If you happen to obtained a job provide in Massachusetts, may you afford to maneuver there? What about Hawaii? Monetary site SmartAsset used the newest information obtainable (February 2025) from the MIT Residing Wage Calculator to collect the fundamental price of residing, together with requirements like housing, meals, transportation, and earnings taxes, to seek out how a lot wage it takes to stay “comfortably” in every state.
Researchers utilized the price of residing in each U.S. state to a 50/30/20 budget (50% for wants, 30% for needs, and 20% for financial savings) to type the record. Unsurprisingly, Hawaii was discovered to be the costliest 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
Residing “comfortably” is outlined as incomes sufficient cash for wants like housing and desires like making an attempt that expensive restaurant, whereas nonetheless with the ability to put away cash for long-term financial savings. Based on the report, it takes a minimal wage of $124,467 for a single grownup to stay comfortably there.
Based on a 2023 report from Hawaii Governor Josh Green, the Aloha State’s housing market is the costliest within the nation, and an annual earnings of $252K can 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 in all the U.S., having a wage beneath $80,829 means you will not be “comfy.”
Listed below are the ten most (and least) costly states for a single grownup with no youngsters.
Most Costly States for a Single Grownup With No Children to Reside 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 Reside 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.
If you happen to obtained a job provide in Massachusetts, may you afford to maneuver there? What about Hawaii? Monetary site SmartAsset used the newest information obtainable (February 2025) from the MIT Residing Wage Calculator to collect the fundamental price of residing, together with requirements like housing, meals, transportation, and earnings taxes, to seek out how a lot wage it takes to stay “comfortably” in every state.
Researchers utilized the price of residing in each U.S. state to a 50/30/20 budget (50% for wants, 30% for needs, and 20% for financial savings) to type the record. Unsurprisingly, Hawaii was discovered to be the costliest 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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