Here’s How Much Cash You Need Stashed To Survive a Recession on the East Coast

If you live on the East Coast and have concerns about a potential recession, you’ll need a substantial amount of money in your emergency fund. A recent GOBankingRates study analyzing how much cash needs to be in your emergency fund revealed East Coast residents need anywhere from $11,000 to $19,000 to cover up to three months’ worth of expenses during a recession. And the amount needed only goes up from there for six, nine and 12 months.

Here’s how much you’d need in cash to survive a recession on the East Coast.

• Annual cost of living: $59,423
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $14,856
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $29,712
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $59,423

• Annual cost of living: $53,343
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $13,336
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $26,671
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $53,343  

• Annual cost of living: $53,687
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $13,422
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $26,843
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $53,687

• Annual cost of living: $47,888
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $11,972
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $23,944
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $47,888

• Annual cost of living: $55,360
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $13,840
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $27,680
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $55,360

• Annual cost of living: $57,444
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $14,361
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $28,722
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $57,444

• Annual cost of living: $77,544
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $19,386
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $38,772
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $77,544

• Annual cost of living: $62,536
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $15,634
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $31,268
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $62,536

• Annual cost of living: $66,926
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $16,732
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $33,463
• Emergency fund for 9 months: $66,926

• Annual cost of living: $59,403
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $14,851
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $29,701
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $59,403

• Annual cost of living: $48,054
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $12,014
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $24,027
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $48,054

• Annual cost of living: $61,901
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $15,475
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $30,950
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $61,901

• Annual cost of living: $45,362
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $11,341
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $22,681
• Emergency fund for 9 months: $45,362

• Annual cost of living: $53,677
• Emergency fund for 3 months: $13,419
• Emergency fund for 6 months: $26,839
• Emergency fund for 12 months: $53,677 

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed each state to find the amount needed for an emergency fund. 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.