From $7K to $18K a Month: What Families Need To Live in Every State

If it feels like you’re stretching your paycheck every month, it’s not because you’re failing at your financial goals. The math has changed. An August 2026 MoneyLion study shows that in all 50 states, renting comfortably as a family takes an annual income of at least $100,000. In some states, that number climbs to $200,000. Location has become one of the biggest factors in how much income you need to live comfortably.

We calculated the numbers on how much income it takes to rent or own a home while covering essentials like groceries, healthcare, utilities and transportation. You may be surprised by where your state lands and how much a family needs each year to get by.

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Key Findings

• Renting comfortably requires a six-figure income in every state. Families who rent need, on average, at least $143,000 in pre-tax income, well above what most American households earn.

• Owning is cheaper than renting in five states: Illinois, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In New York, homeowners save $1,072 per month compared with renters.

• Even the most affordable states require six figures to rent comfortably. Families in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, West Virginia and Iowa need more than $100,000 in annual income.

• Everyday expenses vary less from state to state. Groceries, healthcare, utilities and transportation show less variation, making location a major factor in how much income a family needs to live comfortably.  

• Hawaii has the highest costs for daily essentials. Groceries cost $12,563 per year, utilities cost $11,410 and transportation costs $15,220. By comparison, Mississippi has the lowest grocery and healthcare costs at $8,590 and $6,885. Oklahoma has the lowest transportation costs at $8,550 and Idaho has the lowest utilities costs at $4,564.   

States Where Families Who Rent Need the Biggest Monthly Budgets

The monthly budget a family needs to rent comfortably varies dramatically by state. In more affordable states, families need roughly $7,000 per month, while those in more expensive states may need at least $12,000.  

10 States Requiring the Highest Monthly Budget

10 States Requiring the Lowest Monthly Budget

State-Level Takeaways

• Healthcare costs average $8,254 per year nationwide. Massachusetts leads the nation at $10,663 annually, compared with $6,885 in Mississippi — a difference of nearly $4,000.

• Groceries cost an average of $9,330 per year nationwide. Mississippi has the lowest annual cost at $8,590.

• Transportation costs average about $10,275 per year nationwide. California ranks second highest at $14,505, while Oklahoma has the lowest cost at $8,550.

What It Costs a Family To Rent in Every State in 2026

Here's how much monthly income a family needs to comfortably afford renting in each state, based on the 50/30/20 rule. States are ranked by the minimum monthly pre-tax salary needed.

States Where Families Who Own Need the Biggest Monthly Budgets

For families who own their homes, the monthly post-tax income needed to live comfortably swings between $7,000 and $18,000. Mortgage payments are the primary driver of the difference. Here are snapshots of the 10 states with the highest and lowest budgets for homeowners.

10 States Requiring the Highest Monthly Budget

10 States Requiring the Lowest Monthly Budget

State-Level Takeaways

• Hawaii is the most expensive state in the study. A family needs $18,071 in monthly post-tax income to live comfortably, about $3,000 more than in second-place California. Hawaii's reliance on imports contributes to higher costs across everyday expenses.

• The West Coast and Northeast carry the highest costs for homeowners. California, Washington and Oregon all rank in the top 10, along with Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Healthcare and utility costs also contribute to higher expenses in these states.

• More affordable states for homeowners are concentrated in the South and the Plains. Nine out of the 10 most affordable states for owning a home are in these two regions, which also tend to have below-average costs for essentials like transportation, healthcare and groceries.

What It Costs a Family To Own a Home in Every State

Here's the monthly income a family needs to comfortably afford owning a home in each state, based on a 30-year mortgage and the 50/30/20 rule. States are ranked by the minimum monthly pre-tax salary needed.

What an Expert Says About Today’s Family Budget

In the last two to three decades, what families need to live comfortably has substantially shifted. In the past, creating a budget could help you avoid living paycheck to paycheck. But when housing is the primary driver of your expenses, cutting small costs isn’t necessarily going to close the gap.

The reality is that many households are likely running on a deficit. That's not surprising given that it takes at least $143,000 annually to live comfortably. A majority of household incomes fall short of that number. So what’s the answer? As a certified financial health expert, I recommend looking at the bigger picture.

• Consider where you live: Since housing is a major expense, consider whether your location fits comfortably within your budget. Moving to a different state or a more rural area could lower your housing costs and leave more room for other financial goals, including retirement.

• Understand what it costs to live somewhere: Look at housing, transportation, insurance and other major expenses before choosing where you want to live. Costs can vary substantially from state to state, and you may find that one location is much more affordable than another.  

• Look at data as a tool to empower you: Building a budget based on real numbers can help you make a more informed decision about where to live and what you can comfortably afford.

When the Numbers Don’t Work: Your Next Move

With the costs of housing and renting exhausting incomes, simply budgeting may not be enough. As a certified financial expert, I know careful financial planning can help you avoid feeling stretched every month. Here’s what I recommend:

• Get a clear picture of your gap: Look at your income and expenses to determine how much you're coming up short each month. You can’t fix what you don’t know. Seeing the big picture of your finances can empower you to make decisions on where you can cut expenses.

• Looking at your “latte” factor isn’t the answer: Smaller expenses may not be what's putting a strain on your budget. Housing, transportation and debt can take up much more of your income. If you own a house, find out if you can refinance. If you rent, consider if moving to a more affordable area could work for you. If debt is undermining your budget, ask your creditors to lower your interest rate.

• Be proactive if you're struggling to pay for essentials: Utility companies, medical providers and lenders may offer hardship programs if you can't make a payment. Call them before you fall behind rather than waiting until you’ve missed multiple payments.  

• Build an emergency starter fund: If you’ve got a small amount in your emergency fund, it can help you cover an unexpected expense without turning to a loan or taking on new debt. The goal is to prevent yourself from being trapped in the debt cycle.

• Consider how geography affects how far your income will go: Where you live is key to how far your income will stretch. If you have the opportunity to move elsewhere, run the numbers first to see what you could comfortably afford. It may mean the difference between needing $131,000 to live versus $212,000.

• Ask for help: If you're overwhelmed by bills and don't have enough income to cover your debts, consider going to a nonprofit credit counseling center to ask for help. The credit counselors can help you launch a path forward.

Methodology

MoneyLion analyzed the income families need to live comfortably as renters and homeowners in all 50 states. Rental costs were based on 2026 data from Apartments.com. Homeownership costs were calculated using July 2026 home values from Zillow and a 30-year fixed mortgage with a 20% down payment and a 6.65% mortgage rate from Freddie Mac as of Aug. 20, 2026.

Costs for groceries, utilities, healthcare and transportation were based on average household spending from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2024 Consumer Expenditure Survey and adjusted using Q1 2026 cost-of-living data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

MoneyLion then calculated the annual cost of necessities for renters and homeowners and applied the 50/30/20 rule, with 50% of post-tax income going toward necessities, 30% toward discretionary spending and 20% toward savings and debt repayment. These figures were used to estimate the monthly and annual income families would need to live comfortably in each state.

All data was collected and is up to date as of Aug. 25, 2026.

Photo credit: PeopleImages / iStock