How Far a 50K Salary Would Get You in 30 American Cities (2024)

Call Toll Free 1-88-TITLEMAX

Apply LOGIN

  • Discoveries
  • How Far a 50K Salary Would Get You in 30 American Cities

How Far a 50K Salary Would Get You in 30 American Cities (2)

Wondering, “What can I afford with $50,000 a year?” We’ve taken a closer look at the basic expenses of 30 American cities to see where you’d be able to live comfortably on a fairly average yearly salary.

How Far a 50K Salary Would Get You in 30 American Cities (3)How Far a 50K Salary Would Get You in 30 American Cities infographic

Would you like to embed this infographic on your site?

How Far a 50k Salary Would Get You in 30 American Cities Transcript

The Average Costs of Necessary Expenses Vs. Minimum Wage and Average Income in the Most Populated Cities of the US

CityLouisville, KYBaltimore, MDLas Vegas, NVOklahoma City, OKPortland, ORNashville, TNBoston, MAMemphis, TNWashington, D.C.
Food$2986$2986$3564$2986$3564$2986$3467$2986$2986
Medical$2298$2507$2242$2195$2030$2237$2688$2237$2506
Housing$6565$10836$7560$6762$11352$8231$13333$7504$17078
Transportation$4236$4236$3860$4236$3860$4236$3609$4236$4236
Other$2656$2656$2803$2656$2803$2656$2656$2656$2656
Annual Income Taxes$3496$4406$2794$3367$4975$2838$3593$2737$5700
Total income needed$22237$27627$22823$22202$28584$23186$29346$22356$35162
Minimum Wage Salary$15080 ($7.25/hr)$19240 ($9.25/hr)$17,160 ($8.25/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$21320 ($10.25/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$22,880 ($11/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$26,000 ($12.50/hr)
Living Wage Salary $22235 ($10.69/hr)$27622 ($13.28/hr)$22817

($10.97/hr)

$22193 ($10.67/hr)$28579 ($13.74/hr)$23192 ($11.15/hr)$29348 ($14.11/hr)$22360 ($10.75/hr)$35152 ($16.90/hr)
Average Salary$48821$56177$47968$47965$55438$51263$70983$47264$71007
Detroit, MIEl Paso, TXDenver, COSeattle, WACharlotte, NCFort Worth, TXColumbus, OHIndianapolis, INSan Fransisco, CA
Food$3050$2986$3564$3564$2986$2986$3050$3050$3564
Medical$2243$2203$2395$1984$2195$2203$2361$2297$2150
Housing$6961$6553$10128$12226$8190$8179$6924$7035$19566
Transportation$4173$4236$3860$3860$4236$4236$4173$4173$3860
Other$2877$2656$2803$2803$2656$2656$2877$2877$2803
Annual Income Taxes$3506$2599$4186$3409$3961$2826$2965$3337$4999
Total income needed$22810$21233$26937$27846$24224$23086$22350$22769$36942
Minimum Wage Salary$19240 ($9.25/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$21216 ($10.20/hr)$23920 ($11.50/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$17,264 ($8.30/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$22,880 ($11/hr)
Living Wage Salary$22817 ($10.97/hr)$21236 ($10.21/hr)$26936 ($12.95/hr)$27851 ($13.39/hr)$24232 ($11.65/hr)$23088.00 ($11.10/hr)$22360 ($10.75/hr)$22776 ($10.95/hr)$36941($17.76/hr)
Average Salary$58,931$40539$60550$69154$54,707$50,882$51,612$51,256$85,917
Jacksonville, FLAustin, TXSan Jose, CADallas, TXSan Diego, CASan Antonio, TXPhoenix, AZPhiladelphia, PAHouston, TX
Food$2986$2986$3564$2986$3564$2986$3564$3467$2986
Medical$2583$2203$2150$2203$2150$2203$2291$2349$2203
Housing$7372$9588$17909$8179$14544$7426$7488$10140$8446
Transportation$4236$4236$3860$4236$3860$4236$3860$3609$4236
Other$2656$2656$2803$2656$2803$2656$2803$2656$2656
Annual Income Taxes$2767$3023$4768$2826$4299$2721$3338$3100$2864
Total income needed$22600$24692$35054$23086$31220$22228$23,343$25321$23390
Minimum Wage Salary$17,160 ($8.25/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$22,880 ($11/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$22,880 ($11/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$21840 ($10.50/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)$15080 ($7.25/hr)
Living Wage Salary$22609 ($10.87/hr)$24689 ($11.87/hr)$35048 ($16.85/hr)$23088.00 ($11.10/hr)$31220 ($15.01/hr)$22235 ($10.69/hr)$23337 ($11.22/hr)$25313 ($12.17/hr)$23400 ($11.25/hr)
Average Salary$47035$58567$84225$60015$60992$53855$5300$59827$59581
Chicago, ILLos Angeles, CANewYork, NY
Food$3050$3564$3467
Medical$2501$2150$2367
Housing$10487$12623$14,542
Transportation$4173$3860$3609
Other$2877$2803$2656
Annual Income Taxes$4049$4031$5004
Total income needed2713729031$31645
Minimum Wage Salary$17160 ($8.25/hr)$22880 ($11/hr)$21632 ($10.40/hr)
Living Wage Salary$29036 ($13.96/hr)$29036 ($13.96/hr)$31636 ($15.21/hr)
Average Salary$62746$62564$68992

