The cost of living continues to rise at a slightly elevated rate. Inflation is a tick under 3%, just as it was in 2024. Trips to the grocery store still take a sizeable bite out of wallets, and tariff-related price hikes continue to affect consumers — inflation is up 0.6% since April.
Check Out: The GOBankingRates Original Research Center
Find Out: 25 Places To Buy a Home If You Want It To Gain Value
To determine the required living wage for a family of four in every state, GOBankingRates analyzed data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey,
Missouri Economic and Research Information Center and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. GOBankingRates defines the living wage as the bare minimum needed to get by, which means the cost of groceries, healthcare, transportation, utilities and housing.
The results of the study indicated that nearly three-quarters of America requires a living wage of at least $50,000 to sustain a family of four with the current cost of living. Only 13 states require under $50,000.
Key Findings
- Hawaii requires the highest living wage for a family of four. The Aloha State frequently tops any list of America’s most expensive states, and it comes as no surprise that it does so here as well. The living wage necessary for a family of four in Hawaii? A staggering $112,313.
- West Virginia necessitates the lowest wage for a family of four. The Mountain State requires just $54,247 for the basics — less than half of what’s needed in Hawaii.
- Hawaii may require the highest living wage, but it doesn’t pay it. The median household income there falls short of that amount, at $100,149. The state with the highest median household income in America is Massachusetts, with $104,828.
See how much a household with a family of four needs to make in every state.
Also see the safest, most affordable cities for a family of four.
Explore More: What Is the Estimated Median Income for the Upper-Middle Class in 2025?
Also Discover: 25 Most Livable Cities for Middle-Class Families
Alabama
- Living wage for a family of four: $46,065
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,839
- Median household income: $66,659
Find More: Here’s How Much the Definition of Middle Class Has Changed in the South
Alaska
- Living wage for a family of four: $68,335
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,695
- Median household income: $95,665
Arizona
- Living wage for a family of four: $61,643
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,137
- Median household income: $81,486
Arkansas
- Living wage for a family of four: $44,141
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,678
- Median household income: $61,106
California
- Living wage for a family of four: $92,163
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $7,680
- Median household income: $100,149
Colorado
- Living wage for a family of four: $69,536
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,795
- Median household income: $97,113
Also See: How Much You Need To Earn To Be Upper Middle Class in Every State
Connecticut
- Living wage for a family of four: $66,731
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,561
- Median household income: $96,049
Delaware
- Living wage for a family of four: $59,517
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,960
- Median household income: $87,534
Florida
- Living wage for a family of four: $58,906
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,909
- Median household income: $77,735
Georgia
- Living wage for a family of four: $54,134
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,511
- Median household income: $79,991
Hawaii
- Living wage for a family of four: $112,313
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $9,359
- Median household income: $100,745
Explore Next: Here’s How Much You Need To Earn To Be ‘Rich’ in Every State
Idaho
- Living wage for a family of four: $63,232
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,269
- Median household income: $81,166
Illinois
- Living wage for a family of four: $51,589
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,299
- Median household income: $83,211
Indiana
- Living wage for a family of four: $48,320
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,027
- Median household income: $71,959
Iowa
- Living wage for a family of four: $46,281
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,857
- Median household income: $75,501
Kansas
- Living wage for a family of four: $47,447
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,954
- Median household income: $75,514
Read More: Check Out the Median Salary of Americans Your Age in Every State
Kentucky
- Living wage for a family of four: $45,574
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,798
- Median household income: $64,526
Louisiana
- Living wage for a family of four: $44,532
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,711
- Median household income: $60,986
Maine
- Living wage for a family of four: $62,740
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,228
- Median household income: $76,442
Maryland
- Living wage for a family of four: $64,201
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,350
- Median household income: $102,905
Massachusetts
- Living wage for a family of four: $84,325
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $7,027
- Median household income: $104,828
Check Out: How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State?
