If You Have a Mortgage in One of These 20 Cities, You Will Never Save Any Money

Buying a home has become a greater challenge over the past few years, with prices and interest rates reaching historic highs. And where you live, of course, makes all the difference in affordability.

Before deciding to plant roots in a community, you’ll need to assess its livability within your budget. How much money do you need to earn to own a home and live comfortably? How much income is required to rent a home or apartment and live a stress-free life?

GOBankingRates looked at the affordability rates in four states across the U.S. and found some cities where the cost of living far outstrips household income. The study looked at the cost of a mortgage or rent payment, plus what you’ll pay for groceries, utilities, transportation and healthcare, to determine where you could live comfortably by using the 50/30/20 rule — spending 50% on needs, 30% on wants and 20% on savings.

The study revealed the affordability rate in dozens of cities, but here are 20 where you will never save any money if you have a mortgage. We’ve included the amount renters will require to live comfortably, too, to give you the information to determine whether living in these locales is possible without a mortgage.

• Median household income: $61,026
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $133,505
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $99,139

• Median household income: $97,409
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $168,544
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $96,070

• Median household income: $61,090
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $128,369
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $90,320

• Median household income: $59,817
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $110,227
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $85,917

• Median household income: $64,080
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $109,301
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $88,724

• Median household income: $126,187
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $264,872
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $133,480

• Median household income: $114,027
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $263,660
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $117,021

• Median household income: $125,075
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $262,998
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $123,865

• Median household income: $89,457
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $197,225
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $116,398

• Median household income: $69,778
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $196,321
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $116,825

• Median household income: $89,776
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $140,984
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $114,602

• Median household income: $59,162
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $371,250
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $120,469

• Median household income: $55,963
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $83,144
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $85,839

• Median household income: $75,200
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $116,536
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $111,344

• Median household income: $52,972
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $81,005
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $80,864

• Median household income: $56,019
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $82,598
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $83,579

• Median household income: $55,084
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $79,039
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $77,265

• Median household income: $58,231
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $91,280
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $87,779

• Median household income: $78,965
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $127,124
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $89,689

• Median household income: $88,955
• Income needed for homeowners to live comfortably: $87,407
• Income needed for renters to live comfortably: $67,927