The list counts 50 cities in order of population from smallest to largest.
Bakersfield, CA: $43,425
Income needed: $43,425
50 percent for necessities: $21,713
30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,028
20 percent for savings: $8,685
Based on the median household income of $56,842, Bakersfield, residents have an extra $13,416 more each year than what is needed to live comfortably.
Arlington, TX: $46,904
Income needed: $46,904
50 percent for necessities: $23,452
30 percent for discretionary spending: $14,071
20 percent for savings: $9,381
Arlington has a local median income of $53,055, which is $6,151 more than the income needed to live comfortably in this city.
New Orleans, LA: $60,782
Income needed: $60,782
50 percent for necessities: $30,391
30 percent for discretionary spending: $18,235
20 percent for savings: $12,156
The median household income in New Orleans is just $36,964, which is not much compared to the city's high cost of living. That income falls $23,818 short of the income needed to live well in The Big Easy.
Wichita, KS: $40,616
Income needed: $40,616
50 percent for necessities: $20,308
30 percent for discretionary spending: $12,185
20 percent for savings: $8,123
The median income for a Wichita household is $45,907, which is enough to live well and have an extra $5,291 annually.
Cleveland, OH: $42,589
Income needed: $42,589
50 percent for necessities: $21,295
30 percent for discretionary spending: $12,777
20 percent for savings: $8,518
Cleveland offers low livingcosts but also has one of the lowest median household incomes among big cities at $26,179, which falls $16,410 short of the amount needed to live well in Cleveland.
Minneapolis, MN: $64,170
Income needed: $64,170
50 percent for necessities: $32,085
30 percent for discretionary spending: $19,251
20 percent for savings: $12,834
Minneapolis residents' median household income of $50,767 is decent but is still $13,403 less than the total annual income needed to live comfortably in this half of the Twin Cities.
Miami, FL: $77,057
Income needed: $77,057
50 percent for necessities: $38,529
30 percent for discretionary spending: $23,117
20 percent for savings: $15,411
The Miami median income of $30,858 is less than half, or $46,199 short, of the amount needed to live well in this city — the biggest gap between actual and ideal incomes of any major city in this study.
Raleigh, NC: $55,537
Income needed: $55,537
50 percent for necessities: $27,769
30 percent for discretionary spending: $16,661
20 percent for savings: $11,107
Based on Raleigh's median income of $54,581, locals actually earn incomes on par with what is needed to live comfortably. They are short just $80 each month ($956 a year).
Colorado Springs, CO: $44,512
Income needed: $44,512
50 percent for necessities: $22,256
30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,354
20 percent for savings: $8,902
Colorado Springs' median household income is $54,228, which allows locals to more than live comfortably with an extra $9,716 a year.
Omaha, NE: $45,560
Income needed: $45,560
50 percent for necessities: $22,780
30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,668
20 percent for savings: $9,112
Most residents of Omaha can live comfortably on the median household income of $48,751, which is $3,191 more than the income needed to cover needs, wants and savings.
Virginia Beach, VA: $50,929
Income needed: $50,929
50 percent for necessities: $25,465
30 percent for discretionary spending: $15,279
20 percent for savings: $10,186
Low costs of living make it easy to live on Virginia Beach's median income of $67,001. This amount is $16,072 more than what is needed to live comfortably — the equivalent of an extra $1,340 a month — which is the biggest surplus of any major U.S. city in this study.
Atlanta: $60,285
Income needed: $60,285
50 percent for necessities: $30,143
30 percent for discretionary spending: $18,086
20 percent for savings: $12,057
With a median household income of $46,439 in Atlanta, workers in this city have $13,846 less than they need each year to live well.
Mesa, AZ: $42,654
Income needed: $42,654
50 percent for necessities: $21,327
30 percent for discretionary spending: $12,796
20 percent for savings: $8,531
Mesa residents earning the local median income of $48,259 have an extra $5,605 a year.
Kansas City, MO: $45,311
Income needed: $45,311
50 percent for necessities: $22,656
30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,593
20 percent for savings: $9,062
The income needed to live well in Kansas City is on par with the city's median income of $45,376, with about $65 extra in locals' wallets.
Long Beach, CA: $58,560
Income needed: $58,560
50 percent for necessities: $29,280
30 percent for discretionary spending: $17,568
20 percent for savings: $11,712
Long Beach residents need to earn $5,616 more a year than the $52,944 median income to live comfortably in the city.
Sacramento, CA: $53,736
Income needed: $53,736
50 percent for necessities: $26,868
30 percent for discretionary spending: $16,121
20 percent for savings: $10,747
The median income in Sacramento, $50,013, is just $3,723 short of the amount needed to afford living comfortably in the city.
Fresno, CA: $42,496
Income needed: $42,496
50 percent for necessities: $21,248
30 percent for discretionary spending: $12,749
20 percent for savings: $8,499
Fresno's $41,455 median income is just $1,041 short of the income needed to live well in this city.
