Coastal Living Costs Skyrocket; California Families Need Over $300K to Live Comfortably

Living on the coasts, especially in California, is extremely expensive for both individuals and families. 7 of the 10 most expensive cities for individuals and 5 of the 10 most expensive for families are in California.

To "live comfortably" in the 3 most expensive California cities - San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland - 2 working adults need to earn over $300,000 to support a family of 4.

The analysis found that Houston is the most affordable major city in the U.S. An individual could live comfortably there on $75,000; a family would need $175,000.

Compared to last year's analysis, salaries needed to live comfortably have increased substantially across all major U.S. cities. The average is now about $96,500 for an individual and $235,000 for a family.

Due to high inflation over the past 2 years, U.S. households need to spend an extra $10,000 or more just to afford the same standard of living they had in early 2021.