What Your Salary Actually Buys in Every State
Forget "which state is cheapest?" - the right question is "where does YOUR salary go furthest?". Pre-built purchasing power tables for $60k through $150k, plus the comfortable-living salary threshold for every state.
Purchasing power, all 50 states
What your salary is "worth" elsewhere
Each cell shows the national-average equivalent of your salary in that state, using the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis all-items price parity for 2024 (US = 100.0). Higher numbers in cheap states (your money stretches further). Lower numbers in expensive states (more of your salary goes to fixed costs).
| State | Price parity | $60k = | $80k = | $100k = | $120k = | $150k = |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 86.9 | $69,045 | $92,060 | $115,075 | $138,090 | $172,612 |
| Mississippi | 87.0 | $68,966 | $91,954 | $114,943 | $137,931 | $172,414 |
| Iowa | 87.8 | $68,337 | $91,116 | $113,895 | $136,674 | $170,843 |
| Oklahoma | 87.8 | $68,337 | $91,116 | $113,895 | $136,674 | $170,843 |
| Louisiana | 88.2 | $68,027 | $90,703 | $113,379 | $136,054 | $170,068 |
| South Dakota | 88.6 | $67,720 | $90,293 | $112,867 | $135,440 | $169,300 |
| Alabama | 88.8 | $67,568 | $90,090 | $112,613 | $135,135 | $168,919 |
| North Dakota | 89.0 | $67,416 | $89,888 | $112,360 | $134,831 | $168,539 |
| West Virginia | 89.5 | $67,039 | $89,385 | $111,732 | $134,078 | $167,598 |
| Kansas | 90.1 | $66,593 | $88,790 | $110,988 | $133,185 | $166,482 |
| Nebraska | 90.1 | $66,593 | $88,790 | $110,988 | $133,185 | $166,482 |
| Kentucky | 90.2 | $66,519 | $88,692 | $110,865 | $133,038 | $166,297 |
| Missouri | 90.8 | $66,079 | $88,106 | $110,132 | $132,159 | $165,198 |
| Tennessee | 91.9 | $65,288 | $87,051 | $108,814 | $130,577 | $163,221 |
| New Mexico | 92.2 | $65,076 | $86,768 | $108,460 | $130,152 | $162,690 |
| Wyoming | 92.7 | $64,725 | $86,300 | $107,875 | $129,450 | $161,812 |
| Ohio | 92.8 | $64,655 | $86,207 | $107,759 | $129,310 | $161,638 |
| Indiana | 93.3 | $64,309 | $85,745 | $107,181 | $128,617 | $160,772 |
| South Carolina | 93.7 | $64,034 | $85,379 | $106,724 | $128,068 | $160,085 |
| Wisconsin | 94.1 | $63,762 | $85,016 | $106,270 | $127,524 | $159,405 |
| North Carolina | 94.3 | $63,627 | $84,836 | $106,045 | $127,253 | $159,067 |
| Montana | 94.6 | $63,425 | $84,567 | $105,708 | $126,850 | $158,562 |
| Idaho | 95.5 | $62,827 | $83,770 | $104,712 | $125,654 | $157,068 |
| Michigan | 96.2 | $62,370 | $83,160 | $103,950 | $124,740 | $155,925 |
| Georgia | 96.3 | $62,305 | $83,074 | $103,842 | $124,611 | $155,763 |
| Maine | 97.1 | $61,792 | $82,389 | $102,987 | $123,584 | $154,480 |
| Texas | 97.1 | $61,792 | $82,389 | $102,987 | $123,584 | $154,480 |
| Pennsylvania | 97.6 | $61,475 | $81,967 | $102,459 | $122,951 | $153,689 |
| Vermont | 98.0 | $61,224 | $81,633 | $102,041 | $122,449 | $153,061 |
| Minnesota | 98.6 | $60,852 | $81,136 | $101,420 | $121,704 | $152,130 |
| Utah | 98.9 | $60,667 | $80,890 | $101,112 | $121,335 | $151,668 |
| Delaware | 99.8 | $60,120 | $80,160 | $100,200 | $120,240 | $150,301 |
| Illinois | 100.0 | $60,000 | $80,000 | $100,000 | $120,000 | $150,000 |
| Nevada | 100.0 | $60,000 | $80,000 | $100,000 | $120,000 | $150,000 |
| Arizona | 100.7 | $59,583 | $79,444 | $99,305 | $119,166 | $148,957 |