Tucson, AZ: $39,966
Income needed: $39,966
50 percent for necessities: $19,983
30 percent for discretionary spending: $11,990
20 percent for savings: $7,993
With the lowest total needed to cover necessities out of the 50 biggest U.S. cities, Tucson residents can likely make do on the $37,149 median income, which is just $2,817 short of the amount needed to live well there.
Albuquerque, NM: $43,895
Income needed: $43,895
50 percent for necessities: $21,947
30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,168
20 percent for savings: $8,779
The median income in Albuquerque is $47,413, which gives residents almost $300 extra a month ($3,518 a year) beyond the amount needed to comfortably follow a 50-30-20 budget.
Milwaukee, WI: $43,281
Income needed: $43,281
50 percent for necessities: $21,641
30 percent for discretionary spending: $12,984
20 percent for savings: $8,656
Milwaukee households earn a median $35,489 annual income, which is $7,792 less than what's needed to live comfortably in this city.
Louisville, KY: $46,831
Income needed: $46,831
50 percent for necessities: $23,415
30 percent for discretionary spending: $14,049
20 percent for savings: $9,366
Falling $2,025 short of the amount needed to live well in Louisville, the median income of $44,806 puts locals slightly behind financially.
Las Vegas, NV: $50,453
Income needed: $50,453
50 percent for necessities: $25,227
30 percent for discretionary spending: $15,136
20 percent for savings: $10,091
Las Vegas residents earn a median income of $50,903, which is $450 more than the amount needed to live well there, showing this city offers earning opportunities that match local living costs.
Portland, OR: $60,195
Income needed: $60,195
50 percent for necessities: $30,097
30 percent for discretionary spending: $18,058
20 percent for savings: $12,039
Based on the Portland median household income of $53,230, residents' earnings fall $6,965 short each year of what's needed to live comfortably.
Oklahoma City, OK: $44,180
Income needed: $44,180
50 percent for necessities: $22,090
30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,254
20 percent for savings: $8,836
Oklahoma City has a median income of $47,004, which results in a $2,824 cushion beyond the amount needed to live comfortably.
Baltimore, MD: $53,897
Income needed: $53,897
50 percent for necessities: $26,949
30 percent for discretionary spending: $16,169
20 percent for savings: $10,779
The median household income in Baltimore is $41,819, but the city's high cost of living requires $12,078 more than that for a person to live comfortably according to a 50-30-20 budget.
Nashville, TN: $61,015
Income needed: $61,015
50 percent for necessities: $30,508
30 percent for discretionary spending: $18,305
20 percent for savings: $12,203
The typical Nashville household earns the median income of $46,758, which is $14,257 less than the amount needed to live comfortably in Music City.
Boston, MA: $84,422
Income needed: $84,422
50 percent for necessities: $42,211
30 percent for discretionary spending: $25,327
20 percent for savings: $16,884
Boston's high cost of living isn't easy to cover on the typical local income. The city's $54,485 median income falls $29,937 short of the amount needed to live comfortably there.
Memphis, TN: $44,180
Income needed: $44,180
50 percent for necessities: $22,090
30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,254
20 percent for savings: $8,836
Memphis has a median income of $37,099, which is $7,081 less than the total annual income a resident of the city needs to earn to be financially comfortable.
Washington, DC: $83,104
Income needed: $83,104
50 percent for necessities: $41,552
30 percent for discretionary spending: $24,931
20 percent for savings: $16,621
Based on the District's median income of $69,235, locals' earnings are $13,869 below the amount needed to live well in the nation's capital, a deficit of $1,156 a month.
Denver, CO: $62,842
Income needed: $62,842
50 percent for necessities: $31,421
30 percent for discretionary spending: $18,853
20 percent for savings: $12,568
Denver's median household income of $51,800 is $11,042 behind the amount needed to live comfortably, which means many Denver residents could struggle financially without sticking to a tight budget.
Seattle, WA: $72,092
Income needed: $72,092
50 percent for necessities: $36,046
30 percent for discretionary spending: $21,628
20 percent for savings: $14,418
Residents of Seattle earn a median household income of $67,365, which is $4,727 less less than the income needed to cover necessities, savings and additional expenses.
El Paso, TX: $40,227
Income needed: $40,227
50 percent for necessities: $20,113
30 percent for discretionary spending: $12,068
20 percent for savings: $8,045
Low costs of living make it easier for El Paso residents to make ends meet with the $42,037 median income, which is $1,810 more than the income needed to follow a 50-30-20 budget in the city.
Detroit, MI: $42,772
Income needed: $42,772
50 percent for necessities: $21,386
30 percent for discretionary spending: $12,832
20 percent for savings: $8,554
Detroit has the lowest median income of the 50 cities on this list at $26,095, which results in a gap of $16,677 between actual income and the amount needed to live well in this city.
Charlotte, NC: $53,842
Income needed: $53,842
50 percent for necessities: $26,921
30 percent for discretionary spending: $16,152
20 percent for savings: $10,768
Most Charlotte locals can live well on the median household income of $53,274, which is only $568 short of the amount needed to be financially comfortable in this city.
