22,880 ($11/hr)
Living Wage Salary$22817 ($10.97/hr)$21236 ($10.21/hr)$26936 ($12.95/hr)$27851 ($13.39/hr)$24232 ($11.65/hr)$23088.00 ($11.10/hr)$22360 ($10.75/hr)$22776 ($10.95/hr)$36941($17.76/hr)
Average Salary$58,931$40539$60550$69154$54,707$50,882$51,612$51,256$85,917
Jacksonville, FLAustin, TXSan Jose, CADallas, TXSan Diego, CASan Antonio, TXPhoenix, AZPhiladelphia, PAHouston, TX
Food$2986$2986$3564$2986$3564$2986$3564$3467$2986
Medical$2583$2203$2150$2203$2150$2203$2291$2349$2203
Housing$7372$9588$17909$8179$14544$7426$7488$10140$8446
Transportation$4236$4236$3860$4236$3860$4236$3860$3609$4236
Other$2656$2656$2803$2656$2803$2656$2803$2656$2656
Annual Income Taxes$2767$3023$4768$2826$4299$2721$3338$3100$2864
Total income needed$22600$24692$35054$23086$31220$22228$23,343$25321$23390
Minimum Wage Salary$17,160 ($8.25/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$22,880 ($11/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$22,880 ($11/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$21840 ($10.50/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)
Living Wage Salary$22609 ($10.87/hr)$24689 ($11.87/hr)$35048 ($16.85/hr)$23088.00 ($11.10/hr)$31220 ($15.01/hr)$22235 ($10.69/hr)$23337 ($11.22/hr)$25313 ($12.17/hr)$23400 ($11.25/hr)
Average Salary$47035$58567$84225$60015$60992$53855$5300$59827$59581
Chicago, ILLos Angeles, CANewYork, NY
Food$3050$3564$3467
Medical$2501$2150$2367
Housing$10487$12623$14,542
Transportation$4173$3860$3609
Other$2877$2803$2656
Annual Income Taxes$4049$4031$5004
Total income needed2713729031$31645
Minimum Wage Salary$17160 ($8.25/hr)$22880 ($11/hr)$21632 ($10.40/hr)
Living Wage Salary$29036 ($13.96/hr)$29036 ($13.96/hr)$31636 ($15.21/hr)
Average Salary$62746$62564$68992

Sources:

Is $50K a Good Salary?

Let’s look at the facts: In the United States, the median household income is $57,617, which often includes multiple household members’ incomes as well as side gigs. Considering that 47% of the country makes less than $50,000 per household, you’re already in the upper crust. And that’s for household data! The median personal income in the U.S. is quite different, about $31,099. So if you’re asking, “Is $50,000 a year a good salary?” in comparison to other Americans, the answer is yes. If you’re asking, “Is $50,000 a good salary?” because you want to know if it’s a reasonable wage to live off of comfortably, that answer is a bit more complicated.

What Can I Afford With $50,000 a Year?

The answer depends on where you live. For the top 30 most populated cities in the U.S., you need between $20K and $35K a year to cover basic expenses, including food, medical costs, housing, transportation, taxes, and other expenses. This is according to MIT’s Living Wage Index, which calculates what a fair wage would look like in various American cities. In many places, there’s a massive gap between the minimum wage and living wage. For those who want a slightly more affluent lifestyle — a nicer apartment, brunches on weekends — expect to need a cushion of $5K to $10K more per year.

How Much Rent Can I Afford on a $50K Salary?

Housing costs vary an extreme amount based on your location. If you’re asking, “How much house can I afford?” a $50,000 salary may only be able to get you a closet in San Francisco. The rule of thumb for rent is that many people can afford a $1,250 apartment with a $50K salary, but it can’t go far above that. If you specifically want to know, “What house can I afford on $50K a year?” it depends on your down payment, but the price generally would be somewhere around $200K. Getting something in that price range in Manhattan could be pretty difficult! We took a look at how much house $500K gets you in different cities previously, and those results may be a bit disheartening.

Contents

    How Far a 50K Salary Would Get You in 30 American Cities (2024)

    FAQs

    Is 50k a good salary in America? ›

    So if you're asking, “Is $50,000 a year a good salary?” in comparison to other Americans, the answer is yes. If you're asking, “Is $50,000 a good salary?” because you want to know if it's a reasonable wage to live off of comfortably, that answer is a bit more complicated.

