If you got a job offer in Massachusetts, could you afford to move there? What about Hawaii? Financial site SmartAsset used the most recent data available (February 2025) from the MIT Living Wage Calculator to gather the basic cost of living, including necessities like housing, food, transportation, and income taxes, to find how much salary it takes to live “comfortably” in each state.
Researchers applied the cost of living in every U.S. state to a 50/30/20 budget (50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings) to sort the list. Unsurprisingly, Hawaii was found to be the most expensive state for a single adult to live comfortably.
Living “comfortably” is defined as earning enough money for needs like housing and wants like trying that pricey restaurant, while still being able to put away money for long-term savings. According to the report, it takes a minimum salary of $124,467 for a single adult to live comfortably there.
According to a 2023 report from Hawaii Governor Josh Green, the Aloha State’s housing market is the most expensive in the nation, and an annual income of $252K would be needed to afford a median-priced new home.
West Virginia, meanwhile, was found to be the cheapest state for single adults, where a salary of “only” $80,829 is needed to live comfortably. Housing in West Virginia is 27% lower than the national average, and utilities are 6% lower, according to RentCafe. Still, this means that in the entire U.S., having a salary under $80,829 means you won’t be “comfortable.”
Here are the 10 most (and least) expensive states for a single adult with no children.
Most Expensive States for a Single Adult With No Kids to Live Comfortably
1. Hawaii
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $124,467.20
2. Massachusetts
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $120,140.80
3. California
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $119,475.20
4. New York
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $114,691.2
5. Washington
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $109,657.60
6. New Jersey
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $108,992.00
7. Maryland
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $108,867.20
8. Virginia
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $106,704.00
9. Colorado
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $105,955.20
10. Connecticut
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $105,164.80
Least Expensive States for a Single Adult With No Kids to Live Comfortably
1. West Virginia
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $80,828.80
2. Arkansas
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $81,078.40
3. South Dakota
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $82,160.00
4. North Dakota
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $82,284.80
5. Kentucky
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $83,574.40
6. Oklahoma
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $84,281.60
7. Ohio
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $84,780.80
8. Alabama
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $85,280.00
9. Louisiana
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $85,321.60
10. Mississippi
Income needed for a single adult, 2025: $86,320.00
Click here for SmartAsset’s full report.
If you got a job offer in Massachusetts, could you afford to move there? What about Hawaii? Financial site SmartAsset used the most recent data available (February 2025) from the MIT Living Wage Calculator to gather the basic cost of living, including necessities like housing, food, transportation, and income taxes, to find how much salary it takes to live “comfortably” in each state.
Researchers applied the cost of living in every U.S. state to a 50/30/20 budget (50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings) to sort the list. Unsurprisingly, Hawaii was found to be the most expensive state for a single adult to live comfortably.
The rest of this article is locked.
Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.
