Living solo isn’t cheap: Salary to live comfortably tops $120K in 2 states, here’s what it takes in all 50

Thinking of living alone? Be prepared to pay for it, especially if you live in a high-cost area. A new report reveals how much a single adult in each state of the United States must earn in order to live comfortably in today’s economy. In two states, the figure has now surpassed $120,000.

In all 50 states, Americans with regular incomes may face miseries. According to a SmartAsset study, single adults will need between $80,829 in West Virginia and $124,467 in Hawaii to live comfortably in 2025.

The BLS estimates that in 2024, the median yearly income for individuals was little less than $62,000. In West Virginia, the cheapest state, a single adult has to make $80,829 per year to live comfortably, per a SmartAsset analysis.


"Comfortable" is defined by SmartAsset as having enough money to adhere to the 50/30/20 budget, which suggests allocating 50% for rent and food, 30% for discretionary expenditure, and 20% for savings and debt repayment.

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Using the most recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology Living Wage calculator estimates, it calculated the basic needs of state inhabitants.

Here's the amount of money needed in each U.S. state in 2025 for a single adult to live comfortably, as per a report by CNBC.

Income required for a single adult to live in these 50 US states:

• Alabama: $85,280
• Alaska: $100,298
• Arizona: $101,587
• Arkansas: $81,078
• California: $119,475
• Colorado: $105,955
• Connecticut: $105,165
• Delaware: $97,469
• Florida: $97,386
• Georgia: $99,590
• Hawaii: $124,467
• Idaho: $96,429
• Illinois: $98,010
• Indiana: $86,570
• Iowa: $86,902
• Kansas: $87,610
• Kentucky: $83,574
• Louisiana: $85,322
• Maine: $96,595
• Maryland: $108,867
• Massachusetts: $120,141
• Michigan: $87,235
• Minnesota: $91,728
• Mississippi: $86,320
• Missouri: $86,819
• Montana: $92,851
• Nevada: $99,216
• Nebraska: $87,318
• New Hampshire: $103,085
• New Jersey: $108,992
• New Mexico: $87,402
• New York: $114,691
• North Carolina: $93,766
• North Dakota: $82,285
• Ohio: $84,781
• Oklahoma: $84,282
• Oregon: $104,666
• Pennsylvania: $95,306
• Rhode Island: $101,338
• South Carolina: $92,144
• South Dakota: $82,160
• Tennessee: $91,478
• Texas: $90,771
• Utah: $99,466
• Vermont: $99,632
• Virginia: $106,704
• Washington: $109,658
• West Virginia: $80,829
• Wisconsin: $87,194
• Wyoming: $87,942

According to a CNBC/SurveyMonkey poll, seven out of ten Americans are stressed about their finances, even though wage growth is outpacing price inflation.

FAQs

Where does it cost the most to live alone?
Hawaii tops the list, with single adults needing more than $124,000 per year to live comfortably there.

What constitutes a "comfortable" salary?
Enough to adhere to the 50/30/20 rule: 50% on necessities, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings and debt.