Cost of living continues to increase, President Donald Trump’s tariffs have created market havoc and urban rent prices can more often than not seem stratospheric — all of which are reasons the baseline living wage needed for families to survive is such an important thing to know.
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Such information is especially important in America’s largest 50 cities, where the cost of living is typically much higher than the rest of the United States.
With that in mind, GOBankingRates set out to determine the living wage — that is, the minimum income needed for basic survival and amenities — required for a family of four in America’s 50 biggest cities. GOBankingRates did this by culling information from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Sperling’s BestPlaces, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey and the Federal Reserve Economic Data.
Check out the living wage required in 50 major cities. Also see what it is in every state overall.
1. San Jose, California
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Median household income: $141,565
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Living wage: $135,604
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2. San Francisco
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Median household income: $141,446
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Living wage: $122,849
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3. San Diego
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Median household income: $104,321
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Living wage: $105,204
4. Los Angeles
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Median household income: $80,366
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Living wage: $97,110
5. Seattle
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Median household income: $121,984
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Living wage: $93,755
6. New York City
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Median household income: $79,713
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Living wage: $91,888
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7. Long Beach, California
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Median household income: $83,969
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Living wage: $88,410
8. Boston
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Median household income: $94,755
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Living wage: $85,066
9. Oakland, California
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Median household income: $97,369
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Living wage: $80,277
10. Washington, D.C.
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Median household income: $106,287
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Living wage: $79,455
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11. Miami
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Median household income: $59,390
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Living wage: $74,483
12. Denver
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Median household income: $91,681
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Living wage: $67,203
13. Portland, Oregon
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Median household income: $88,792
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Living wage: $65,170
14. Austin, Texas
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Median household income: $91,461
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Living wage: $62,812
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15. Las Vegas
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Median household income: $70,723
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Living wage: $58,301