Here’s How Much Cash You Need Stashed To Survive a Recession in the West

A substantial amount of money needs to be kept in savings to survive a recession in the Western states. Key findings from a new GOBankingRates study examined how much liquid assets an emergency fund must possess to cover expenses during a recession. In California, you would need at least $87,000 to fund nine months. And in Hawaii, your emergency fund would need more than $104,000 in cash in it.

Here’s the amount of cash you need on hand to survive a recession in the Western states.

Also see the cheapest city in every Western state.

• Annual cost of living: $60,450
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $15,113
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $30,225
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $60,450

• Annual cost of living: $56,087
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $14,022
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $28,043
• Emergency fund for 9 months: $56,087

• Annual cost of living: $87,962
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $21,990
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $43,981
• Emergency fund for 9 months: $87,962

• Annual cost of living: $64,558
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $16,139
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $32,279
• Emergency fund for 9 months: $64,558

• Annual cost of living: $104,577
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $26,144
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $52,289
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $104,577

• Annual cost of living: $57,919
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $14,480
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $28,960
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $57,919

• Annual cost of living: $57,517
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $14,379
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $28,759
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $57,517

• Annual cost of living: $58,665
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $14,666
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $29,333
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $58,665

• Annual cost of living: $45,368
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $11,342
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $22,684
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $45,368

• Annual cost of living: $62,701
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $15,675
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $31,351
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $62,701

• Annual cost of living: $62,806
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $15,701
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $31,403
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $62,806

• Annual cost of living: $71,722
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $17,930
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $35,861
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $71,722

• Annual cost of living: $49,340
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $12,335
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $24,670
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $49,340

Methodology: The cost of living was determined using data from Missouri Economic and Research Information Center, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, Zillow Home Value Index and the Federal Reserve. All data was collected on and is up to date as of April 21, 2025.