For those who obtained a job supply in Massachusetts, may you afford to maneuver there? What about Hawaii? Monetary site SmartAsset used the newest information obtainable (February 2025) from the MIT Dwelling Wage Calculator to collect the essential price of dwelling, together with requirements like housing, meals, transportation, and earnings taxes, to search out how a lot wage it takes to stay “comfortably” in every state.
Researchers utilized the price of dwelling in each U.S. state to a 50/30/20 budget (50% for wants, 30% for needs, and 20% for financial savings) to kind the checklist. Unsurprisingly, Hawaii was discovered to be the most costly state for a single grownup to stay comfortably.
Associated: Here’s How Much a Family of 4 Needs to Live ‘Comfortably’ in Every U.S. State, According to a New Report
Dwelling “comfortably” is outlined as incomes sufficient cash for wants like housing and needs like making an attempt that dear restaurant, whereas nonetheless with the ability to put away cash for long-term financial savings. In response to the report, it takes a minimal wage of $124,467 for a single grownup to stay comfortably there.
In response to a 2023 report from Hawaii Governor Josh Green, the Aloha State’s housing market is the most costly within the nation, and an annual earnings of $252K could be wanted to afford a median-priced new house.
West Virginia, in the meantime, was discovered to be the most affordable state for single adults, the place a wage of “solely” $80,829 is required to stay comfortably. Housing in West Virginia is 27% decrease than the nationwide common, and utilities are 6% decrease, according to RentCafe. Nonetheless, which means that in your entire U.S., having a wage beneath $80,829 means you will not be “snug.”
Listed below are the ten most (and least) costly states for a single grownup with no kids.
Most Costly States for a Single Grownup With No Children to Stay Comfortably
1. Hawaii
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $124,467.20
2. Massachusetts
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $120,140.80
3. California
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $119,475.20
4. New York
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $114,691.2
5. Washington
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $109,657.60
6. New Jersey
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $108,992.00
7. Maryland
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $108,867.20
8. Virginia
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $106,704.00
9. Colorado
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $105,955.20
10. Connecticut
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $105,164.80
Least Costly States for a Single Grownup With No Children to Stay Comfortably
1. West Virginia
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $80,828.80
2. Arkansas
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $81,078.40
3. South Dakota
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $82,160.00
4. North Dakota
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $82,284.80
5. Kentucky
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $83,574.40
6. Oklahoma
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $84,281.60
7. Ohio
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $84,780.80
8. Alabama
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $85,280.00
9. Louisiana
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $85,321.60
10. Mississippi
Earnings wanted for a single grownup, 2025: $86,320.00
Click on right here for SmartAsset’s full report.
For those who obtained a job supply in Massachusetts, may you afford to maneuver there? What about Hawaii? Monetary site SmartAsset used the newest information obtainable (February 2025) from the MIT Dwelling Wage Calculator to collect the essential price of dwelling, together with requirements like housing, meals, transportation, and earnings taxes, to search out how a lot wage it takes to stay “comfortably” in every state.
Researchers utilized the price of dwelling in each U.S. state to a 50/30/20 budget (50% for wants, 30% for needs, and 20% for financial savings) to kind the checklist. Unsurprisingly, Hawaii was discovered to be the most costly state for a single grownup to stay comfortably.
Associated: Here’s How Much a Family of 4 Needs to Live ‘Comfortably’ in Every U.S. State, According to a New Report
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