Michigan
- Living wage for a family of four: $48,392
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,033
- Median household income: $72,389
Minnesota
- Living wage for a family of four: $55,584
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,632
- Median household income: $87,117
Mississippi
- Living wage for a family of four: $42,636
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,553
- Median household income: $59,127
Missouri
- Living wage for a family of four: $47,458
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,955
- Median household income: $71,589
Montana
- Living wage for a family of four: $62,813
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,234
- Median household income: $75,340
See More: Here’s the Cost of Living in Every State
Nebraska
- Living wage for a family of four: $49,324
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,110
- Median household income: $76,375
Nevada
- Living wage for a family of four: $63,369
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,281
- Median household income: $81,134
New Hampshire
- Living wage for a family of four: $69,305
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,775
- Median household income: $99,782
New Jersey
- Living wage for a family of four: $72,546
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $6,046
- Median household income: $104,294
New Mexico
- Living wage for a family of four: $52,213
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,351
- Median household income: $67,816
Also See: Here’s the Minimum Net Worth To Be Considered the Top 1% in Your 50s
New York
- Living wage for a family of four: $66,845
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,570
- Median household income: $85,820
North Carolina
- Living wage for a family of four: $54,417
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,535
- Median household income: $73,958
North Dakota
- Living wage for a family of four: $50,842
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,237
- Median household income: $77,871
Ohio
- Living wage for a family of four: $48,405
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,034
- Median household income: $72,212
Oklahoma
- Living wage for a family of four: $44,574
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,714
- Median household income: $66,148
Find More: Here’s the Minimum Net Worth Considered To Be Middle Class in Your 70s
Oregon
- Living wage for a family of four: $69,418
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,785
- Median household income: $85,220
Pennsylvania
- Living wage for a family of four: $51,537
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,295
- Median household income: $77,545
Rhode Island
- Living wage for a family of four: $67,877
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,656
- Median household income: $83,504
South Carolina
- Living wage for a family of four: $51,608
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,301
- Median household income: $72,350
South Dakota
- Living wage for a family of four: $53,564
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,464
- Median household income: $76,881
For You: The Living Wage a Single Person Needs in All 50 States in 2025
Tennessee
- Living wage for a family of four: $51,420
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,285
- Median household income: $71,997
Texas
- Living wage for a family of four: $51,569
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,297
- Median household income: $79,721
Utah
- Living wage for a family of four: $66,789
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,566
- Median household income: $96,658
Vermont
- Living wage for a family of four: $62,038
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,170
- Median household income: $82,730
Virginia
- Living wage for a family of four: $59,818
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,985
- Median household income: $92,090
Also See: 4 Mistakes the Upper Middle Class Are Making With Their Money in the Trump Economy
Washington
- Living wage for a family of four: $76,879
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $6,407
- Median household income: $99,389
West Virginia
- Living wage for a family of four: $42,211
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,518
- Median household income: $60,798
Wisconsin
- Living wage for a family of four: $54,247
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,521
- Median household income: $77,488
Wyoming
- Living wage for a family of four: $55,520
- Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,627
- Median household income: $75,532
Methodology: Median household income was sourced from the U.S. Census 2023 American Community Survey. The cost of necessities was calculated using data from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center (grocery, healthcare, transportation and utilities) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey (cost for a married couple with children). The average home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index from August 2025, and the mortgage was included using Federal Reserve Economic Data. GOBankingRates defines the living wage as the bare minimum needed to get by, including only groceries, healthcare, transportation, utilities and housing. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Sept. 29, 2025.
More From GOBankingRates
- 5 Luxury SUVs That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Fall 2025
- I Help People Retire Every Day -- Here's the Most Common Retirement Mistake People Make
- 3 Reasons Retired Boomers Shouldn't Give Their Kids a Living Inheritance (And 2 Reasons They Should)
- 8 Common Mistakes Retirees Make With Their Social Security Checks
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here’s the Living Wage a Family of Four Must Have in Every State