Sources:

Is $50K a Good Salary?

Let’s look at the facts: In the United States, the median household income is $57,617, which often includes multiple household members’ incomes as well as side gigs. Considering that 47% of the country makes less than $50,000 per household, you’re already in the upper crust. And that’s for household data! The median personal income in the U.S. is quite different, about $31,099. So if you’re asking, “Is $50,000 a year a good salary?” in comparison to other Americans, the answer is yes. If you’re asking, “Is $50,000 a good salary?” because you want to know if it’s a reasonable wage to live off of comfortably, that answer is a bit more complicated.

What Can I Afford With $50,000 a Year?

The answer depends on where you live. For the top 30 most populated cities in the U.S., you need between $20K and $35K a year to cover basic expenses, including food, medical costs, housing, transportation, taxes, and other expenses. This is according to MIT’s Living Wage Index, which calculates what a fair wage would look like in various American cities. In many places, there’s a massive gap between the minimum wage and living wage. For those who want a slightly more affluent lifestyle — a nicer apartment, brunches on weekends — expect to need a cushion of $5K to $10K more per year.

How Much Rent Can I Afford on a $50K Salary?

Housing costs vary an extreme amount based on your location. If you’re asking, “How much house can I afford?” a $50,000 salary may only be able to get you a closet in San Francisco. The rule of thumb for rent is that many people can afford a $1,250 apartment with a $50K salary, but it can’t go far above that. If you specifically want to know, “What house can I afford on $50K a year?” it depends on your down payment, but the price generally would be somewhere around $200K. Getting something in that price range in Manhattan could be pretty difficult! We took a look at how much house $500K gets you in different cities previously, and those results may be a bit disheartening.

Contents

    How Far a 50K Salary Would Get You in 30 American Cities (2024)

    FAQs

    Is 50k a good salary in America? ›

    If you're just entering the job market after graduating college, $50,000 can be a good entry-level salary, especially if you decided to live at home for a while. Doing so can help you build up your bank account, so when it comes time to find a place to live, you'll have a financial cushion to show potential landlords.

    How much house can I afford with a 50k salary? ›

    The rule of 2.5 times your income stipulates that you shouldn't purchase a house that costs more than two and a half times your annual income. So, if you have a $50,000 annual salary, you should be able to afford a $125,000 home. Explore what your mortgage payment might be with today's rates.

    Can you live comfortably on $50,000 a year? ›

    For many people, $50,000 is enough income to live comfortably, although your location and lifestyle are important factors. In coastal cities, that money doesn't go as far, but there are certainly households in New York City that live on one or two Social Security incomes amounting to less than $50,000.

