This map shows how much money a family of 4 needs to earn to get by in every US state (2024)

Depending on where you live in the United States, the amount you need to make to get by and support a family can vary by a lot. While a household of two adults and two children can manage on less than $60,000 a year in Tennessee, for example, it takes at least $88,000 a year to make ends meet in New York.

That's according to updated data from MIT's living wage calculator, which determines the minimum amount necessary to meet basic needs without dipping into poverty or relying on outside help. The model takes into account factors such as food, housing, child care and health insurance, in addition to other regular costs, and doesn't include conveniences or luxuries such as restaurant meals, vacations or money left over for investments.

Here's a closer look at what a living wage would be, before taxes, for a family of four in every U.S. state.

Alabama

  • Total required income before taxes: $61,895
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,086
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Alaska

  • Total required income before taxes: $74,247
  • Estimated housing costs: $15,239
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Arizona

  • Total required income before taxes: $68,786
  • Estimated housing costs: $11,484
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Phoenix, Arizona.

Dennis Macdonald | Getty Images

Arkansas

  • Total required income before taxes: $59,001
  • Estimated housing costs: $8,584
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

California

  • Total required income before taxes: $81,056
  • Estimated housing costs: $19,875
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Colorado

  • Total required income before taxes: $73,132
  • Estimated housing costs: $14,799
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Connecticut

  • Total required income before taxes: $74,216
  • Estimated housing costs: $15,670
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

Delaware

  • Total required income before taxes: $67,632
  • Estimated housing costs: $13,456
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Downtown in Rehobeth Beach, a popular summer vacation town on the Delaware coast.

Darren LoPrinzi | Moment Mobile | Getty Images

Florida

  • Total required income before taxes: $66,057
  • Estimated housing costs: $13,259
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Georgia

  • Total required income before taxes: $63,209
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,932
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Hawaii

  • Total required income before taxes: $68,971
  • Estimated housing costs: $22,314
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Idaho

  • Total required income before taxes: $65,675
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,609
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Illinois

  • Total required income before taxes: $69,760
  • Estimated housing costs: $12,564
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Indiana

  • Total required income before taxes: $63,014
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,641
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Iowa

  • Total required income before taxes: $62,066
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,244
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Kansas

  • Total required income before taxes: $61,158
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,700
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Kentucky

  • Total required income before taxes: $64,017
  • Estimated housing costs: $8,872
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Louisiana

  • Total required income before taxes: $61,643
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,261
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Sean Pavone | Getty Images

Maine

  • Total required income before taxes: $66,125
  • Estimated housing costs: $11,284
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

Maryland

  • Total required income before taxes: $76,043
  • Estimated housing costs: $18,196
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Massachusetts

  • Total required income before taxes: $75,418
  • Estimated housing costs: $17,721
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

Michigan

  • Total required income before taxes: $64,858
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,382
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Minnesota

  • Total required income before taxes: $68,948
  • Estimated housing costs: $11,607
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Gian Lorenzo Ferretti Photography | E+ | Getty Images

Mississippi

  • Total required income before taxes: $54,933
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,009
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Missouri

  • Total required income before taxes: $62,943
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,597
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Montana

  • Total required income before taxes: $69,128
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,001
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Nebraska

  • Total required income before taxes: $64,281
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,699
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Nevada

  • Total required income before taxes: $67,137
  • Estimated housing costs: $11,581
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

The Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Doug McKinley | Lonely Planet Images | Getty Images

New Hampshire

  • Total required income before taxes: $66,943
  • Estimated housing costs: $13,761
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

New Jersey

  • Total required income before taxes: $75,884
  • Estimated housing costs: $17,409
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

New Mexico

  • Total required income before taxes: $66,852
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,859
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

New York

  • Total required income before taxes: $88,056
  • Estimated housing costs: $17,896
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

North Carolina

  • Total required income before taxes: $63,522
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,146
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA uptown skyline and park.

Sean Pavone | iStock | Getty Images

North Dakota

  • Total required income before taxes: $62,697
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,166
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Ohio

  • Total required income before taxes: $61,763
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,450
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Oklahoma

  • Total required income before taxes: $64,413
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,544
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Oregon

  • Total required income before taxes: $72,312
  • Estimated housing costs: $13,166
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Pennsylvania

  • Total required income before taxes: $65,502
  • Estimated housing costs: $12,070
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ranked as the second city in the U.S. where it's cheaper to buy a home than rent.

Jon Lovette | DigitalVision | Getty Images

Rhode Island

  • Total required income before taxes: $70,153
  • Estimated housing costs: $12,375
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

South Carolina

  • Total required income before taxes: $59,902
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,168
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

South Dakota

  • Total required income before taxes: $60,064
  • Estimated housing costs: $8,936
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Tennessee

  • Total required income before taxes: $58,199
  • Estimated housing costs: $9,723
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Texas

  • Total required income before taxes: $61,501
  • Estimated housing costs: $11,880
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Dallas, Texas.

joe daniel price | Moment | Getty Images

Utah

  • Total required income before taxes: $67,277
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,963
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

Vermont

  • Total required income before taxes: $68,657
  • Estimated housing costs: $13,744
  • Estimated food costs: $10,245

Virginia

  • Total required income before taxes: $72,223
  • Estimated housing costs: $14,900
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Washington

  • Total required income before taxes: $72,673
  • Estimated housing costs: $16,321
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

West Virginia

  • Total required income before taxes: $60,313
  • Estimated housing costs: $8,749
  • Estimated food costs: $8,822

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

Twenty20

Wisconsin

  • Total required income before taxes: $66,742
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,115
  • Estimated food costs: $9,012

Wyoming

  • Total required income before taxes: $67,888
  • Estimated housing costs: $10,227
  • Estimated food costs: $10,529

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This map shows how much money a family of 4 needs to earn to get by in every US state (2024)
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