22 States Where You Probably Struggle Unless You Make 6 Figures
A six-figure salary isn’t the financial success story it once was — particularly if you’re focused on living comfortably rather than just living.
In about half of U.S. states, a once-vaunted $100,000 salary now means you’re likely struggling to get by. A new MoneyLion analysis details the gaps, using data from the U.S. Census, Sperling’s Best Places and Zillow.
In famously expensive Hawaii, for example, the annual cost for just necessities comes in just shy of $100,000 a year. Defining “living comfortably” as making the double the cost of necessities, Hawaiians must bring in nearly $200,000 to make this bar. And the median income in the Aloha State is only about $101,000.
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Hawaii tops the list for salaries needed to live comfortably, but it isn’t alone when it comes to significant gaps between a $100K salary and a comfortable living.
Key Findings
Hawaii, California and Massachusetts each require well over $140,000 a year for financial comfort.
In several states — including Oregon, Rhode Island, Montana and Maine — the gap between median income and comfortable‑living income exceeds $30,000.
Even traditionally “affordable” states like Idaho, Utah and Arizona now require more than $100,000 to live comfortably due to rapid population growth and rising housing costs.
The cost of necessities alone exceeds $50,000 in every state on the list — meaning half of a $100,000 salary is consumed before factoring in savings, discretionary spending or emergencies.
1. Hawaii
Annual cost of comfortable living: $198,357
Annual cost of necessities: $99,179
Median household income: $100,745
2. California
Annual cost of comfortable living: $163,349
Annual cost of necessities: $81,674
Median household income: $100,149
3. Massachusetts
Annual cost of comfortable living: $146,736
Annual cost of necessities: $73,368
Median household income: $104,828
4. Washington
Annual cost of comfortable living: $133,923
Annual cost of necessities: $66,961
Median household income: $99,389
5. New Jersey
Annual cost of comfortable living: $126,904
Annual cost of necessities: $63,452
Median household income: $104,294
6. Colorado
Annual cost of comfortable living: $120,315
Annual cost of necessities: $60,157
Median household income: $97,113
7. Oregon
Annual cost of comfortable living: $119,360
Annual cost of necessities: $59,680
Median household income: $85,220
8. New Hampshire
Annual cost of comfortable living: $118,969
Annual cost of necessities: $59,484
Median household income: $99,782
9. Utah
Annual cost of comfortable living: $117,473
Annual cost of necessities: $58,737
Median household income: $96,658
10. Rhode Island
Annual cost of comfortable living: $117,282
Annual cost of necessities: $58,641
Median household income: $83,504
11. Alaska
Annual cost of comfortable living: $116,009
Annual cost of necessities: $58,004
Median household income: $95,665
12. New York
Annual cost of comfortable living: $114,190
Annual cost of necessities: $57,095
Median household income: $85,820
13. Connecticut
Annual cost of comfortable living: $113,023
Annual cost of necessities: $56,512
Median household income: $96,049
14. Idaho
Annual cost of comfortable living: $108,914
Annual cost of necessities: $54,457
Median household income: $81,166
15. Maryland
Annual cost of comfortable living: $108,862
Annual cost of necessities: $54,431
Median household income: $102,905
16. Nevada
Annual cost of comfortable living: $108,502
Annual cost of necessities: $54,251
Median household income: $81,134
17. Montana
Annual cost of comfortable living: $107,637
Annual cost of necessities: $53,819
Median household income: $75,340
18. Arizona
Annual cost of comfortable living: $104,814
Annual cost of necessities: $52,407
Median household income: $81,486
19. Maine
Annual cost of comfortable living: $103,949
Annual cost of necessities: $51,974
Median household income: $76,442
20. Virginia
Annual cost of comfortable living: $102,436
Annual cost of necessities: $51,218
Median household income: $92,090
21. Vermont
Annual cost of comfortable living: $102,277
Annual cost of necessities: $51,138
Median household income: $82,730
22. Delaware
Annual cost of comfortable living: $100,745
Annual cost of necessities: $50,372
Median household income: $87,534
Methodology: For this study, MoneyLion analyzed U.S. states to determine where an annual income of $100,000 puts you in the lower-middle class. Pew Research Center defines the middle class as two-thirds to double the middle class income. Using the U.S. Census 2024 ACS, MoneyLion sourced total population, total households, median household income and upper quintile income limits. Cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling's BestPlaces. Using the national average expenditure costs, the average cost of living was calculated for each state. All data is up to date as of April 1, 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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