How much does a person need to earn per year to live comfortably in the US?

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AsterLak May 24 @ 6:35am

Hello guys! I have question. How much does a person need to earn per year to live comfortably in the US? Thanks for answer!

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Originally posted by Apollo702:

There were many well thought out posts above- too many to quote.

I see it this way:

Figure out what a normal cost of living would be for the region in which one lives.

Whatever that number is; it isn't enough.

Take that number and add to it. One must have more than that to have savings and investments.

In other words, if the number was 50k don't get comfy making that. You really need 75 or 100. What if you got a flat tire? No, one needs more than the baseline- especially to pull ahead.

The great mistake that masses make is they make their baseline, get comfy and start jacking up the lifestyle and locking in long term structural costs- and then one layoff, one car wreck and....

This is why when one has "made it" this really means that they had better get promoted, start a business, clock out of the day job and get behind the bar and sell some drinks, climb up on the stripper pole- something!

Getting by ain't gonna cut it.

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swillfly May 24 @ 6:40am

Comfort levels vary wildly so it would be impossible to answer your question without knowing exactly how you define "live comfortably".

But in reality, with the way things are going, I bet that it would cost much more to "live comfortably" in the US vs. many other places. I'd win that bet.

Xero_Daxter May 24 @ 6:41am

$100,000 is pretty comfortable if you're single.

robwarrior May 24 @ 6:43am

i earn 27.40 an hour. I live comfortably but i dont really save any money. I was given some money from my mum from inheritance but i just put it in savings and spend a little here and there like on a pc and a car

AsterLak May 24 @ 6:56am

Originally posted by robwarrior:
i earn 27.40 an hour. I live comfortably but i dont really save any money. I was given some money from my mum from inheritance but i just put it in savings and spend a little here and there like on a pc and a car

Are you all in debt?

AsterLak May 24 @ 6:57am

Originally posted by Alice Liddell:
I could live on $30K/year comfortably because I own my home.

Is $30,000 a year a good salary or a bad one?

Ulfrinn May 24 @ 7:00am

Define comfortably. Everyone has different criteria for what is comfortable.

Fragile Waters May 24 @ 7:00am

A couple million at least.

AsterLak May 24 @ 7:00am

Originally posted by Alice Liddell:
Originally posted by AsterLak:
Is $30,000 a year a good salary or a bad one?
If your bills for the entire year is a mere $15K, then $30K is fine (unless you are high maintenance or a renter then you are ♥♥♥♥♥♥).

Anything under $40K is considered poverty in the USA (2025).

Oh my god. I never thought everything would be so expensive.

Xero_Daxter May 24 @ 7:02am

Scary to think I get paid more than a police officer.

Emperor Prussia May 24 @ 7:16am

Originally posted by AsterLak:
Hello guys! I have question. How much does a person need to earn per year to live comfortably in the US? Thanks for answer!

Considering how expensive everything is, you probably would need 250,000 dollars a year to live nicely these days.

Last edited by Emperor Prussia; May 24 @ 7:17am

#10

Grendalcat May 24 @ 11:42am

Varies a lot depending on where you live. $100k isn't enough in NYC or California, but would be enough in many of the "flyover states".

#11

EASY PETE May 24 @ 11:48am

200k… a second

#12

kbiz May 24 @ 11:48am

Depends on many factors. Let's say $200,000.

#13

robwarrior May 24 @ 2:04pm

Originally posted by AsterLak:
Originally posted by Alice Liddell:
I could live on $30K/year comfortably because I own my home.
Is $30,000 a year a good salary or a bad one?

from what i heard 100k is a good starting income

#14

robwarrior May 24 @ 2:04pm

Originally posted by AsterLak:
Originally posted by robwarrior:
i earn 27.40 an hour. I live comfortably but i dont really save any money. I was given some money from my mum from inheritance but i just put it in savings and spend a little here and there like on a pc and a car
Are you all in debt?

no debt

#15

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Date Posted: May 24 @ 6:35am

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