Salary needed by metro
One person, renting the typical place, driving an average used car. Essentials held to half of take-home pay is the comfortable line; essentials eating all of take-home is the bare minimum. Median US household income is $87,460; the typical metro needs more than that for one person to live comfortably.
$123,136 comfortable salary, median metro (Dallas)
$105,856 cheapest metro, McAllen
$191,200 dearest metro, San Jose
0metros where $87,460 is comfortable
Your budget lines monthly; the table follows
Rent and insurance come from each metro's row (Zillow typical rent, state average full-coverage insurance).
| # | Metro | Rent | Insurance | Essentials / mo | Comfortable salary | Bare minimum | To buy the typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen, TX | $1,119 | $247 | $3,308 | $105,856 | $52,928 | $54,630 |
| 2 | Toledo, OH | $1,264 | $148 | $3,354 | $107,328 | $53,664 | $58,413 |
| 3 | Wichita, KS | $1,206 | $225 | $3,373 | $107,936 | $53,968 | $64,241 |
| 4 | Des Moines, IA | $1,280 | $170 | $3,392 | $108,544 | $54,272 | $84,563 |
| 5 | Akron, OH | $1,306 | $148 | $3,396 | $108,672 | $54,336 | $69,407 |
| 6 | Little Rock, AR | $1,234 | $225 | $3,401 | $108,832 | $54,416 | $66,522 |
| 7 | Dayton, OH | $1,320 | $148 | $3,410 | $109,120 | $54,560 | — |
| 8 | Louisville, KY | $1,339 | $208 | $3,489 | $111,648 | $55,824 | $80,530 |
| 9 | Greensboro, NC | $1,406 | $147 | $3,495 | $111,840 | $55,920 | $75,324 |
| 10 | Scranton, PA | $1,362 | $198 | $3,502 | $112,064 | $56,032 | $67,632 |
| 11 | Memphis, TN | $1,393 | $176 | $3,511 | $112,352 | $56,176 | $69,989 |
| 12 | Birmingham, AL | $1,404 | $181 | $3,527 | $112,864 | $56,432 | $75,369 |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $1,440 | $148 | $3,530 | $112,960 | $56,480 | $72,273 |
| 14 | Tulsa, OK | $1,375 | $214 | $3,531 | $112,992 | $56,496 | $72,785 |
| 15 | Omaha, NE | $1,398 | $193 | $3,533 | $113,056 | $56,528 | $88,554 |
| 16 | Oklahoma City, OK | $1,384 | $214 | $3,540 | $113,280 | $56,640 | $70,269 |
| 17 | St. Louis, MO | $1,427 | $221 | $3,590 | $114,880 | $57,440 | $78,969 |
| 18 | Augusta, GA | $1,464 | $184 | $3,590 | $114,880 | $57,440 | $72,416 |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $1,415 | $247 | $3,604 | $115,328 | $57,664 | $79,155 |
| 20 | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,467 | $198 | $3,607 | $115,424 | $57,712 | $65,971 |
| 21 | Cincinnati, OH | $1,522 | $148 | $3,612 | $115,584 | $57,792 | $88,444 |
| 22 | Jackson, MS | $1,470 | $201 | $3,613 | $115,616 | $57,808 | $61,384 |
| 23 | Columbus, OH | $1,525 | $148 | $3,615 | $115,680 | $57,840 | $94,507 |
| 24 | Winston, NC | $1,529 | $147 | $3,618 | $115,776 | $57,888 | $80,226 |
| 25 | Buffalo, NY | $1,451 | $226 | $3,619 | $115,808 | $57,904 | $83,073 |
| 26 | Harrisburg, PA | $1,481 | $198 | $3,621 | $115,872 | $57,936 | $88,629 |
| 27 | Baton Rouge, LA | $1,366 | $327 | $3,635 | $116,320 | $58,160 | $71,188 |
| 28 | Indianapolis, IN | $1,528 | $166 | $3,636 | $116,352 | $58,176 | $84,309 |
