Here’s how much it costs to live comfortably in your state for 2026

FILE – Photo of a map of the US with a background showing $100 USD. (Getty Images)

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As Americans continue to grapple with high prices on groceries, gas, and other household essentials, even earning a six-figure salary doesn’t guarantee financial stability in these uncertain times.

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A study conducted by SmartAsset found what it takes to live comfortably in each U.S. state in 2026.

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The study analyzed the annual pre-tax income needed to live comfortably across all 50 U.S. states using the 50/30/20 budgeting framework, where 50% of income covers basic necessities (based on MIT’s Living Wage Calculator data), 30% is allocated to discretionary spending, and 20% goes toward savings and debt repayment.

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Driven by rising costs in housing, groceries, and utilities, the study revealed that a single adult with no children needs at least $80,000 annually to live comfortably in every state, with the required salary exceeding $100,000 in nearly half of the states.

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For a family of four (two working adults and two children), the required household income reaches $200,000 or more in 40 out of 50 states.

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Geographically, Hawaii and Massachusetts top the rankings as the most expensive states to maintain a comfortable lifestyle.

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Hawaii requires the highest…

Original source: https://www.livenowfox.com/money