The Salary a Single Parent Needs To Live Comfortably in Every State
Unless your annual income is significant, it’s likely in the best financial interest of single parents to avoid owning a home on the West Coast.
Key findings from a new MoneyLion study reveal single-parent homeowners must earn incomes of $106,000 or more in every West Coast state, including Alaska and Hawaii. But don’t despair if this region is out of reach. Parents with more modest incomes may consider living in one of the 13 states identified by MoneyLion as affordable for homeowners earning salaries of $75,000.
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MoneyLion found each state’s salary needed for a single parent to live comfortably by studying several key factors. These include each state’s average rent, April home value, annual mortgage and annual costs of property taxes, groceries, healthcare, utilities and transportation.
MoneyLion combined the home value, annual mortgage, property taxes, grocery, healthcare, utility and transportation costs to give each state an annual cost of necessities for homeowners. MoneyLion referred to the 50/30/20 rule to ensure no more than 50% of income went toward necessities and from there found the minimum salary for homeowners to live comfortably. The same formula was followed for renters, using rent instead of home values, mortgages and property taxes.
Key Findings
West Virginia is the most affordable state for single-parent homeowners, requiring a minimum salary of $58,420 to live comfortably. The rest of the five most affordable states for homeowners, and their necessary salaries, are Mississippi ($59,854), Louisiana ($63,162), Arkansas ($63,622) and Alabama ($65,287).
Single-parent renters can live comfortably for under $60,000 annually in five states: Oklahoma ($57,349), Arkansas ($57,767), Mississippi ($58,839), West Virginia ($59,269) and Iowa ($59,365).
Single-parent homeowners must earn six figures to afford a comfortable lifestyle in 14 states. Hawaii takes the lead with the highest minimum salary ($178,193), followed by California ($153,465), Massachusetts ($141,416), New Jersey ($132,075), Washington ($124,970), New Hampshire ($119,283), Rhode Island ($113,871), Connecticut ($112,625), New York ($110,739), Oregon ($110,418), Colorado ($109,059), Utah ($106,788), Alaska ($106,462) and Maryland ($101,777).
On the renting side, single parents need to earn six figures in just two states – for now. Renters must earn $112,621 in New York and $106,268 in Massachusetts to afford a comfortable life. Hawaii and California are on the threshold of joining the two high-cost East Coast states with their minimum earnings at $99,992 and $99,903.
Keep reading to find out how much a single parent needs to earn to live comfortably in every state.
Alabama
Affordability rank for homeowners: 5
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $65,287
Annual cost of mortgage: $14,034
Affordability rank for renters: 9
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $60,922
Annual cost of rent: $12,720
Alaska
Affordability rank for homeowners: 38
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $106,462
Annual cost of mortgage: $24,341
Affordability rank for renters: 39
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $81,976
Annual cost of rent: $15,924
Arizona
Affordability rank for homeowners: 30
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $93,880
Annual cost of mortgage: $25,904
Affordability rank for renters: 27
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $69,665
Annual cost of rent: $15,876
Arkansas
Affordability rank for homeowners: 4
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $63,622
Annual cost of mortgage: $13,287
Affordability rank for renters: 2
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $57,767
Annual cost of rent: $11,604
California
Affordability rank for homeowners: 49
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $153,465
Annual cost of mortgage: $47,898
Affordability rank for renters: 47
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $99,903
Annual cost of rent: $26,724
Colorado
Affordability rank for homeowners: 40
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $109,059
Annual cost of mortgage: $33,347
Affordability rank for renters: 31
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $74,108
Annual cost of rent: $18,660
Connecticut
Affordability rank for homeowners: 43
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $112,625
Annual cost of mortgage: $28,095
Affordability rank for renters: 45
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $87,612
Annual cost of rent: $22,824
Delaware
Affordability rank for homeowners: 28
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $90,678
Annual cost of mortgage: $24,251
Affordability rank for renters: 32
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $74,301
Annual cost of rent: $18,252
Florida
Affordability rank for homeowners: 29
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $91,171
Annual cost of mortgage: $23,798
Affordability rank for renters: 35
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $77,759
Annual cost of rent: $20,196
Georgia
Affordability rank for homeowners: 23
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $82,256
Annual cost of mortgage: $20,120
Affordability rank for renters: 30
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $70,876
Annual cost of rent: $17,088
Hawaii
Affordability rank for homeowners: 50
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $178,193
Annual cost of mortgage: $58,385
Affordability rank for renters: 48
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $99,992
Annual cost of rent: $22,116
Idaho
Affordability rank for homeowners: 34
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $98,033
Annual cost of mortgage: $28,543
