The American dream of financial comfort appears increasingly elusive as the gap between wages and the cost of a comfortable living widens—from West Virginia to Hawaii, Americans are feeling the pinch.
See the tweet below!
Many individuals earn well below the necessary income to thrive, especially with unparalleled inflation in blue states. How can the average American find comfort amidst such financial strain?
Salaries required to live comfortably in the United States now range drastically state by state.
A SmartAsset study detailed what it takes to reach this standard by 2025, revealing significant disparities.
The median household income doesn’t match the high costs in many regions, leaving families stressed and struggling.
One commonly recommended financial strategy for individuals is the 50/30/20 budget rule.
This method advises allocating 50% of income to necessities, 30% to discretionary spending, and 20% toward long-term financial goals.
Still, a single adult requires $80,829 to live comfortably in West Virginia, the least expensive state, while Hawaii tops the list at $124,467.
For families, Massachusetts is now the most expensive state to sustain a comfortable standard, demanding a household income of $313,747, according to SmartAsset’s findings.
In stark contrast, Mississippi ranks as the least expensive for families, needing $186,618 annually.
Vermont and New Jersey have seen the sharpest spikes in necessary income for families — Vermont’s surged by 15.48%.
Montana leads with the highest increase for single adults, at 9.57%.
“About 7 in 10 Americans feel stressed about their finances, according to a CNBC/SurveyMonkey online poll conducted in April,” CNBC reports.
Such financial stress weighs heavily on nearly 70% of Americans.
Despite reports of wage growth outpacing inflation, the reality leaves the average American uneasy about their financial future.
President Trump’s tariffs have been implicated in driving costs higher, further compounding pressure on already stressed wallets.
Incomes must adapt to cover the surplus costs seen this year, with individuals on average needing an extra $5,844 and families needing $9,360 more to maintain their lifestyle.
See the full list of states according to the study findings here.
it takes a salary of at least $80,829 for a single adult to live comfortably in West Virginia, the most affordable state, according to a recent SmartAsset study. https://t.co/Lb6dAPdxiW
— frogg.ech (@ty_hotcommodity) June 9, 2025
Given these figures, it becomes crucial for Americans to explore increased income streams, perhaps by changing jobs or taking up side hustles.
As the financial landscape continues to evolve, most Americans sit on the sidelines wondering if the world will ever return to a more manageable state.
Until then, understanding these income dynamics is crucial to navigating today’s economic intricacies, ensuring each dollar is spent wisely.
