Here’s the Living Wage a Family of Four Must Have in Every State

The cost of living continues to rise at a slightly elevated rate. Inflation is a tick under 3%, just as it was in 2024. Trips to the grocery store still take a sizeable bite out of wallets, and tariff-related price hikes continue to affect consumers — inflation is up 0.6% since April.

To determine the required living wage for a family of four in every state, GOBankingRates analyzed data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey,Missouri Economic and Research Information Center and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. GOBankingRates defines the living wage as the bare minimum needed to get by, which means the cost of groceries, healthcare, transportation, utilities and housing.

The results of the study indicated that nearly three-quarters of America requires a living wage of at least $50,000 to sustain a family of four with the current cost of living. Only 13 states require under $50,000.

• Hawaii requires the highest living wage for a family of four. The Aloha State frequently tops any list of America’s most expensive states, and it comes as no surprise that it does so here as well. The living wage necessary for a family of four in Hawaii? A staggering $112,313.
• West Virginia necessitates the lowest wage for a family of four. The Mountain State requires just $54,247 for the basics — less than half of what’s needed in Hawaii.
• Hawaii may require the highest living wage, but it doesn’t pay it. The median household income there falls short of that amount, at $100,149. The state with the highest median household income in America is Massachusetts, with $104,828.

See how much a household with a family of four needs to make in every state.

Also see the safest, most affordable cities for a family of four.

• Living wage for a family of four: $46,065
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,839
• Median household income: $66,659

• Living wage for a family of four: $68,335
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,695
• Median household income: $95,665

• Living wage for a family of four: $61,643
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,137
• Median household income: $81,486

• Living wage for a family of four: $44,141
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,678
• Median household income: $61,106

• Living wage for a family of four: $92,163
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $7,680
• Median household income: $100,149

• Living wage for a family of four: $69,536
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,795
• Median household income: $97,113

• Living wage for a family of four: $66,731
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,561
• Median household income: $96,049

• Living wage for a family of four: $59,517
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,960
• Median household income: $87,534

• Living wage for a family of four: $58,906
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,909
• Median household income: $77,735

• Living wage for a family of four: $54,134
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,511
• Median household income: $79,991

• Living wage for a family of four: $112,313
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $9,359
• Median household income: $100,745

• Living wage for a family of four: $63,232
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,269
• Median household income: $81,166

• Living wage for a family of four: $51,589
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,299
• Median household income: $83,211

• Living wage for a family of four: $48,320
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,027
• Median household income: $71,959

• Living wage for a family of four: $46,281
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,857
• Median household income: $75,501

• Living wage for a family of four: $47,447
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,954
• Median household income: $75,514

• Living wage for a family of four: $45,574
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,798
• Median household income: $64,526

• Living wage for a family of four: $44,532
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,711
• Median household income: $60,986

• Living wage for a family of four: $62,740
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,228
• Median household income: $76,442

• Living wage for a family of four: $64,201
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,350
• Median household income: $102,905

• Living wage for a family of four: $84,325
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $7,027
• Median household income: $104,828

• Living wage for a family of four: $48,392
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,033
• Median household income: $72,389

• Living wage for a family of four: $55,584
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,632
• Median household income: $87,117

• Living wage for a family of four: $42,636
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,553
• Median household income: $59,127

• Living wage for a family of four: $47,458
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,955
• Median household income: $71,589

• Living wage for a family of four: $62,813
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,234
• Median household income: $75,340

• Living wage for a family of four: $49,324
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,110
• Median household income: $76,375

• Living wage for a family of four: $63,369
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,281
• Median household income: $81,134

• Living wage for a family of four: $69,305
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,775
• Median household income: $99,782

• Living wage for a family of four: $72,546
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $6,046
• Median household income: $104,294

• Living wage for a family of four: $52,213
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,351
• Median household income: $67,816

• Living wage for a family of four: $66,845
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,570
• Median household income: $85,820

• Living wage for a family of four: $54,417
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,535
• Median household income: $73,958

• Living wage for a family of four: $50,842
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,237
• Median household income: $77,871

• Living wage for a family of four: $48,405
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,034
• Median household income: $72,212

• Living wage for a family of four: $44,574
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,714
• Median household income: $66,148

• Living wage for a family of four: $69,418
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,785
• Median household income: $85,220

• Living wage for a family of four: $51,537
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,295
• Median household income: $77,545

• Living wage for a family of four: $67,877
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,656
• Median household income: $83,504

• Living wage for a family of four: $51,608
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,301
• Median household income: $72,350

• Living wage for a family of four: $53,564
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,464
• Median household income: $76,881

• Living wage for a family of four: $51,420
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,285
• Median household income: $71,997

• Living wage for a family of four: $51,569
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,297
• Median household income: $79,721

• Living wage for a family of four: $66,789
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,566
• Median household income: $96,658

• Living wage for a family of four: $62,038
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,170
• Median household income: $82,730

• Living wage for a family of four: $59,818
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,985
• Median household income: $92,090

• Living wage for a family of four: $76,879
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $6,407
• Median household income: $99,389

• Living wage for a family of four: $42,211
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,518
• Median household income: $60,798

• Living wage for a family of four: $54,247
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,521
• Median household income: $77,488

• Living wage for a family of four: $55,520
• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,627
• Median household income: $75,532

Methodology: Median household income was sourced from the U.S. Census 2023 American Community Survey. The cost of necessities was calculated using data from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center (grocery, healthcare, transportation and utilities) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey (cost for a married couple with children). The average home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index from August 2025, and the mortgage was included using Federal Reserve Economic Data. GOBankingRates defines the living wage as the bare minimum needed to get by, including only groceries, healthcare, transportation, utilities and housing. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Sept. 29, 2025.