Affordability rank for renters: 24
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $69,343
Annual cost of rent: $16,584
Illinois
Affordability rank for homeowners: 25
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $84,208
Annual cost of mortgage: $17,672
Affordability rank for renters: 36
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $78,769
Annual cost of rent: $20,508
Indiana
Affordability rank for homeowners: 10
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $71,629
Annual cost of mortgage: $15,416
Affordability rank for renters: 16
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $63,974
Annual cost of rent: $13,548
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Iowa
Affordability rank for homeowners: 8
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $70,717
Annual cost of mortgage: $14,293
Affordability rank for renters: 5
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $59,365
Annual cost of rent: $11,796
Kansas
Affordability rank for homeowners: 9
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $71,097
Annual cost of mortgage: $14,784
Affordability rank for renters: 11
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $61,729
Annual cost of rent: $13,092
Kentucky
Affordability rank for homeowners: 7
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $65,842
Annual cost of mortgage: $13,911
Affordability rank for renters: 10
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $61,472
Annual cost of rent: $12,936
Louisiana
Affordability rank for homeowners: 3
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $63,162
Annual cost of mortgage: $12,914
Affordability rank for renters: 8
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $60,135
Annual cost of rent: $12,588
Maine
Affordability rank for homeowners: 32
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $97,629
Annual cost of mortgage: $24,448
Affordability rank for renters: 40
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $82,191
Annual cost of rent: $20,736
Maryland
Affordability rank for homeowners: 37
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $101,777
Annual cost of mortgage: $26,804
Affordability rank for renters: 37
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $80,097
Annual cost of rent: $20,088
Massachusetts
Affordability rank for homeowners: 48
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $141,416
Annual cost of mortgage: $41,087
Affordability rank for renters: 49
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $106,268
Annual cost of rent: $30,384
Michigan
Affordability rank for homeowners: 13
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $74,220
Annual cost of mortgage: $15,623
Affordability rank for renters: 17
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $64,525
Annual cost of rent: $13,884
Minnesota
Affordability rank for homeowners: 27
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $86,923
Annual cost of mortgage: $21,423
Affordability rank for renters: 25
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $69,384
Annual cost of rent: $16,236
Mississippi
Affordability rank for homeowners: 2
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $59,854
Annual cost of mortgage: $11,577
Affordability rank for renters: 3
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $58,839
Annual cost of rent: $12,192
Missouri
Affordability rank for homeowners: 11
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $71,865
Annual cost of mortgage: $16,044
Affordability rank for renters: 13
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $62,745
Annual cost of rent: $13,872
Montana
Affordability rank for homeowners: 35
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $98,475
Annual cost of mortgage: $28,141
Affordability rank for renters: 29
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $70,411
Annual cost of rent: $16,980
Nebraska
Affordability rank for homeowners: 16
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $77,318
Annual cost of mortgage: $16,745
Affordability rank for renters: 12
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $62,404
Annual cost of rent: $13,320
Nevada
Affordability rank for homeowners: 33
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $97,823
Annual cost of mortgage: $27,818
Affordability rank for renters: 28
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $69,839
Annual cost of rent: $16,152
New Hampshire
Affordability rank for homeowners: 45
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $119,283
Annual cost of mortgage: $31,758
Affordability rank for renters: 42
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $84,834
Annual cost of rent: $22,500
New Jersey
Affordability rank for homeowners: 47
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $132,075
Annual cost of mortgage: $35,381
Affordability rank for renters: 46
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $89,657
Annual cost of rent: $25,296
New Mexico
Affordability rank for homeowners: 18
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $77,790
Annual cost of mortgage: $19,079
Affordability rank for renters: 15
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $63,907
Annual cost of rent: $14,148
New York
Affordability rank for homeowners: 42
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $110,739
Annual cost of mortgage: $29,202
Affordability rank for renters: 50
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $112,621
Annual cost of rent: $36,492
North Carolina
Affordability rank for homeowners: 22
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $81,830
Annual cost of mortgage: $20,287
Affordability rank for renters: 23
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $69,225
Annual cost of rent: $16,224
North Dakota
Affordability rank for homeowners: 15