    Is 50k middle class? ›

    By the Census data, it means that if you earn between $50,000 and $150,000 a year, you are considered middle class. It's a pretty straightforward answer, but it isn't particularly helpful if you're trying to climb up out of a lower income bracket into the middle class.

    How much is $30 an hour annually? ›

    $30 an hour is how much a year? If you make $30 an hour, your yearly salary would be $62,400.

    Can I afford a 300K house on a 55k salary? ›

    To purchase a $300K house, you may need to make between $50,000 and $74,500 a year. This is a rule of thumb, and the specific annual salary will vary depending on your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, type of home loan, loan term, and mortgage rate.

    What car can I afford with a 50k salary? ›

    Start With Your Gross Income

    To get an idea of how much car you can afford, a good rule of thumb is to pay no more than 35% of your annual pre-tax income. So, if you make $50,000 before taxes per year, your car purchase price should not exceed $17,500.

    Can I afford a 300K house on a 60k salary? ›

    An individual earning $60,000 a year may buy a home worth ranging from $180,000 to over $300,000. That's because your wage isn't the only factor that affects your house purchase budget. Your credit score, existing debts, mortgage rates, and a variety of other considerations must all be taken into account.

    How much is 50k a year hourly? ›

    $50,000 a year is how much an hour? If you make $50,000 a year, your hourly salary would be $24.04.

    What is the average American salary? ›

    According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the average U.S. annual salary in Q4 of 2023 was $59,384. This is up 5.4% from the same time period in 2022 when the average American was making $56,316 per year. Average weekly earnings reached $1,142, while the average American made $4,949 per month in Q4 of 2023.

    How much do I owe in taxes if I made $50,000? ›

    If you make $50,000 a year living in the region of California, USA, you will be taxed $10,242. That means that your net pay will be $39,758 per year, or $3,313 per month.

    What salary is middle class? ›

    According to the study, a middle-class income averages between $52,000 and $155,000 in a large U.S. city. The median household income across all 345 cities is $77,345, making middle-class income limits fall between $51,558 and $154,590.

    What salary is upper class? ›

    In 2021, the median household income is roughly $68,000. An upper class income is usually considered at least 50% higher than the median household income. Therefore, an upper class income in America is $100,000 and higher. However, an upper class income also depends on where you live.

    What is the poor class income? ›

    Where you rank by income. According to the Census Bureau's Income in the United States: 2022 report, the median household income is $74,580 (a 2.3% decline from 2021), while household income levels for each class level are as follows: Lower class: less than or equal to $30,000. Lower-middle class: $30,001 – $58,020.

    Am I poor if I make 50k a year? ›

    A $50,000 annual salary translates to approximately $24 per hour based on a standard 40-hour work week. Is $50,000 a year considered a good salary? Whether $50,000 a year is considered a good salary depends on your location and lifestyle. It's above the U.S. national average but below the median household income.

    What is a good salary in the US? ›

    With the annual inflation rate for 2023 at 3.4% for the year — up from 3.1% previously — salaries aren't keeping up. A Smart Asset report based on MIT's Living Wage data found that the average salary required to live comfortably in the U.S. is $68,499 after taxes.

    What is 50k a year hourly? ›

    $50,000 a year is how much an hour? If you make $50,000 a year, your hourly salary would be $24.04.

    How much does the average 30 year old make? ›

    For Americans ages 25 to 34, the median salary is $1,003 per week or $52,156 per year.

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Lilliana Bartoletti

    Last Updated:

    Views: 5325

    Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

    Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Lilliana Bartoletti

    Birthday: 1999-11-18

    Address: 58866 Tricia Spurs, North Melvinberg, HI 91346-3774

    Phone: +50616620367928

    Job: Real-Estate Liaison

    Hobby: Graffiti, Astronomy, Handball, Magic, Origami, Fashion, Foreign language learning

    Introduction: My name is Lilliana Bartoletti, I am a adventurous, pleasant, shiny, beautiful, handsome, zealous, tasty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.