What Salary Do You Need To Live Middle-Class in America's Most Expensive Cities?
Americans, not surprisingly, need to make a substantial amount of money to be considered middle class in the nation’s 48 most expensive cities. Key findings from a new MoneyLion study reveal the highest end of middle-class income is more than $200,000 in 31 major cities including San Diego and San Francisco. And for those aiming to break into the lowest end of middle-class income, you need to earn at least $75,000 annually in 28 cities.
To find out the salary needed to be considered middle class in America’s most expensive cities, we reviewed the 48 most expensive locations with a population of 100,000-plus and sourced each city’s median household income. The total middle-class income ranges were found using Pew Research Center’s definition of middle class as two-thirds to double the income of an area with supplemental information including the lower- and upper-middle-class income ranges. Each city is sorted in order of most expensive to live in.
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Key Findings
California dominated America’s 48 most expensive cities with 39 metros. The nine remaining cities and where they rank as most expensive to live in are Bellevue, Washington (#9); Honolulu (#17); Seattle (#21); Arlington, Virginia (#23); Boulder, Colorado (#24); Boston (#27); Yonkers, New York (#36); Alexandria, Virginia (#40); and Jersey City, New Jersey (#46).
You need a six-figure income in five major cities to break into the lowest end of the middle class. These cities and their incomes are Sunnyvale, California ($124,113); Fremont, California ($121,004); Santa Clara, California ($119,305); Bellevue ($110,384); and San Mateo, California ($102,336).
The highest end of middle-class income is $250,000+ in 11 cities. They are Sunnyvale ($372,340); Fremont ($363,012); Santa Clara ($357,916); Bellevue ($331,152); San Mateo ($307,008); San Jose, California ($292,854); Carlsbad, California ($285,496); Arlington ($284,228); San Francisco ($281,940); Irvine, California ($273,438); and Thousand Oaks, California ($271,206).
The lowest end of middle-class income is under $50,000 in only two California cities: Inglewood ($48,500) and El Monte ($45,353).
Here’s what you need to earn to lead a middle-class lifestyle in the nation’s most expensive cities.
1. Sunnyvale, California
2024 median household income: $186,170
Lowest end of middle-class income: $124,113
Highest end of middle-class income: $372,340
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $124,113 to $206,856
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $289,600 to $372,340
2. San Mateo, California
2024 median household income: $153,504
Lowest end of middle-class income: $102,336
Highest end of middle-class income: $307,008
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $102,336 to $170,560
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $238,786 to $307,008
3. San Francisco
2024 median household income: $140,970
Lowest end of middle-class income: $93,980
Highest end of middle-class income: $281,940
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $93,980 to $156,633
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $219,289 to $281,940
4. Santa Clara, California
2024 median household income: $178,958
Lowest end of middle-class income: $119,305
Highest end of middle-class income: $357,916
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $119,305 to $198,842
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $278,381 to $357,916
5. Berkeley, California
2024 median household income: $108,092
Lowest end of middle-class income: $72,061
Highest end of middle-class income: $216,184
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $72,061 to $120,102
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $168,145 to $216,184
6. Fremont, California
2024 median household income: $181,506
Lowest end of middle-class income: $121,004
Highest end of middle-class income: $363,012
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $121,004 to $201,673
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $282,345 to $363,012
7. San Jose, California
2024 median household income: $146,427
Lowest end of middle-class income: $97,618
Highest end of middle-class income: $292,854
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $97,618 to $162,697
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $227,777 to $292,854
8. Daly City, California
2024 median household income: $123,547
Lowest end of middle-class income: $82,365
Highest end of middle-class income: $247,094
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $82,365 to $137,274
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $192,186 to $247,094
9. Bellevue, Washington
2024 median household income: $165,576
Lowest end of middle-class income: $110,384
Highest end of middle-class income: $331,152
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $110,384 to $183,973
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $257,565 to $331,152
10. Glendale, California
2024 median household income: $88,393
Lowest end of middle-class income: $58,929
Highest end of middle-class income: $176,786
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $58,929 to $98,214
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $137,502 to $176,786
11. Burbank, California
2024 median household income: $97,082
Lowest end of middle-class income: $64,721
Highest end of middle-class income: $194,164
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $64,721 to $107,869
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $151,018 to $194,164
12. Carlsbad, California
2024 median household income: $142,748
Lowest end of middle-class income: $95,165
Highest end of middle-class income: $285,496
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $95,165 to $158,609
