Top U.S. Cities with High Cost of Living: A Four-Person Family in San Francisco Needs an Annual Income of $408,000

Foreign media: A ranking of annual income needed for a comfortable living in major U.S. cities shows that a four-person household in San Francisco requires approximately $408,000 per year—the highest—followed by San Jose at $403,000, and Oakland at $371,000; California occupies six of the top ten spots.

Boston, Arlington, New York, Seattle, Honolulu, and Washington D.C. also rank among high-cost cities.

Housing costs are the primary driver— even the cheapest city, San Antonio, requires about $193,000 annually. All 56 analyzed cities require six-figure incomes, with southern cities having relatively lower thresholds.

The ranking is based on data updated by SmartAsset in February 2026 using the MIT Living Wage Calculator, applying the 50/30/20 budget rule (50% for essential expenses, 30% for discretionary spending, 20% for savings).

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869849305505792/

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