The Living Wage a Single Person Needs in America's 50 Biggest Cities
It’s not cheap to be single, especially if you live in or want to live in America’s 50 largest cities. Only nine major U.S. cities necessitate an annual living wage of $40,000 or less as the absolute bare minimum threshold for survival.
MoneyLion defined living wage as the absolute bare minimum one needs to cover living expenses consisting of rent in a 1-bedroom apartment, utilities, groceries, transportation and healthcare. Each city’s living wage was calculated using the average rent and expenditure costs in each location. The living wage salary needed before tax was calculated with the assistance of salaryaftertax.com’s salary calculator and the cities were sorted by lowest to highest living wage needed to survive.
Key Findings
San Francisco and New York, not surprisingly, are the most expensive for singles. A single person must make at least $101,680 (New York) and $104,934 (San Francisco), pretax, to reside in these pricey metros.
Nine major metros are viable options for singles earning under $40,000 a year. The cities and their bare minimum living wages are Wichita, Kansas ($36,334); Memphis, Tennessee ($36,478); Tulsa, Oklahoma ($38,2610); San Antonio ($38,465); Oklahoma City ($39,074); Columbus, Ohio ($39,074); Albuquerque, New Mexico ($39,513); Tucson, Arizona ($39,618); and Indianapolis ($39,899).
Which metros have the most, and least, affordable rent? The average monthly rent is $1,158 in Wichita. Meanwhile, singles in San Francisco spend a whopping $4,539 on monthly rent.
Singles pay less than $4,000 annually on groceries in three cities: Detroit ($3,845), San Antonio ($3,948) and El Paso, Texas ($3,974).
New York is the most expensive city for annual healthcare. Singles pay $5,443 annually in the Big Apple. By comparison, healthcare costs are less than $3,500 per year in three major cities: Minneapolis ($3,234); Albuquerque, New Mexico ($3,404); and Detroit ($3,490).
Here’s how much a single person needs to earn, pretax, to live in America’s 50 biggest cities.
1. Wichita, Kansas
Median household income: $64,620
Average monthly rent cost: $1,158
Annual cost of living: $30,147
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,104
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,390
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $36,334
2. Memphis, Tennessee
Median household income: $51,736
Average monthly rent cost: $1,262
Annual cost of living: $31,490
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,031
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,129
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $36,478
3. Tulsa, Oklahoma
Median household income: $59,838
Average monthly rent cost: $1,276
Annual cost of living: $31,747
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,100
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,411
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $38,261
4. San Antonio
Median household income: $65,056
Average monthly rent cost: $1,390
Annual cost of living: $33,087
Average grocery costs (annually): $3,948
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,083
Living wage salary needed (pr-tax): $38,465
5. Oklahoma City
Median household income: $68,656
Average monthly rent cost: $1,290
Annual cost of living: $32,363
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,091
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,530
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $39,074
6. Columbus, Ohio
Median household income: $66,082
Average monthly rent cost: $1,446
Annual cost of living: $33,620
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,268
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,818
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $39,508
7. Albuquerque, New Mexico
Median household income: $68,317
Average monthly rent cost: $1,473
Annual cost of living: $33,197
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,147
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,404
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $39,513
8. Tucson, Arizona
Median household income: $57,073
Average monthly rent cost: $1,421
Annual cost of living: $33,231
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,126
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,643
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $39,618
9. Indianapolis
Median household income: $66,219
Average monthly rent cost: $1,416
Annual cost of living: $33,092
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,044
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,279
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $39,899
10. Louisville, Kentucky
Median household income: $66,849
Average monthly rent cost: $1,362
Annual cost of living: $33,061
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,190
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,044
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $40,030
11. El Paso, Texas
Median household income: $59,745
Average monthly rent cost: $1,529
Annual cost of living: $34,521
Average grocery costs (annually): $3,974
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,108
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $40,250
12. Omaha, Nebraska
Median household income: $73,201
Average monthly rent cost: $1,428
Annual cost of living: $33,836
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,173
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,880
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $40,609
13. Kansas City, Missouri
Median household income: $69,166
Average monthly rent cost: $1,445
Annual cost of living: $33,976
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,182
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,364
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $40,792
14. Milwaukee
Median household income: $54,234
Average monthly rent cost: $1,458
Annual cost of living: $34,225
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,013
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,976
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $41,164
15. Houston
Median household income: $64,813
Average monthly rent cost: $1,561
Annual cost of living: $36,425
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,238
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,057
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $42,619
16. Raleigh, North Carolina
Median household income: $85,395
Average monthly rent cost: $1,575
Annual cost of living: $35,288
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,346
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,044
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $42,692
17. Jacksonville, Florida
Median household income: $69,872
Average monthly rent cost: $1,610
Annual cost of living: $36,647
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,285
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,275
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $42,896
18. Mesa, Arizona
Median household income: $82,752
Average monthly rent cost: $1,540
Annual cost of living: $35,911
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,199
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,946
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $43,060
19. Austin, Texas
Median household income: $93,658
Average monthly rent cost: $1,610
Annual cost of living: $36,879
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,177
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,334
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $43,185
20. Detroit
Median household income: $39,938
Average monthly rent cost: $1,347
Annual cost of living: $35,553
Average grocery costs (annually): $3,845
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,490
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $43,525
21. Dallas
Median household income: $70,518
Average monthly rent cost: $1,605
Annual cost of living: $37,162
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,281
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,185
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $43,537
22. Fort Worth, Texas
Median household income: $79,507
Average monthly rent cost: $1,625
Annual cost of living: $37,254
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,221
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,236
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $43,651
23. Phoenix
Median household income: $81,332
Average monthly rent cost: $1,567
Annual cost of living: $36,497
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,203
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,946
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $43,813
24. Colorado Springs, Colorado
Median household income: $84,818
Average monthly rent cost: $1,749
Annual cost of living: $36,832
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,251
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,524
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $44,692
25. Minneapolis