| Virginia | 101.1 | $59,347 | $79,130 | $98,912 | $118,694 | $148,368 |
| Rhode Island | 102.3 | $58,651 | $78,201 | $97,752 | $117,302 | $146,628 |
| Alaska | 102.4 | $58,594 | $78,125 | $97,656 | $117,188 | $146,484 |
| Colorado | 103.1 | $58,196 | $77,595 | $96,993 | $116,392 | $145,490 |
| Florida | 103.4 | $58,027 | $77,369 | $96,712 | $116,054 | $145,068 |
| Oregon | 103.4 | $58,027 | $77,369 | $96,712 | $116,054 | $145,068 |
| Connecticut | 103.6 | $57,915 | $77,220 | $96,525 | $115,830 | $144,788 |
| New Hampshire | 104.2 | $57,582 | $76,775 | $95,969 | $115,163 | $143,954 |
| Maryland | 105.0 | $57,143 | $76,190 | $95,238 | $114,286 | $142,857 |
| Massachusetts | 105.8 | $56,711 | $75,614 | $94,518 | $113,422 | $141,777 |
| Washington | 107.0 | $56,075 | $74,766 | $93,458 | $112,150 | $140,187 |
| New York | 107.9 | $55,607 | $74,143 | $92,678 | $111,214 | $139,018 |
| New Jersey | 108.8 | $55,147 | $73,529 | $91,912 | $110,294 | $137,868 |
| Hawaii | 110.0 | $54,545 | $72,727 | $90,909 | $109,091 | $136,364 |
| California | 110.7 | $54,201 | $72,267 | $90,334 | $108,401 | $135,501 |
The 50/30/20 rule
Comfortable-living salary by state
The salary needed to apply the 50/30/20 budgeting framework (50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings) without being squeezed. National benchmarks: $84,000 single, $165,000 family of four. Scaled by each state's BEA all-items price parity.
| State | Price parity | Single adult | Family of 4 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 86.9 | $72,996 | $143,385 | $62,106 |
| Mississippi | 87.0 | $73,080 | $143,550 | $59,127 |
| Iowa | 87.8 | $73,752 | $144,870 | $75,501 |
| Oklahoma | 87.8 | $73,752 | $144,870 | $66,148 |
| Louisiana | 88.2 | $74,088 | $145,530 | $60,986 |
| South Dakota | 88.6 | $74,424 | $146,190 | $76,881 |
| Alabama | 88.8 | $74,592 | $146,520 | $66,659 |
| North Dakota | 89.0 | $74,760 | $146,850 | $77,871 |
| West Virginia | 89.5 | $75,180 | $147,675 | $60,798 |
| Kansas | 90.1 | $75,684 | $148,665 | $75,514 |
| Nebraska | 90.1 | $75,684 | $148,665 | $76,376 |
| Kentucky | 90.2 | $75,768 | $148,830 | $64,526 |
| Missouri | 90.8 | $76,272 | $149,820 | $71,589 |
| Tennessee | 91.9 | $77,196 | $151,635 | $71,997 |
| New Mexico | 92.2 | $77,448 | $152,130 | $67,816 |
| Wyoming | 92.7 | $77,868 | $152,955 | $75,532 |
| Ohio | 92.8 | $77,952 | $153,120 | $72,212 |
| Indiana | 93.3 | $78,372 | $153,945 | $71,959 |
| South Carolina | 93.7 | $78,708 | $154,605 | $72,350 |
| Wisconsin | 94.1 | $79,044 | $155,265 | $77,488 |
| North Carolina | 94.3 | $79,212 | $155,595 | $73,958 |
| Montana | 94.6 | $79,464 | $156,090 | $75,340 |
| Idaho | 95.5 | $80,220 | $157,575 | $81,166 |
| Michigan | 96.2 | $80,808 | $158,730 | $72,389 |
| Georgia | 96.3 | $80,892 | $158,895 | $79,991 |
| Maine | 97.1 | $81,564 | $160,215 | $76,442 |
| Texas | 97.1 | $81,564 | $160,215 | $79,721 |
| Pennsylvania | 97.6 | $81,984 | $161,040 | $77,545 |
| Vermont | 98.0 | $82,320 | $161,700 | $82,730 |
| Minnesota | 98.6 | $82,824 | $162,690 | $87,117 |
| Utah | 98.9 | $83,076 | $163,185 | $96,658 |
| Delaware | 99.8 | $83,832 | $164,670 | $87,534 |
| Illinois | 100.0 | $84,000 | $165,000 | $83,211 |
| Nevada | 100.0 | $84,000 | $165,000 | $81,134 |
| Arizona | 100.7 | $84,588 | $166,155 | $81,486 |
| Virginia | 101.1 | $84,924 | $166,815 | $92,090 |
