How the Living Wage Needed for a Family Differs on the East & West Coasts

The cost of having a family has become so expensive in the U.S. that many adults are opting out of having kids altogether. Parents will spend, on average, $18,761 a year raising just one child born in 2025 in the U.S. That adds up to $337,698 over 18 years, without adjusting for inflation.  

So imagine you and your partner have two kids. Things just went from difficult to nearly impossible, depending on which state you live in. In a new study, GOBankingRates analyzed states on the East Coast and West Coast to find how the living wage differs in each. The 22 states are ranked in order of lowest to highest amount annually needed for a family of four to get by. 

Also see the salary needed to afford the American Dream in 50 major cities.

• Household median income: $57,917
• Average home value: $163,193
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $99,077

• Household median income: $74,664
• Average home value: $326,933
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $107,559

• Household median income: $76,081
• Average home value: $266,221
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $112,035

• Household median income: $66,818
• Average home value: $296,068
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $112,978

• Household median income: $69,904
• Average home value: $328,226
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $115,216

• Household median income: $90,974
• Average home value: $398,259
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $118,633

• Household median income: $82,855
• Average home value: $380,485
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $118,750

• Household median income: $71,711
• Average home value: $404,924
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $121,107

• Household median income: $80,426
• Average home value: $498,760
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $131,945

• Household median income: $71,773
• Average home value: $387,588
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $132,063

• Household median income: $86,372
• Average home value: $474,431
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $132,181

• Household median income: $93,760
• Average home value: $429,793
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $132,298

• Household median income: $95,628
• Average home value: $495,860
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $132,652

• Household median income: $94,952
• Average home value: $603,927
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $134,537

• Household median income: $78,024
• Average home value: $388,319
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $134,772

• Household median income: $101,050
• Average home value: $558,134
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $135,008

• Household median income: $101,652
• Average home value: $430,192
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $135,833

• Household median income: $84,578
• Average home value: $455,344
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $145,257

• Household median income: $89,336
• Average home value: $379,622
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $145,846

• Household median income: $96,334
• Average home value: $793,150
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $170,586

• Household median income: $101,341
• Average home value: $642,213
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $171,882

• Household median income: $98,317
• Average home value: $967,396
• Annual living wage needed for a family of four: $220,183

Methodology: For this study, the East Coast is defined as Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. The West Coast is Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Data was sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Missouri Economic and Research Information Center, Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey and Zillow Home Value Index. All data was collected on and is up to date as of April 11, 2025.