How Far a Typical Middle-Class Salary Goes in America’s 25 Largest Cities

According to the Pew Research Center, since 1970, the growth in income for the middle class has not kept pace with the growth in income for the upper class. Additionally, the share of total U.S. household income held by the middle class has significantly decreased.

Given these stats, it’s not too surprising that members of the middle class are struggling to get by in many of America’s largest cities. A new GOBankingRates study looked at the 100 most populous U.S. cities to see where middle-class salaries go the furthest by analyzing each city’s cost of living expenditures, cost of housing and how much — if anything — is left over after covering these costs based on the median middle-class salary.

Here’s a closer look at how far the typical middle-class salary goes in America’s 25 largest cities by population.

• Population: 8,516,202
• Median household income: $79,713
• Annual cost of living: $91,888
• Leftover savings: -$12,175

• Population: 3,857,897
• Median household income: $80,366
• Annual cost of living: $97,110
• Leftover savings: -$16,744

• Population: 2,707,648
• Median household income: $75,134
• Annual cost of living: $48,231
• Leftover savings: $26,903

• Population: 2,300,419
• Median household income: $62,894
• Annual cost of living: $42,540
• Leftover savings: $20,354

• Population: 1,624,832
• Median household income: $77,041
• Annual cost of living: $54,584
• Leftover savings: $22,457

• Population: 1,582,432
• Median household income: $60,698
• Annual cost of living: $43,200
• Leftover savings: $17,498

• Population: 1,458,954
• Median household income: $62,917
• Annual cost of living: $39,476
• Leftover savings: $23,441

• Population: 1,385,061
• Median household income: $104,321
• Annual cost of living: $105,204
• Leftover savings: -$833

• Population: 1,299,553
• Median household income: $67,760
• Annual cost of living: $47,589
• Leftover savings: $20,171

• Population: 990,054
• Median household income: $141,565
• Annual cost of living: $135,604
• Leftover savings: $5,961

• Population: 967,862
• Median household income: $91,461
• Annual cost of living: $62,812
• Leftover savings: $28,649

• Population: 961,739
• Median household income: $66,981
• Annual cost of living: $45,949
• Leftover savings: $21,032

• Population: 941,311
• Median household income: $76,602
• Annual cost of living: $43,383
• Leftover savings: $33,219

• Population: 906,480
• Median household income: $65,327
• Annual cost of living: $41,696
• Leftover savings: $23,631

• Population: 886,283
• Median household income: $78,438
• Annual cost of living: $52,687
• Leftover savings: $25,751

• Population: 882,043
• Median household income: $62,995
• Annual cost of living: $39,262
• Leftover savings: $23,733

• Population: 836,321
• Median household income: $141,446
• Annual cost of living: $122,849
• Leftover savings: $18,597

• Population: 741,440
• Median household income: $121,984
• Annual cost of living: $93,755
• Leftover savings: $28,229

• Population: 713,734
• Median household income: $91,681
• Annual cost of living: $67,203
• Leftover savings: $24,478

• Population: 688,693
• Median household income: $66,702
• Annual cost of living: $38,391
• Leftover savings: $28,311

• Population: 684,298
• Median household income: $75,197
• Annual cost of living: $55,919
• Leftover savings: $19,278

• Population: 678,147
• Median household income: $58,734
• Annual cost of living: $42,136
• Leftover savings: $16,598

• Population: 672,079
• Median household income: $106,287
• Annual cost of living: $79,455
• Leftover savings: $26,832

• Population: 663,972
• Median household income: $94,755
• Annual cost of living: $85,066
• Leftover savings: $9,689

• Population: 650,873
• Median household income: $70,723
• Annual cost of living: $58,301
• Leftover savings: $12,422

_{Methodology: GOBankingRates analyzed the largest 100 cities by population to find out how far the typical middle class salary in each city will go. The cities were identified using the total population as sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, along with the total households and household median income. The cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces and using the national average expenditure costs for all residents, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. The single family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index and by assuming a 10% downpayment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage cost can be calculated. Using the average expenditure and mortgage cost, the total cost of living can be calculated. Pew Research defines the middle class as two-thirds to double the median household income. Using this definition, GOBankingRates used the median household income for each location along with the total cost of living to find the leftover savings or additional income needed for the typical middle class households to afford the total cost of living. The cities were sorted to show the largest deficit from median household income first. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 29th, 2025.}

Gabriella Olya contributed to a previous version of this gallery.