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $222,054 to $285,496
13. Torrance, California
2024 median household income: $116,217
Lowest end of middle-class income: $77,478
Highest end of middle-class income: $232,434
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $77,478 to $129,130
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $180,784 to $232,434
14. Pasadena, California
2024 median household income: $105,192
Lowest end of middle-class income: $70,128
Highest end of middle-class income: $210,384
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $70,128 to $116,880
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $163,634 to $210,384
15. Irvine, California
2024 median household income: $136,719
Lowest end of middle-class income: $91,146
Highest end of middle-class income: $273,438
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $91,146 to $151,910
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $212,676 to $273,438
16. Huntington Beach, California
2024 median household income: $120,919
Lowest end of middle-class income: $80,613
Highest end of middle-class income: $241,838
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $80,613 to $134,354
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $188,098 to $241,838
17. Honolulu
2024 median household income: $86,504
Lowest end of middle-class income: $57,669
Highest end of middle-class income: $173,008
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $57,669 to $96,116
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $134,564 to $173,008
18. Costa Mesa, California
2024 median household income: $111,505
Lowest end of middle-class income: $74,337
Highest end of middle-class income: $223,010
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $74,337 to $123,894
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $173,454 to $223,010
19. Oakland, California
2024 median household income: $101,600
Lowest end of middle-class income: $67,733
Highest end of middle-class income: $203,200
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $67,733 to $112,889
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $158,046 to $203,200
20. Los Angeles
2024 median household income: $81,939
Lowest end of middle-class income: $54,626
Highest end of middle-class income: $163,878
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $54,626 to $91,043
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $127,463 to $163,878
21. Seattle
2024 median household income: $123,860
Lowest end of middle-class income: $82,573
Highest end of middle-class income: $247,720
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest
end): $82,573 to $137,622
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $192,673 to $247,720
22. Thousand Oaks, California
2024 median household income: $135,603
Lowest end of middle-class income: $90,402
Highest end of middle-class income: $271,206
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $90,402 to $150,670
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $210,940 to $271,206
23. Arlington, Virginia
2024 median household income: $142,114
Lowest end of middle-class income: $94,743
Highest end of middle-class income: $284,228
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $94,743 to $157,904
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $221,068 to $284,228
24. Boulder, Colorado
2024 median household income: $87,493
Lowest end of middle-class income: $58,329
Highest end of middle-class income: $174,986
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $58,329 to $97,214
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $136,102 to $174,986
25. Hayward, California
2024 median household income: $113,318
Lowest end of middle-class income: $75,545
Highest end of middle-class income: $226,636
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $75,545 to $125,909
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $176,274 to $226,636
26. Orange, California
2024 median household income: $117,113
Lowest end of middle-class income: $78,075
Highest end of middle-class income: $234,226
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $78,075 to $130,126
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $182,178 to $234,226
27. Boston
2024 median household income: $97,344
Lowest end of middle-class income: $64,896
Highest end of middle-class income: $194,688
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $64,896 to $108,160
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $151,426 to $194,688
28. Long Beach, California
2024 median household income: $87,430
Lowest end of middle-class income: $58,287
Highest end of middle-class income: $174,860
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $58,287 to $97,144
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $136,004 to $174,860
29. San Diego
2024 median household inco
me: $108,077
Lowest end of middle-class income: $72,051
Highest end of middle-class income: $216,154
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $72,051 to $120,086
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $168,122 to $216,154
30. Fullerton, California
2024 median household income: $104,286
Lowest end of middle-class income: $69,524
Highest end of middle-class income: $208,572
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $69,524 to $115,873
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $162,225 to $208,572
31. Concord, California
2024 median house
hold income: $108,709
Lowest end of middle-class income: $72,473
Highest end of middle-class income: $217,418
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $72,473 to $120,788
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $169,105 to $217,418
32. Garden Grove, California
2024 median household income: $92,174
Lowest end of middle-class income: $61,449
Highest end of middle-class income: $184,348
