What Salary You Need to Thrive in America's 50 Largest Cities

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There’s a difference between merely getting by in a big city and living comfortably. The definition of “comfortably” can vary greatly depending on one's income and location. Understanding what it takes to live comfortably in each of the largest U.S. cities is essential for making informed decisions about where to live and how much to earn.

To provide clarity on this topic, HAWXTECH has analyzed data from multiple sources, including the U.S. Census, Zillow, and the Federal Reserve. By doubling the cost of living for each city, we’ve calculated the salary required to live comfortably in these urban areas. Below is a comprehensive list of the 50 most populous U.S. cities, ranked from No. 50 to No. 1, with additional details such as population, annual cost of living, and other relevant factors.

Top 50 Most Populous U.S. Cities and Salary Needed to Live Comfortably

50. Aurora, Colorado
- Population: 390,201
- Annual Cost of Living: $59,176
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $118,351
Aurora is located just east of Denver. As of May 2025, the average single-family home value is around $500,000.

49. Tampa, Florida
- Population: 393,389
- Annual Cost of Living: $51,976
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $103,953
Single-family homes in Tampa can be found for less than $400,000, with an average value of $395,000. However, the median household income is significantly lower than the comfortable salary.

48. Arlington, Texas
- Population: 394,769
- Annual Cost of Living: $46,645
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $93,290
Arlington, the seventh most populous city in Texas, has a median household income of $72,000. Single-family homes here are valued at $321,000.

47. Wichita, Kansas
- Population: 396,488
- Annual Cost of Living: $36,221
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $72,443
Wichita offers relatively affordable housing, with an average single-family home value of $200,000. The median household income is around $63,000.

46. Bakersfield, California
- Population: 408,366
- Annual Cost of Living: $51,677
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $103,354
Bakersfield has a livability score of 57, the second lowest among the cities in this list. The average single-family home value is around $400,000.

45. Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Population: 412,322
- Annual Cost of Living: $37,755
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $75,511
Tulsa is the only city in the list that showed a slight decrease in residents over 65 years old. The median household income is around $58,000.

44. Minneapolis
- Population: 426,845
- Annual Cost of Living: $47,579
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $95,158
Minneapolis has a median household income of around $80,000. The average single-family home value is $358,000.

43. Oakland, California
- Population: 438,072
- Annual Cost of Living: $84,401
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $168,802
Oakland saw a significant drop in single-family home values, but the average remains high at $829,000. The median household income is $97,000.

42. Miami
- Population: 446,663
- Annual Cost of Living: $73,432
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $146,863
Miami’s single-family homes are worth around $667,000, while the median household income is around $59,000.

41. Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Population: 457,066
- Annual Cost of Living: $53,483
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $106,966
Virginia Beach experienced a small population decline between 2022 and 2023. The median household income is $92,000.

40. Long Beach, California
- Population: 458,491
- Annual Cost of Living: $91,653
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $183,305
Long Beach saw a 0.7% increase in residents over 65 years old. The median household income is around $84,000.

39. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Population: 470,763
- Annual Cost of Living: $54,114
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $108,228
Raleigh has a livability score of 84, tied for the highest among the cities in this list. The average single-family home value is $484,000.

38. Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Population: 483,099
- Annual Cost of Living: $54,413
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $108,827
Colorado Springs is about 70 miles south of Denver. The median household income is $83,000, slightly less than Denver.

37. Omaha, Nebraska
- Population: 488,197
- Annual Cost of Living: $43,496
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $86,991
Omaha offers affordable housing, with an average single-family home value of $295,000. The median household income is $73,000.

36. Atlanta
- Population: 499,287
- Annual Cost of Living: $56,838
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $113,676
Atlanta has a median household income of $82,000. The average single-family home value is $456,000.

35. Mesa, Arizona
- Population: 507,478
- Annual Cost of Living: $55,442
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $110,884
Mesa saw a 17% increase in residents over 65 years old. The median household income is around $79,000, and the average single-family home value is $454,000.