| 29 | Albuquerque, NM | $1,490 | $212 | $3,644 | $116,608 | $58,304 | $100,798 |
| 30 | Milwaukee, WI | $1,549 | $168 | $3,659 | $117,088 | $58,544 | $111,154 |
| 31 | Tucson, AZ | $1,488 | $236 | $3,666 | $117,312 | $58,656 | $97,061 |
| 32 | Spokane, WA | $1,512 | $219 | $3,673 | $117,536 | $58,768 | $119,986 |
| 33 | Columbia, SC | $1,557 | $190 | $3,689 | $118,048 | $59,024 | $73,134 |
| 34 | Kansas City, MO | $1,534 | $221 | $3,697 | $118,304 | $59,152 | $93,922 |
| 35 | Greenville, SC | $1,566 | $190 | $3,698 | $118,336 | $59,168 | $90,205 |
| 36 | Rochester, NY | $1,532 | $226 | $3,700 | $118,400 | $59,200 | $81,315 |
| 37 | El Paso, TX | $1,521 | $247 | $3,710 | $118,720 | $59,360 | $67,361 |
| 38 | Detroit, MI | $1,514 | $260 | $3,716 | $118,912 | $59,456 | $76,411 |
| 39 | Durham, NC | $1,640 | $147 | $3,729 | $119,328 | $59,664 | $116,093 |
| 40 | Raleigh, NC | $1,669 | $147 | $3,758 | $120,256 | $60,128 | $123,808 |
| 41 | Austin, TX | $1,603 | $247 | $3,792 | $121,344 | $60,672 | $119,763 |
| 42 | Syracuse, NY | $1,627 | $226 | $3,795 | $121,440 | $60,720 | $77,751 |
| 43 | Ogden, UT | $1,631 | $224 | $3,797 | $121,504 | $60,752 | $147,124 |
| 44 | Salt Lake City, UT | $1,644 | $224 | $3,810 | $121,920 | $60,960 | $161,558 |
| 45 | Grand Rapids, MI | $1,614 | $260 | $3,816 | $122,112 | $61,056 | $102,811 |
| 46 | Richmond, VA | $1,706 | $169 | $3,817 | $122,144 | $61,072 | $113,354 |
| 47 | Charlotte, NC | $1,735 | $147 | $3,824 | $122,368 | $61,184 | $110,257 |
| 48 | Houston, TX | $1,638 | $247 | $3,827 | $122,464 | $61,232 | $87,546 |
| 49 | Knoxville, TN | $1,725 | $176 | $3,843 | $122,976 | $61,488 | $104,945 |
| 50 | New Orleans, LA | $1,577 | $327 | $3,846 | $123,072 | $61,536 | $74,316 |
| 51 | Dallas, TX | $1,659 | $247 | $3,848 | $123,136 | $61,568 | $103,564 |
| 52 | Albany, NY | $1,693 | $226 | $3,861 | $123,552 | $61,776 | $107,847 |
| 53 | Madison, WI | $1,780 | $168 | $3,890 | $124,480 | $62,240 | $128,861 |
| 54 | Phoenix, AZ | $1,720 | $236 | $3,898 | $124,736 | $62,368 | $127,517 |
| 55 | Minneapolis, MN | $1,736 | $222 | $3,900 | $124,800 | $62,400 | $112,111 |
| 56 | Nashville, TN | $1,803 | $176 | $3,921 | $125,472 | $62,736 | $129,772 |
| 57 | Jacksonville, FL | $1,680 | $311 | $3,933 | $125,856 | $62,928 | $101,348 |
| 58 | Provo, UT | $1,773 | $224 | $3,939 | $126,048 | $63,024 | $155,755 |
| 59 | Portland, OR | $1,803 | $199 | $3,944 | $126,208 | $63,104 | $155,936 |
| 60 | Atlanta, GA | $1,843 | $184 | $3,969 | $127,008 | $63,504 | $108,668 |
| 61 | Colorado Springs, CO | $1,764 | $272 | $3,978 | $127,296 | $63,648 | $129,140 |
| 62 | Allentown, PA | $1,841 | $198 | $3,981 | $127,392 | $63,696 | $105,046 |
| 63 | Bakersfield, CA | $1,822 | $221 | $3,985 | $127,520 | $63,760 | $104,133 |
| 64 | Virginia Beach, VA | $1,886 | $169 | $3,997 | $127,904 | $63,952 | $107,305 |
| 65 | Las Vegas, NV | $1,732 | $335 | $4,009 | $128,288 | $64,144 | $122,185 |
| 66 | Boise City, ID | $1,924 | $148 | $4,014 | $128,448 | $64,224 | $142,189 |
| 67 | Deltona, FL | $1,767 | $311 | $4,020 | $128,640 | $64,320 | $95,656 |