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $61,449 to $102,416
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $143,384 to $184,348
33. West Covina, California
2024 median household income: $101,065
Lowest end of middle-class income: $67,377
Highest end of middle-class income: $202,130
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $67,377 to $112,294
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $157,214 to $202,130
34. Downey, California
2024 median household income: $90,699
Lowest end of middle-class income: $60,466
Highest end of middle-class income: $181,398
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $60,466 to $100,777
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $141,089 to $181,398
35. Inglewood, California
2024 median household income: $72,750
Lowest end of middle-class in
come: $48,500
Highest end of middle-class income: $145,500
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $48,500 to $80,833
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $113,169 to $145,500
36. Yonkers, New York
2024 median household income: $83,549
Lowest end of middle-class income: $55,699
Highest end of middle-class income: $167,098
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $55,699 to $92,832
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $129,967 to $167,098
37. Anaheim, California
2024 median household income: $95,227
Lowest end of middle-class income: $63,485
Highest end of middle-class income: $190,454
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $63,485 to $105,808
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $148,133 to $190,454
38. Ventura, California
2024 median household income: $103,069
Lowest end of middle-class income: $68,713
Highest end of middle-class income: $206,138
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $68,713 to $114,521
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $160,332 to $206,138
39. El Monte, California
2024 median household income: $68,030
Lowest end of middle-class income: $45,353
Highest end of middle-class income: $136,060
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $45,353 to $75,589
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $105,826 to $136,060
40. Alexandria, Virginia
2024 median household income: $119,681
Lowest end of middle-class income: $79,787
Highest end of middle-class inc
ome: $239,362
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $79,787 to $132,979
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $186,172 to $239,362
41. Simi Valley, California
2024 median household income: $122,081
Lowest end of middle-class income: $81,387
Highest end of middle-class income: $244,162
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $81,387 to $135,646
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $189,906 to $244,162
42. Santa Rosa, California
2024 median household income: $99,060
Lowest end of middle-class income: $66,040
Highest end of middle-class income: $198,120
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $66,040 to $110,067
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $154,095 to $198,120
43. Richmond, California
2024 median household income: $95,391
Lowest end of middle-class income: $63,594
Highest end of middle-class income: $190,782
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $63,594 to $105,990
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $148,388 to $190,782
44. Chula Vista, California
2024 median household income: $108,032
Lowest end of middle-class income: $72,021
Highest end of middle-class income: $216,064
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $72,021 to $120,036
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $168,052 to $216,064
45. Santa Clarita, California
2024 median household income: $123,062
Lowest end of middle-class income: $82,041
Highest end of middle-class income: $246,124
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $82,041 to $136,736
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $191,432 to $246,124
46. Jersey City, New Jersey
2024 median household income: $97,710
Lowest end of middle-class income: $65,140
Highest end of middle-class income: $195,420
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $65,140 to $108,567
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $151,995 to $195,420
47. Santa Ana, California
2024 median household income: $93,999
Lowest end of middle-class income: $62,666
Highest end of middle-class income: $187,998
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $62,666 to $104,443
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $146,223 to $187,998
48. Corona, California
2024 median household income: $109,242
Lowest end of middle-class income: $72,828
Highest end of middle-class income: $218,484
Lower-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $72,828 to $121,380
Upper-middle-class range (lowest end-highest end): $169,934 to $218,484
Methodology: For this piece MoneyLion looked at the 48 most expensive cities to live (with a population over 100,000), as sourced form Sperling’s BestPlaces overall cost of living index to see what salary would be needed in America’s most expensive cities to be considered middle class. With these cities isolated, MoneyLion then found each city’s median household income as sourced from the 2024 American Community Survey as conducted by the US Census Bureau. Following Pew Research’s definition of middle class as two-thirds to double the income of an area, MoneyLion was able to find the total middle-class income ranges for each city. MoneyLion also supplementally found the lower middle-class income ranges, middle-class income ranges and upper middle-class income ranges for each city. All data was collected and is up to date as of Aug. 4, 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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