34. Kansas City, Missouri
- Population: 508,233
- Annual Cost of Living: $40,452
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $80,905
Kansas City offers relatively affordable housing, with an average single-family home value of just over $250,000. The median household income is about $67,000.

33. Sacramento, California
- Population: 524,802
- Annual Cost of Living: $60,000
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $120,000
Sacramento has a median household income of $84,000. The average single-family home value is $497,000, which is lower than other major California cities.

32. Tucson, Arizona
- Population: 543,348
- Annual Cost of Living: $45,904
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $91,808
Tucson has a median household income of $55,000, the fourth lowest among the 50 most populous U.S. cities. The average single-family home value is $342,000.

31. Fresno, California
- Population: 543,615
- Annual Cost of Living: $51,638
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $103,276
Fresno has a livability score of 63, the second lowest among the 50 most populous U.S. cities. Its population increased by 0.4% between 2022 and 2023.

30. Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Population: 562,488
- Annual Cost of Living: $45,349
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $90,698
Just over 17% of Albuquerque’s residents are age 65 or older, the third highest percentage among the cities in our list. The median household income is $66,000.

29. Milwaukee
- Population: 569,756
- Annual Cost of Living: $38,219
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $76,438
Milwaukee has the third-lowest median household income — $52,000. Single-family homes in Milwaukee are worth $221,000 on average.

28. Baltimore
- Population: 577,193
- Annual Cost of Living: $37,306
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $74,612
Baltimore’s population declined by 1.3% between 2022 and 2023, the second largest drop among the cities in our list. The average single-family home value is $187,000.

27. Memphis, Tennessee
- Population: 629,063
- Annual Cost of Living: $32,690
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $65,381
Memphis has the second-lowest median household income ($51,000) among the 50 most populous U.S. cities. Its “comfortable” salary is the second lowest in our list.

26. Detroit
- Population: 636,644
- Annual Cost of Living: $31,609
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $63,217
Detroit’s household median income of $40,000 is the lowest among the 50 most populous U.S. cities, and its “comfortable” salary is the lowest in GBR’s list. Single-family homes in the Motor City are valued at $78,000 on average.

25. Portland, Oregon
- Population: 642,715
- Annual Cost of Living: $64,008
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $128,016
Portland has a median household income of $89,000. The average value of a single-family home is around $570,000.

24. Las Vegas
- Population: 650,873
- Annual Cost of Living: $57,400
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $114,800
Las Vegas saw a population increase of about 1% from 2022 to 2023. The average value of a single-family home here was $462,000 as of last May.

23. Boston
- Population: 663,972
- Annual Cost of Living: $86,439
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $172,878
Boston has a median household income of $95,000. Single-family homes in Boston are worth $859,000 on average.

22. Washington, D.C.
- Population: 672,079
- Annual Cost of Living: $80,645
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $161,289
Washington, D.C., has the fourth highest median household income in this list, coming in at $106,000. Single-family homes here are worth $772,000 on average.

21. El Paso, Texas
- Population: 678,147
- Annual Cost of Living: $38,249
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $76,497
Single-family homes in El Paso are worth $232,000 on average, one of the lowest figures among the 50 most populous U.S. cities. El Paso’s median household income is $59,000.

20. Oklahoma City
- Population: 688,693
- Annual Cost of Living: $37,609
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $75,219
Oklahoma City has relatively inexpensive housing, with average single-family home values at $208,000. Oklahoma City’s median household income sits at $67,000.

19. Denver
- Population: 713,734
- Annual Cost of Living: $65,461
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $130,921
Denver has a median household income of $92,000. The average value of a single-family home in Denver has inched above $600,000.

18. Seattle
- Population: 741,440
- Annual Cost of Living: $92,061
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $184,122
Seattle has an average single-family home value of $969,000 — the fifth highest among the 50 most populous U.S. cities. Seattle’s median household income is $122,000.

17. San Francisco
- Population: 836,321
- Annual Cost of Living: $129,872
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $259,745
San Francisco is famously expensive, with the second-highest “comfortable” salary needed in our list. Single-family homes here are worth $1.4 million on average. The City by the Bay saw a population decrease of 1.7% between 2022 and 2023 — the steepest drop among the 50 most populous U.S. cities.