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $76,457
Annual cost of mortgage: $17,423
Affordability rank for renters: 7
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $59,747
Annual cost of rent: $11,748
Ohio
Affordability rank for homeowners: 12
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $73,366
Annual cost of mortgage: $14,867
Affordability rank for renters: 14
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $63,246
Annual cost of rent: $13,188
Oklahoma
Affordability rank for homeowners: 6
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $65,649
Annual cost of mortgage: $13,333
Affordability rank for renters: 1
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $57,349
Annual cost of rent: $10,944
Oregon
Affordability rank for homeowners: 41
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $110,418
Annual cost of mortgage: $30,499
Affordability rank for renters: 34
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $76,389
Annual cost of rent: $17,616
Pennsylvania
Affordability rank for homeowners: 19
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $79,699
Annual cost of mortgage: $17,150
Affordability rank for renters: 33
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $75,395
Annual cost of rent: $18,612
Rhode Island
Affordability rank for homeowners: 44
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $113,871
Annual cost of mortgage: $30,887
Affordability rank for renters: 43
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $85,048
Annual cost of rent: $22,260
South Carolina
Affordability rank for homeowners: 14
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $76,218
Annual cost of mortgage: $18,406
Affordability rank for renters: 26
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $69,629
Annual cost of rent: $16,620
South Dakota
Affordability rank for homeowners: 20
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $80,443
Annual cost of mortgage: $19,167
Affordability rank for renters: 6
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $59,674
Annual cost of rent: $11,988
Tennessee
Affordability rank for homeowners: 17
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $77,537
Annual cost of mortgage: $20,019
Affordability rank for renters: 20
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $66,441
Annual cost of rent: $16,212
Texas
Affordability rank for homeowners: 21
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $81,117
Annual cost of mortgage: $18,161
Affordability rank for renters: 19
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $65,979
Annual cost of rent: $14,844
Utah
Affordability rank for homeowners: 39
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $106,788
Annual cost of mortgage: $33,003
Affordability rank for renters: 22
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $68,484
Annual cost of rent: $16,500
Vermont
Affordability rank for homeowners: 36
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $99,944
Annual cost of mortgage: $23,734
Affordability rank for renters: 41
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $84,266
Annual cost of rent: $21,888
Virginia
Affordability rank for homeowners: 31
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $94,338
Annual cost of mortgage: $25,231
Affordability rank for renters: 38
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $80,182
Annual cost of rent: $21,444
Washington
Affordability rank for homeowners: 46
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $124,970
Annual cost of mortgage: $37,036
Affordability rank for renters: 44
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $85,528
Annual cost of rent: $21,960
West Virginia
Affordability rank for homeowners: 1
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $58,420
Annual cost of mortgage: $10,445
Affordability rank for renters: 4
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $59,269
Annual cost of rent: $11,760
Wisconsin
Affordability rank for homeowners: 26
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $85,964
Annual cost of mortgage: $20,225
Affordability rank for renters: 21
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $67,161
Annual cost of rent: $15,288
Wyoming
Affordability rank for homeowners: 24
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (homeowners): $83,492
Annual cost of mortgage: $21,661
Affordability rank for renters: 18
Minimum salary needed to live comfortably (renters): $65,970
Annual cost of rent: $14,820
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Methodology: In order to find the salary needed for a single parent to live comfortably in every state, MoneyLion found (1) average monthly rent as sourced from Apartments.com; (2) April 2026 home value as sourced from Zillow; (3) annual mortgage assuming a 30-year fixed year mortgage at 6.36% interest, as sourced from Freddie Mac, with 20% down and not including PMI or HOA fees; (4) annual property taxes as sourced from Tax Foundation; (5) annual grocery costs from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2024 consumer expenditure for “food at home.” Cost of living was determined using data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (2025) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). For homeowners, all but rent were combined to give each state an annual cost of necessities for homeowners. The 50/30/20 rule, where no more than 50% of income should go toward necessities, was used to determine the minimum salary for homeowners to live comfortably. For renters, all but homeowner costs were calculated. For all Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure data, the consumer unit "one parent, at least one child under 18" was used. All data is up to date as of May 19, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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