| 68 | Philadelphia, PA | $1,903 | $198 | $4,043 | $129,376 | $64,688 | $111,603 |
| 69 | Lakeland, FL | $1,814 | $311 | $4,067 | $130,144 | $65,072 | $85,427 |
| 70 | Cape Coral, FL | $1,827 | $311 | $4,080 | $130,560 | $65,280 | $96,695 |
| 71 | Springfield, MA | $1,963 | $181 | $4,086 | $130,752 | $65,376 | $107,656 |
| 72 | Baltimore, MD | $1,937 | $211 | $4,090 | $130,880 | $65,440 | $114,757 |
| 73 | Denver, CO | $1,900 | $272 | $4,114 | $131,648 | $65,824 | $160,586 |
| 74 | Palm Bay, FL | $1,887 | $311 | $4,140 | $132,480 | $66,240 | $98,967 |
| 75 | Charleston, SC | $2,037 | $190 | $4,169 | $133,408 | $66,704 | $126,470 |
| 76 | Orlando, FL | $1,929 | $311 | $4,182 | $133,824 | $66,912 | $110,809 |
| 77 | Fresno, CA | $2,052 | $221 | $4,215 | $134,880 | $67,440 | $116,807 |
| 78 | Worcester, MA | $2,105 | $181 | $4,228 | $135,296 | $67,648 | $137,766 |
| 79 | Tampa, FL | $1,991 | $311 | $4,244 | $135,808 | $67,904 | $103,160 |
| 80 | Hartford, CT | $1,998 | $305 | $4,245 | $135,840 | $67,920 | $115,261 |
| 81 | Chicago, IL | $2,163 | $185 | $4,290 | $137,280 | $68,640 | $102,815 |
| 82 | New Haven, CT | $2,043 | $305 | $4,290 | $137,280 | $68,640 | $117,430 |
| 83 | North Port, FL | $2,106 | $311 | $4,359 | $139,488 | $69,744 | $116,660 |
| 84 | Providence, RI | $2,166 | $276 | $4,384 | $140,288 | $70,144 | $150,977 |
| 85 | Seattle, WA | $2,250 | $219 | $4,411 | $141,152 | $70,576 | $208,188 |
| 86 | Poughkeepsie, NY | $2,259 | $226 | $4,427 | $141,664 | $70,832 | — |
| 87 | Sacramento, CA | $2,269 | $221 | $4,432 | $141,824 | $70,912 | $165,595 |
| 88 | Washington, DC | $2,407 | $169 | $4,518 | $144,576 | $72,288 | $164,740 |
| 89 | Stockton, CA | $2,431 | $221 | $4,594 | $147,008 | $73,504 | $150,262 |
| 90 | Riverside, CA | $2,533 | $221 | $4,696 | $150,272 | $75,136 | $167,765 |
| 91 | Miami, FL | $2,654 | $311 | $4,907 | $157,024 | $78,512 | $137,843 |
| 92 | Los Angeles, CA | $2,929 | $221 | $5,092 | $162,944 | $81,472 | $274,642 |
| 93 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $3,015 | $151 | $5,108 | $163,456 | $81,728 | $247,454 |
| 94 | Boston, MA | $2,987 | $181 | $5,110 | $163,520 | $81,760 | $209,775 |
| 95 | Oxnard, CA | $2,955 | $221 | $5,118 | $163,776 | $81,888 | $251,452 |
| 96 | Bridgeport, CT | $2,880 | $305 | $5,127 | $164,064 | $82,032 | $198,791 |
| 97 | San Diego, CA | $2,967 | $221 | $5,130 | $164,160 | $82,080 | $267,976 |
| 98 | San Francisco, CA | $3,445 | $221 | $5,608 | $179,456 | $89,728 | $323,891 |
| 99 | New York, NY | $3,546 | $226 | $5,714 | $182,848 | $91,424 | $211,310 |
| 100 | San Jose, CA | $3,812 | $221 | $5,975 | $191,200 | $95,600 | $440,463 |
Sources: Zillow Observed Rent Index (2026-09-30) and Home Value Index (2026-09-30); Experian average used-car payment; ValuePenguin 2026 state insurance averages; USDA moderate food plan for one adult (groceries); utilities, phone, health and other are editable placeholders. Home salary = 28% payment ratio on the typical home with 20% down at 7.32%. One person; a couple splitting rent needs far less each.