16. Indianapolis
- Population: 882,043
- Annual Cost of Living: $38,606
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $77,212
As of last May, the average value of a single-family home in Indiana’s capital stood at $238,000. The median household income in Indianapolis comes in around $63,000.

15. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Population: 886,283
- Annual Cost of Living: $51,765
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $103,530
North Carolina’s largest city saw a 1.3% population bump between 2022 and 2023. The average value of a single-family home here is $414,000, and the median household income is $78,000.

14. Columbus, Ohio
- Population: 906,480
- Annual Cost of Living: $41,226
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $82,452
Columbus has an average single-family home value of $273,000 and a median household income of $66,000.

13. Fort Worth, Texas
- Population: 941,311
- Annual Cost of Living: $45,555
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $91,110
Fort Worth’s population jumped nearly 2% between 2022 and 2023, the largest increase among the cities in our list. The average value of a single-family home in Fort Worth is just over $300,000.

12. Jacksonville, Florida
- Population: 961,739
- Annual Cost of Living: $44,731
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $89,462
Jacksonville’s AreaVibes livability score of 84 is tied for the highest in our list. The household median income here is $67,000, and the average single-family home is valued at just over $300,000.

11. Austin, Texas
- Population: 967,862
- Annual Cost of Living: $62,863
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $125,726
Austin is a young city, with only about 10% of its population age 65 and up. That’s the lowest percentage among cities in this list. Single-family homes in Austin are worth $592,000 on average — about $35,000 less than a year ago.

10. San Jose, California
- Population: 990,054
- Annual Cost of Living: $140,115
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $280,229
San Jose is one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. It tops our list for annual cost of living, “comfortable” salary needed, median household income ($142,000), and average single-family home value ($1.6M).

9. Dallas
- Population: 1,299,553
- Annual Cost of Living: $47,589
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $95,177
Dallas is the third most populous city in Texas. Single-family homes in Dallas are worth $332,000 on average, and the median household income is $68,000.

8. San Diego
- Population: 1,385,061
- Annual Cost of Living: $106,761
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $213,522
San Diego has a “comfortable” salary that ranks third among the 50 most populous U.S. cities. Single-family homes here are worth $1.2 million on average.

7. San Antonio
- Population: 1,458,954
- Annual Cost of Living: $40,362
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $80,724
San Antonio’s median household income is $63,000. The average single-family home here is valued at $258,000.

6. Philadelphia
- Population: 1,582,432
- Annual Cost of Living: $42,610
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $85,220
Philadelphia saw a population decrease of 0.7% between 2022 and 2023. The household median income here comes in around $61,000.

5. Phoenix
- Population: 1,624,832
- Annual Cost of Living: $54,082
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $108,164
Phoenix saw a population increase of about 1% from 2022 to 2023. Its median household income sits at $77,000, and single-family homes here are valued at $429,000 on average.

4. Houston
- Population: 2,300,419
- Annual Cost of Living: $43,438
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $86,876
Houston, one of four U.S. cities with a population over 2 million, has a median household income of $63,000. As of last May, single-family homes in Houston were worth $278,000 on average.

3. Chicago
- Population: 2,707,648
- Annual Cost of Living: $46,725
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $93,450
Chicago has a median household income of around $75,000. Single-family homes in Chicago are worth $315,000 on average.

2. Los Angeles
- Population: 3,857,897
- Annual Cost of Living: $100,266
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $200,532
Los Angeles, the nation’s second-most populous city, has a livability score of 67, the third-lowest in our list. A single-family home in LA is still worth $1 million on average.

1. New York
- Population: 8,516,202
- Annual Cost of Living: $92,576
- Comfortable Salary Needed: $185,152
New York City had a 1.2% population decline between 2022 and 2023, the third highest among the 50 most populous U.S. cities. The Big Apple’s average annual cost of living (about $93,000) is significantly higher than its median household income ($80,000).