Comparison of Median Income With Cost of Living in 129 US Cities
Average income is a convenient, albeit sometimes imprecise, way of assessing what it takes to be middle class . However, the median for one city may be zero for another. This mega chart helps you understand how the median income in 129 US cities helps cover basic living expenses.
The chart below contains a ton of data, so it might seem a little overwhelming. However, it also has handy instructions on how to read it. The large central spiral shows the national average income, as well as outward-expanding histograms for individual cities, grouped by the state in which they are located. While most cities are either close to or below the national median, there are a few that stand out sharply. Honolulu, Hawaii, Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Bethesda, Maryland have strong medians.
However, the inner circle of the circles shows the cost of living index. This shows the total cost of living (and further breakdown by category) as a percentage of the national average cost of living. For example, although the average income in Honolulu is much higher, it is 65% more expensive to live there than in other cities.
Obviously, this gap matters, so the summary chart below shows the difference between the average income and the cost of living for each city. The bars are color-coded to show which cities have a higher average income versus a higher cost of living. Having a higher average income means that living in this middle-income city will be more comfortable than if your city has a higher cost of living. This information can help you determine what salary you will need to earn in order to lead a normal life when moving from one city to another .
The cost of living in America | Experian data quality