    Is 50k a year middle class? ›

    “For instance, in California, where the median income is $84,097, the middle-class income bracket ranges from $56,065 to $168,194.” But California is a big place — as is every state in terms of regional income fluctuations.

    What can I afford with 50k salary? ›

    If you earn $50,000 per year, you earn about $4,166.67 per month. At 28% of your income, your mortgage payment should be no more than $1,166.67 per month. Considering a 20% down payment, a 6.89% mortgage rate and a 30-year term, that's about what you can expect to pay on a $185,900 home.

    How many Americans make 50k? ›

    Percentage distribution of household income in the United States in 2022
    Annual household income in U.S. dollarsPercentage of U.S. households
    25,000 to 34,9997.6%
    35,000 to 49,99910.6%
    50,000 to 74,99916.2%
    75,000 to 99,99912.3%
    5 more rows
    Nov 3, 2023

    Can you live off a 50k salary? ›

    For many people, $50,000 is enough income to live comfortably, although your location and lifestyle are important factors. In coastal cities, that money doesn't go as far, but there are certainly households in New York City that live on one or two Social Security incomes amounting to less than $50,000.

    How much is $30 an hour annually? ›

    $30 an hour is how much a year? If you make $30 an hour, your yearly salary would be $62,400.

    Is 50K a year considered poor? ›

    50k annually is about 50% higher than minimum wage in California. It's a poverty wage, close to half the wage of full time working adults. Some people may find it comfortable but that is really a personal choice.

    What is a poor class income? ›

    Based on 2021 data, here's what you would need to earn in order to be in each class: Lower class: This is defined as the bottom 20% of earners. Those in the lower class have an income at or below $28,007. Lower middle class: This is defined as individuals in the 20th to 40th percentile of household income.

    What salary is upper class? ›

    In 2020, according to Pew Research Center analysis, the median for upper income households was around $220,000 and the median for middle income households was slightly above $90,000.

    Can I afford a 200K house on 50K? ›

    Assuming you have enough in savings to cover the down payment, closing costs and cost of regular upkeep, yes, you probably could afford a $200K home on a $50K annual salary. Using our example above, the monthly mortgage payment on a $200K home, including taxes and insurance, would be about $1,300.

    Can I afford a 300k house on a 60k salary? ›

    An individual earning $60,000 a year may buy a home worth ranging from $180,000 to over $300,000. That's because your wage isn't the only factor that affects your house purchase budget. Your credit score, existing debts, mortgage rates, and a variety of other considerations must all be taken into account.

    How much house can I afford if I make $36,000 a year? ›

    On a salary of $36,000 per year, you can afford a house priced around $100,000-$110,000 with a monthly payment of just over $1,000. This assumes you have no other debts you're paying off, but also that you haven't been able to save much for a down payment.

    How many Americans live paycheck to paycheck? ›

    A 2023 survey conducted by Payroll.org highlighted that 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, a 6% increase from the previous year. In other words, more than three-quarters of Americans struggle to save or invest after paying for their monthly expenses.

    What percentage of people in America make $50000 a year? ›

    Middle Class constitutes any income between $42,000 and $126,000 in the US. Overall, the highest percentage of Americans (16.5%) have an income between $50,000-$74,999.

    Is 25k a year poverty level? ›

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services uses the Census Bureau threshold to determine who is eligible for certain government assistance programs, like SNAP (food stamps). Under their guidelines, a family of four is considered impoverished if they earn $30,000 or less per year.

    Is 50k a high wage? ›

    It's significantly higher than the national median wage.

    Can a family of 4 live on 50000? ›

    Yes, millions of people do in the USA. $50,000 a year is two adults each making $25,000 per year, or approximately $25 per hour. It is not the lap of luxury, but if you budget and don't make frivolous purchases, you can survive and raise your two kids. How well can a family of 4 live on $25k (after tax) per month?

    What is $50,000 a year hourly? ›

    $50,000 a year is how much an hour? If you make $50,000 a year, your hourly salary would be $24.04.

    What is a good living salary in us? ›

    An analysis of the living wage (as calculated in December 2022 and reflecting a compensation being offered to an individual in 2023), compiling geographically specific expenditure data for food, childcare, health care, housing, transportation, and other necessities, finds that: The living wage in the United States is ...

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