The Cost of Living for a Family of Four Varies Across the United States
(Source: NewsNation) — The amount of money a family of four needs to get by can vary drastically depending on where they live, according to new data analyzed by GoBankingRates.
Living Wage Disparity
In Hawaii, the living wage for a family of four is $182,900. In Mississippi, it’s only $73,381.
Calculation Method
The data used to calculate a “living wage” allowed 50% for necessities, which includes housing, 30% for luxury spending, and 20% for savings.
The Living Wage For a Family of Four in All 50 States
| RANK | STATE | LIVING WAGE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | $73,381 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | $74,253 |
| 3 | Alabama | $75,724 |
| 4 | Kansas | $75,924 |
| 5 | Arkansas | $76,456 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $76,905 |
| 7 | Missouri | $77,197 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $77,842 |
| 9 | Iowa | $78,025 |
| 10 | Georgia | $78,448 |
| 11 | Nebraska | $79,007 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $79,054 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $79,879 |
| 14 | Illinois | $79,899 |
| 15 | Indiana | $80,144 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $80,451 |
| 17 | Michigan | $80,998 |
| 18 | Ohio | $81,006 |
| 19 | Texas | $81,374 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $81,931 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $82,047 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $83,708 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $83,852 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $84,062 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $84,156 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $84,957 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $87,500 |
| 28 | Utah | $89,936 |
| 29 | Delaware | $91,293 |
| 30 | Virginia | $91,955 |
| 31 | Florida | $92,271 |
| 32 | Montana | $92,367 |
| 33 | Idaho | $94,874 |
| 34 | Colorado | $95,563 |
| 35 | Nevada | $95,755 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $95,929 |
| 37 | Arizona | $97,345 |
| 38 | Maine | $99,158 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | $100,436 |
| 40 | Connecticut | $101,030 |
| 41 | New Jersey | $104,770 |
| 42 | Washington | $105,080 |
| 43 | Vermont | $106,692 |
| 44 | Oregon | $106,779 |
| 45 | Maryland | $110,244 |
| 46 | Alaska | $113,079 |
| 47 | New York | $118,127 |
| 48 | California | $130,239 |
| 49 | Massachusetts | $142,341 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $182,900 |
Affordable and Expensive States
The most affordable states for a family of four are all in the South or Midwest.
On the other side of that, the most expensive states for a family of four require an income of more than $100,000. They’re all coastal states known for high real estate prices, according to GoBankingRates.
