How Far a Household Income of $80K Goes in Every State

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As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median salary in the U.S was $61,984 per year, or $1,192 per week for full-time workers. By that metric, making $80,000 a year means you’re doing pretty good — and is likely considered middle class. But geography is either your friend or your foe here. As you may have guessed, an $80,000 salary doesn’t go the same distance in Hawaii as it does in West Virginia. 

Approximately how far does an $80,000 salary go in one state versus another? What percentage of annual expenditures does it cover? In a new study, GOBankingRates delved through numerous sets of data to determine how far an $80,000 salary goes in all 50 states.  

50. Hawaii  

• Cost of living index: 186.9 
• Annual expenditure cost: $134,379
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 60%

49. Massachusetts 

• Cost of living index: 145.9 
• Annual expenditure cost: $104,901
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 76%

48. California

• Cost of living index: 144.8 
• Annual expenditure cost: $104,110
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 77%

47. Alaska 

• Cost of living index: 123.8 
• Annual expenditure cost: $89,011
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 90%

46. New York 

• Cost of living index: 123.3 
• Annual expenditure cost: $88,651
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 90%

45. Maryland 

• Cost of living index: 115.3
• Annual expenditure cost: $82,900
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 97% 

44. New Jersey 

• Cost of living index: 114.6
• Annual expenditure cost: $82,396
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 97%

43. Vermont 

• Cost of living index:  114.4
• Annual expenditure cost: $82,252
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 97%

42. Washington 

• Cost of living index: 114.2
• Annual expenditure cost: $82,109
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 97%

41. New Hampshire 

• Cost of living index: 112.6
• Annual expenditure cost: $80,958
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 99%

40. Connecticut

• Cost of living index: 112.3
• Annual expenditure cost: $80,743
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 99%

39. Rhode Island 

• Cost of living index: 112.2 
• Annual expenditure cost: $80,671
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 99%

38. Maine 

• Cost of living index: 112.1 
• Annual expenditure cost: $80,599
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 99%

37. Oregon 

• Cost of living index: 112.0 
• Annual expenditure cost: $80,527
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 99%

36. Arizona 

• Cost of living index: 111.5 
• Annual expenditure cost: $80,167
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 99%

35. Utah 

• Cost of living index: 104.9 
• Annual expenditure cost: $75,422
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 106%

34. Florida 

• Cost of living index: 102.8 
• Annual expenditure cost: $73,912
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 108%

33. Idaho 

• Cost of living index: 102.0 
• Annual expenditure cost: $73,337
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 109%

32. Colorado 

• Cost of living index: 102.0  
• Annual expenditure cost: $73,337
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 109%

31. Nevada 

• Cost of living index: 101.3 
• Annual expenditure cost: $72,834
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 110%

30. Delaware 

• Cost of living index: 100.8 
• Annual expenditure cost: $72,474
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 110%

29. Virginia 

• Cost of living index: 100.7 
• Annual expenditure cost: $72,402
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 110%

28. North Carolina 

• Cost of living index: 97.8  
• Annual expenditure cost: $70,317 
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 114%

27. Wisconsin 

• Cost of living index: 97.0 
• Annual expenditure cost: $69,742
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 115%

26. South Carolina 

• Cost of living index: 95.9 
• Annual expenditure cost: $68,951
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 116%

25. Wyoming 

• Cost of living index: 95.5 
• Annual expenditure cost: $68,664
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 117%

24. Minnesota 

• Cost of living index: 95.1 
• Annual expenditure cost: $68,376
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 117%

23. Pennsylvania

• Cost of living index: 95.1 
• Annual expenditure cost: $68,376
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 117%

22. Montana 

• Cost of living index: 94.9 
• Annual expenditure cost: $68,232
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 117%

21. Illinois 

• Cost of living index: 94.4 
• Annual expenditure cost: $67,873
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 118%

20. Ohio 

• Cost of living index: 94.2 
• Annual expenditure cost: $67,729
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 118%

19. New Mexico 

• Cost of living index: 93.3 
• Annual expenditure cost: $67,082
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 119%

18. Nebraska 

• Cost of living index: 93.1 
• Annual expenditure cost: $66,938
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 120%

17. Kentucky 

• Cost of living index: 93.0 
• Annual expenditure cost: $66,866
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 120%

16. Texas 

• Cost of living index: 92.7 
• Annual expenditure cost: $66,650
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 120%

15. Louisiana 

• Cost of living index: 92.2 
• Annual expenditure cost: $66,291
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 121%

14. South Dakota 

• Cost of living index: 92.2 
• Annual expenditure cost: $66,291
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 121%

13. North Dakota 

• Cost of living index: 91.9 
• Annual expenditure cost: $66,075
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 121%

12. Georgia 

• Cost of living index: 91.3 
• Annual expenditure cost: $65,644
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 122%

11. Tennessee

• Cost of living index: 90.5 
• Annual expenditure cost: $65,069
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 123%

10. Indiana 

• Cost of living index: 90.5 
• Annual expenditure cost: $65,069
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 123%

9. Michigan 

• Cost of living index: 90.4 
• Annual expenditure cost: $64,997
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 123%

8. Iowa 

• Cost of living index: 89.7 
• Annual expenditure cost: $64,493
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 124%

7. Missouri 

• Cost of living index: 88.7 
• Annual expenditure cost: $63,774
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 125%

6. Arkansas 

• Cost of living index: 88.7 
• Annual expenditure cost: $63,774
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 125%

5. Alabama 

• Cost of living index: 88.0
• Annual expenditure cost: $63,271
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 126%

4. Mississippi 

• Cost of living index: 87.9 
• Annual expenditure cost: $63,199
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 127%

3. Kansas 

• Cost of living index: 87.0 
• Annual expenditure cost: $62,552
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 128%

2. Oklahoma 

• Cost of living index: 85.7 
• Annual expenditure cost: $61,617
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 130%

1. West Virginia 

• Cost of living index: 84.1 
• Annual expenditure cost: $60,467
• Percentage of annual expenditures $80k covers: 132%

Methodology: In order to find how much $80,000 will cover across the country, GOBankingRates first found (1) the national average annual expenditures for people with incomes between $70,000 and $99,999, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey data. Then, GOBankingRates created (2) state-level annual expenditure estimates by multiplying the national figure by each state’s overall cost of living index score for 2024 from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. Finally, GOBankingRates found (3) how much annual expenditures is covered by $80,000  by dividing $80,000 by each state’s average annual expenditures estimate. All 50 states and the District of Columbia were then ranked with No. 1 being the state where $80,000 will go the furthest and No. 51 being the state where it will run out most quickly. GOBankingRates provided supplemental information on the average annual cost of groceries, housing, utilities, transportation and healthcare for people with incomes between $70,000 and $99,999 in each state by again using MERIC’s cost of living indices for each category to factor out national estimates from the BLS CEX. All data was collected on and up to date as of March 5, 2025.

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