Median household income: $80,846
Average monthly rent cost: $1,676
Annual cost of living: $36,715
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,372
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,234
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $44,955
26. Charlotte, North Carolina
Median household income: $82,068
Average monthly rent cost: $1,752
Annual cost of living: $37,784
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,285
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,053
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $45,960
27. Las Vegas
Median household income: $73,877
Average monthly rent cost: $1,720
Annual cost of living: $39,119
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,419
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,967
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $45,972
28. Nashville, Tennessee
Median household income: $77,371
Average monthly rent cost: $1,834
Annual cost of living: $39,261
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,406
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,240
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $46,149
29. Denver
Median household income: $94,718
Average monthly rent cost: $1,884
Annual cost of living: $39,828
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,402
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,579
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $48,636
30. Bakersfield, California
Median household income: $80,540
Average monthly rent cost: $1,875
Annual cost of living: $39,881
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,277
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,908
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $48,940
31. Baltimore
Median household income: $62,177
Average monthly rent cost: $1,806
Annual cost of living: $39,574
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,234
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,609
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $48,982
32. Tampa, Florida
Median household income: $75,475
Average monthly rent cost: $1,992
Annual cost of living: $41,775
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,540
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,279
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $49,278
33. Portland, Oregon
Median household income: $90,919
Average monthly rent cost: $1,723
Annual cost of living: $38,337
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,480
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,865
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $49,339
34. Fresno, California
Median household income: $70,991
Average monthly rent cost: $1,967
Annual cost of living: $40,991
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,285
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,972
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $50,460
35. Philadelphia
Median household income: $61,953
Average monthly rent cost: $1,797
Annual cost of living: $41,284
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,428
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,356
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $50,646
36. Atlanta
Median household income: $85,652
Average monthly rent cost: $1,936
Annual cost of living: $41,551
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,268
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,215
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $51,554
37. Virginia Beach, Virginia
Median household income: $92,968
Average monthly rent cost: $2,076
Annual cost of living: $42,118
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,333
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,488
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $52,445
38. Seattle
Median household income: $123,860
Average monthly rent cost: $2,238
Annual cost of living: $44,597
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,696
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,763
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $52,790
39. Sacramento, California
Median household income: $87,321
Average monthly rent cost: $2,064
Annual cost of living: $43,300
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,527
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,437
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $53,620
40. Chicago
Median household income: $77,902
Average monthly rent cost: $2,395
Annual cost of living: $46,902
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,199
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,754
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $59,121
41. Long Beach, California
Median household income: $87,430
Average monthly rent cost: $2,448
Annual cost of living: $48,805
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,402
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,699
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $61,156
42. Washington, D.C.
Median household income: $109,870
Average monthly rent cost: $2,528
Annual cost of living: $49,890
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,929
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,074
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $62,646
43. Oakland, California
Median household income: $101,600
Average monthly rent cost: $2,691
Annual cost of living: $51,580
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,808
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,983
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $65,007
44. Miami
Median household income: $62,462
Average monthly rent cost: $3,008
Annual cost of living: $55,778
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,635
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,437
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $66,734
45. Los Angeles
Median household income: $81,939
Average monthly rent cost: $2,773
Annual cost of living: $53,175
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,497
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,839
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $67,376
46. San Diego
Median household income: $108,077
Average monthly rent cost: $3,054
Annual cost of living: $54,869
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,739
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,797
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $70,151
47. Boston
Median household income: $97,344
Average monthly rent cost: $3,414
Annual cost of living: $60,384
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,812
Average healthcare costs (annually): $3,827
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $79,207
48. San Jose, California
Median household income: $146,427
Average monthly rent cost: $3,527
Annual cost of living: $62,806
Average grocery costs (annually): $4,912
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,594
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $83,257
49. New York
Median household income: $80,483
Average monthly rent cost: $4,170
Annual cost of living: $74,960
Average grocery costs (annually): $5,037
Average healthcare costs (annually): $5,443
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $101,680
50. San Francisco
Median household income: $140,970
Average monthly rent cost: $4,539
Annual cost of living: $75,758
Average grocery costs (annually): $5,037
Average healthcare costs (annually): $4,902
Living wage salary needed (pretax): $104,934
Methodology: For this study, MoneyLion analyzed the largest 50 U.S. cities, according to the total population on the U.S. Census, to find the living wage for a single person living alone. MoneyLion defines the living wage as the absolute minimum one would need to cover bare living expenses. These expenses include transportation, utilities, groceries, healthcare, and rent in a one-bedroom apartment. Using the U.S. Census 2024 5-Year ACS, the total population, total households, and median household income were sourced for each location. For each city the cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling's BestPlaces. The average expenditure costs for a single person living alone were sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey and using the cost-of-living indexes, the average expenditure costs for each location were calculated. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in each city was sourced from Apartments.com using the average rent and expenditure costs, the living wage was calculated for each city. The living wage is the bare minimum one needs to survive and is considered the annual salary after tax. Using salaryaftertax.com's salary calculator, a number of income levels were calculated for each city including the living wage salary needed before tax, the living wage hourly wage before tax, and the living wage hourly wage after tax. The cities were sorted to show the lowest living wage needed to survive first. All data is up to date as of Aug. 18, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.