| Rhode Island | 102.3 | $85,932 | $168,795 | $83,504 |
| Alaska | 102.4 | $86,016 | $168,960 | $95,665 |
| Colorado | 103.1 | $86,604 | $170,115 | $97,113 |
| Florida | 103.4 | $86,856 | $170,610 | $77,735 |
| Oregon | 103.4 | $86,856 | $170,610 | $85,220 |
| Connecticut | 103.6 | $87,024 | $170,940 | $96,049 |
| New Hampshire | 104.2 | $87,528 | $171,930 | $99,782 |
| Maryland | 105.0 | $88,200 | $173,250 | $102,905 |
| Massachusetts | 105.8 | $88,872 | $174,570 | $104,828 |
| Washington | 107.0 | $89,880 | $176,550 | $99,389 |
| New York | 107.9 | $90,636 | $178,035 | $85,820 |
| New Jersey | 108.8 | $91,392 | $179,520 | $104,294 |
| Hawaii | 110.0 | $92,400 | $181,500 | $100,745 |
| California | 110.7 | $92,988 | $182,655 | $100,149 |
Role-specific salary data
What does your role actually pay?
For role-specific salary data alongside cost of living, our portfolio of salary-research sites publishes detailed breakdowns by experience and metro.
Your salary after tax, state by state
Purchasing power starts with take-home pay: see what your salary leaves after every tax in any state.
Frequently Asked
Salary purchasing power, answered
What salary do I need to live comfortably in California?
Around $92,988 for a single adult and $182,655 for a family of four, applying the 50/30/20 rule (50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings) at California's BEA all-items price parity of 110.7, where the US level is 100.0.
What does $100k actually buy in each state?
Less than most people expect. $100,000 in Arkansas, the cheapest state on the BEA all-items parity at 86.9, has the purchasing power of about $115,075 at the national price level. In California, the dearest state at 110.7, the same salary is worth $90,334. That is the full range across the 50 states: about 1.27 to one, cheapest to dearest. The full table below shows every state.
What's the best-value state for high earners?
Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida all pair a below-average or near-average price parity with relatively high median wages and either no income tax or low income tax. On the 2024 parities that band runs from 91.9 (Tennessee) to 103.4 (Florida). For someone earning $150k+, the tax difference moves more money than the price difference, which is why these states beat more obviously cheap states where wages are also lower.
How do you calculate purchasing power?
Purchasing power = (your salary / the state's all-items price parity) x 100. So a $100,000 salary in California (parity 110.7) has purchasing power of $90,334 in national terms. The same $100,000 in Arkansas (parity 86.9) has purchasing power of $115,075. The metric tells you how much typical household spending your salary supports once local prices are accounted for.
Does this account for taxes?
No. The BEA price parities measure prices, not state and local tax. For a salary comparison that incorporates tax, you'd need to subtract state income tax, property tax burden (if you own), and sales tax burden. We discuss this in detail on our taxes page. Generally: high-tax-burden states (CA, NY, NJ) get worse on a tax-adjusted basis; no-income-tax states (TN, TX, FL) get better. Because the price spread between states is narrower than most cost-of-living indexes suggest, tax is often the larger of the two adjustments.