The average U.S. household’s annual expenses were $77,280 in 2023, which is the latest available data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s $6,440 a month, meaning American homes will need a lot more to get by after taxes, investing, and saving.
The BLS also found that consumer spending increased by 5.9% from 2022 to 2023. While still high, this is significantly lower than the 9% increase from 2021 to 2022.
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Recently, SmartAsset sourced data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator to find out how much is needed to live comfortably in every state. In this case, “comfortable” is defined as the yearly income needed for the 50/30/20 budget. That is, 50% of income goes toward needs, 30% goes toward discretionary spending and 20% goes toward savings and investments.
Here’s an estimate of what it might cost to live in every state in 2026, assuming no significant changes from this year.
West Virginia
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $80,829
- Income needed for a family of four: $195,354
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Arkansas
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $81,078
- Income needed for a family of four: $193,773
South Dakota
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $82,160
- Income needed for a family of four: $197,933
North Dakota
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $82,285
- Income needed for a family of four: $207,334
Kentucky
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $83,574
- Income needed for a family of four: $192,941
Oklahoma
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $84,282
- Income needed for a family of four: $208,749
Ohio
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $84,781
- Income needed for a family of four: $220,563
Alabama
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $85,280
- Income needed for a family of four: $194,522
Louisiana
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $85,322
- Income needed for a family of four: $199,597
Mississippi
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $86,320
- Income needed for a family of four: $186,618
Indiana
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $86,570
- Income needed for a family of four: $220,230
Missouri
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $86,819
- Income needed for a family of four: $218,317
Iowa
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $86,902
- Income needed for a family of four: $202,675
Wisconsin
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $87,194
- Income needed for a family of four: $225,555
Michigan
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $87,235
- Income needed for a family of four: $207,584
Nebraska
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $87,318
- Income needed for a family of four: $215,738
New Mexico
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $87,402
- Income needed for a family of four: $220,813
Kansas
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $87,610
- Income needed for a family of four: $200,678
Wyoming
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $87,942
- Income needed for a family of four: $209,914
Texas
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $90,771
- Income needed for a family of four: $204,922
Tennessee
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $91,478
- Income needed for a family of four: $200,678
Minnesota
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $91,728
- Income needed for a family of four: $251,264
South Carolina
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $92,144
- Income needed for a family of four: $208,333
Montana
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $92,851
- Income needed for a family of four: $234,957
North Carolina
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $93,776
- Income needed for a family of four: $210,746
Pennsylvania
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $95,306
- Income needed for a family of four: $248,435
Idaho
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $96,429
- Income needed for a family of four: $223,142
Maine
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $96,595
- Income needed for a family of four: $239,699
Florida
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $97,386
- Income needed for a family of four: $217,651
Delaware
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $97,469
- Income needed for a family of four: $223,142
Illinois
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $98,010
- Income needed for a family of four: $234,291
Nevada
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $99,216
- Income needed for a family of four: $238,534
Utah
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $99,466
- Income needed for a family of four: $231,046
Georgia
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $99,590
- Income needed for a family of four: $210,829
Vermont
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $99,632
- Income needed for a family of four: $286,790
Alaska
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $100,298
- Income needed for a family of four: $259,002
Rhode Island
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $101,338
- Income needed for a family of four: $256,672
Arizona
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $101,587
- Income needed for a family of four: $237,952
New Hampshire
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $103,085
- Income needed for a family of four: $259,501
Oregon
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $104,666
- Income needed for a family of four: $261,914
Connecticut
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $105,165
- Income needed for a family of four: $290,368
Colorado
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $105,955
- Income needed for a family of four: $273,728
Virginia
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $106,704
- Income needed for a family of four: $241,696
Maryland
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $108,867
- Income needed for a family of four: $259,168
New Jersey
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $108,992
- Income needed for a family of four: $282,714
Washington
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $109,658
- Income needed for a family of four: $277,888
New York
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $114,691
- Income needed for a family of four: $276,973
California
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $119,475
- Income needed for a family of four: $287,456
Massachusetts
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $120,141
- Income needed for a family of four: $313,747
Hawaii
- Income needed for one adult (no children): $124,467
- Income needed for a family of four: $294,362
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What Will It Cost To Live “Comfortably” in Every State in 2026?
