According to the Pew Research Center, since 1970, the growth in income for the middle class has not kept pace with the growth in income for the upper class. Additionally, the share of total U.S. household income held by the middle class has significantly decreased.
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Given these stats, it’s not too surprising that members of the middle class are struggling to get by in many of America’s largest cities. A GOBankingRates study looked at the 100 most populous U.S. cities to see where middle-class salaries go the furthest by analyzing each city’s cost of living expenditures, cost of housing and how much — if anything — is left over after covering these costs based on the median middle-class salary.
Here’s a closer look at how far the typical middle-class salary goes in America’s 25 largest cities by population.
New York City
- Population: 8,516,202
- Median household income: $79,713
- Annual cost of living: $91,888
- Leftover savings: -$12,175
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Los Angeles
- Population: 3,857,897
- Median household income: $80,366
- Annual cost of living: $97,110
- Leftover savings: -$16,744
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Chicago
- Population: 2,707,648
- Median household income: $75,134
- Annual cost of living: $48,231
- Leftover savings: $26,903
Houston
- Population: 2,300,419
- Median household income: $62,894
- Annual cost of living: $42,540
- Leftover savings: $20,354
Phoenix
- Population: 1,624,832
- Median household income: $77,041
- Annual cost of living: $54,584
- Leftover savings: $22,457
Philadelphia
- Population: 1,582,432
- Median household income: $60,698
- Annual cost of living: $43,200
- Leftover savings: $17,498
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San Antonio
- Population: 1,458,954
- Median household income: $62,917
- Annual cost of living: $39,476
- Leftover savings: $23,441
San Diego
- Population: 1,385,061
- Median household income: $104,321
- Annual cost of living: $105,204
- Leftover savings: -$833
Dallas
- Population: 1,299,553
- Median household income: $67,760
- Annual cost of living: $47,589
- Leftover savings: $20,171
San Jose, California
- Population: 990,054
- Median household income: $141,565
- Annual cost of living: $135,604
- Leftover savings: $5,961
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Austin, Texas
- Population: 967,862
- Median household income: $91,461
- Annual cost of living: $62,812
- Leftover savings: $28,649
Jacksonville, Florida
- Population: 961,739
- Median household income: $66,981
- Annual cost of living: $45,949
- Leftover savings: $21,032
Fort Worth, Texas
- Population: 941,311
- Median household income: $76,602
- Annual cost of living: $43,383
- Leftover savings: $33,219
Columbus, Ohio
- Population: 906,480
- Median household income: $65,327
- Annual cost of living: $41,696
- Leftover savings: $23,631
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Charlotte, North Carolina
- Population: 886,283
- Median household income: $78,438
- Annual cost of living: $52,687
- Leftover savings: $25,751
Indianapolis
- Population: 882,043
- Median household income: $62,995
- Annual cost of living: $39,262
- Leftover savings: $23,733
San Francisco
- Population: 836,321
- Median household income: $141,446
- Annual cost of living: $122,849
- Leftover savings: $18,597
Seattle
- Population: 741,440
- Median household income: $121,984
- Annual cost of living: $93,755
- Leftover savings: $28,229
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Denver
- Population: 713,734
- Median household income: $91,681
- Annual cost of living: $67,203
- Leftover savings: $24,478
Oklahoma City
- Population: 688,693
- Median household income: $66,702
- Annual cost of living: $38,391
- Leftover savings: $28,311
Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee
- Population: 684,298
- Median household income: $75,197
- Annual cost of living: $55,919
- Leftover savings: $19,278
El Paso, Texas
- Population: 678,147
- Median household income: $58,734
- Annual cost of living: $42,136
- Leftover savings: $16,598
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Washington, D.C.
- Population: 672,079
- Median household income: $106,287
- Annual cost of living: $79,455
- Leftover savings: $26,832
Boston
- Population: 663,972
- Median household income: $94,755
- Annual cost of living: $85,066
- Leftover savings: $9,689
Las Vegas
- Population: 650,873
- Median household income: $70,723
- Annual cost of living: $58,301
- Leftover savings: $12,422
Methodology: GOBankingRates analyzed the largest 100 cities by population to find out how far the typical middle class salary in each city will go. The cities were identified using the total population as sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, along with the total households and household median income. The cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces and using the national average expenditure costs for all residents, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. The single family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index and by assuming a 10% downpayment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage cost can be calculated. Using the average expenditure and mortgage cost, the total cost of living can be calculated. Pew Research defines the middle class as two-thirds to double the median household income. Using this definition, GOBankingRates used the median household income for each location along with the total cost of living to find the leftover savings or additional income needed for the typical middle class households to afford the total cost of living. The cities were sorted to show the largest deficit from median household income first. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 29th, 2025.
Gabriella Olya contributed to a previous version of this gallery.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Far a Typical Middle-Class Salary Goes in America’s 25 Largest Cities