Fort Worth, TX: $51,759
Income needed: $51,759
50 percent for necessities: $25,879
30 percent for discretionary spending: $15,528
20 percent for savings: $10,352
Fort Worth is another city where the median income, $52,492, is close to the ideal income needed to live well in the city — just $733 a year short.
Columbus, OH: $45,466
Income needed: $45,466
50 percent for necessities: $22,733
30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,640
20 percent for savings: $9,093
Columbus residents earning the local median income of $44,774 are only $692 short of the annual amount needed to comfortably cover needs, wants and savings.
Indianapolis, IN: $46,016
Income needed: $46,016
50 percent for necessities: $23,008
30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,805
20 percent for savings: $9,203
The median income in Indianapolis — $42,076 — is $3,940 less than the salary needed to comfortably afford living in the city.
San Francisco, CA: $119,570
Income needed: $119,570
50 percent for necessities: $59,785
30 percent for discretionary spending: $35,871
20 percent for savings: $23,914
San Francisco residents face one of the of the biggest gaps between their actual incomes and ideal incomes needed to live in the city, with the $78,378 median income falling $41,192 short of the income needed to follow the 50-30-20 budget.
Jacksonville, FL: $49,842
Income needed: $49,842
50 percent for necessities: $24,921
30 percent for discretionary spending: $14,953
20 percent for savings: $9,969
Falling $3,074 short of the amount needed to live comfortably, the Jacksonville median income of $46,768 means locals' budgets can get a little tight.
Austin, TX: $53,225
Income needed: $53,225
50 percent for necessities: $26,612
30 percent for discretionary spending: $15,967
20 percent for savings: $10,645
Most residents of Austin can live comfortably on the city's median income, which at $55,216 is $1,991 above the salary needed to follow the 50-30-20 rule.
San Jose, CA: $89,734
Income needed: $89,734
50 percent for necessities: $44,867
30 percent for discretionary spending: $26,920
20 percent for savings: $17,947
With a high cost of living, San Jose's median income of $83,787 is $5,947 less than the amount needed to live comfortably.
Dallas, TX: $55,651
Income needed: $55,651
50 percent for necessities: $27,826
30 percent for discretionary spending: $16,695
20 percent for savings: $11,130
The median income in Dallas — $43,359 — is a substantial $12,292 less than the ideal income needed to live comfortably there.
San Diego, CA: $69,307
Income needed: $69,307
50 percent for necessities: $34,654
30 percent for discretionary spending: $20,792
20 percent for savings: $13,861
San Diego residents earn a median of $65,753, which is $3,554 less than what they need to earn to comfortably manage their finances with a 50-30-20 budget.
San Antonio, TX: $46,238
Income needed: $46,238
50 percent for necessities: $23,119
30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,872
20 percent for savings: $9,248
With a median household income of $46,317 in San Antonio, residents make $79 extra a year above the ideal salary to live well in this city. Such a small difference indicates that San Antonio's earning opportunities are well-matched to the city's cost of living.
Phoenix, AZ: $48,876
Income needed: $48,876
50 percent for necessities: $24,438
30 percent for discretionary spending: $14,663
20 percent for savings: $9,775
Phoenix has a local median income of $46,881, which is just $1,995 less than the income needed to live comfortably in the city.
Philadelphia, PA: $59,384
Income needed: $59,384
50 percent for necessities: $29,692
30 percent for discretionary spending: $17,815
20 percent for savings: $11,877
The typical Philadelphia household earns an income of $37,460, which falls $21,924 short of the ideal income required to match the city's high cost of living.
Houston, TX: $60,795
Income needed: $60,795
50 percent for necessities: $30,397
30 percent for discretionary spending: $18,238
20 percent for savings: $12,159
The median household income in Houston is just $45,728, which is not enough to match the high cost of living in the city, resulting in a gap of $15,067 between the median income and the ideal income to live comfortably.
Chicago, IL: $68,671
Income needed: $68,671
50 percent for necessities: $34,335
30 percent for discretionary spending: $20,601
20 percent for savings: $13,734
Chicago's median household income of $47,831 covers necessities but puts residents' earnings $20,840 behind the income needed to comfortably cover needs, wants and savings in the Windy City.
Los Angeles, CA: $74,371
Income needed: $74,371
50 percent for necessities: $37,185
30 percent for discretionary spending: $22,311
20 percent for savings: $14,874
Los Angeles residents face high costs of living, which means living comfortably requires a higher income — $24,689 higher than the city's median income of $49,682.
New York, NY: $87,446
Income needed: $87,446
50 percent for necessities: $43,723
30 percent for discretionary spending: $26,234
20 percent for savings: $17,489
The country's most populous city also has some of the highest living costs, which means much of the $52,737 median household income covers necessities only. Based on a 50-30-20 budget, the median income in New York is $34,709 less than the amount needed to sufficiently cover needs, wants and savings.
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