SmartAsset reports the salary needed for a comfortable lifestyle varies widely by state, with Hawaii being the priciest.

SmartAsset reports that the salary required to live comfortably in the U.S. varies widely by state. Hawaii tops the list at $124,467 for a single adult, while West Virginia is the lowest at $80,829. For families of four, Massachusetts is the most expensive at $313,747. The 50/30/20 budget rule, which allocates 50% of income to necessities, 30% to discretionary spending, and 20% to long-term goals, was used to estimate these figures. In 2025, a single adult needs about $5,844 more earnings than last year, while families need an additional $9,360.