Salary Needed To Achieve the American Dream in the 50 Largest Cities

For several years, many Americans have said they need to earn six-figure salaries to feel financially stable and successful. This amount of money is quickly becoming a non-negotiable factor for enjoying a good life.

According to new GOBankingRates data, achieving the American dream and enjoying a comfortable lifestyle requires a minimum of earning $89,000 annually across the 50 largest U.S. cities.

GOBankingRates determined the household income necessary for achieving the American dream by analyzing the 50 largest U.S. cities based on population and sourcing key factors, such as annual grocery and mortgage expenses.

The annual cost of living was calculated using average mortgage and expenditure costs and the total cost of living was doubled to find the amount of household income necessary for a comfortable lifestyle.

Take a look at the salary needed to achieve the American dream, from highest to lowest annual earnings.

Correction: The original version of this incorrectly calculated cost of living. The ranking has been updated using correct numbers.

• Household income for the American dream: $319K
• Total annual cost of living: $160K
• Grocery costs per year: $10,302
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $9,228

• Household income for the American dream: $297K
• Total annual cost of living: $149K
• Grocery costs per year: $10,565
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $8,110

• Household income for the American dream: $242K
• Total annual cost of living: $121K
• Grocery costs per year: $9,940
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $6,660

• Household income for the American dream: $234K
• Total annual cost of living: $117K
• Grocery costs per year: $9,433
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $6,007

• Household income for the American dream: $220K
• Total annual cost of living: $110K
• Grocery costs per year: $10,565
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $4,656

• Household income for the American dream: $215K
• Total annual cost of living: $108K
• Grocery costs per year: $9,233
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $5,321

• Household income for the American dream: $212K
• Total annual cost of living: $106K
• Grocery costs per year: $9,849
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $5,433

• Household income for the American dream: $205K
• Total annual cost of living: $102K
• Grocery costs per year: $10,085
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $4,761

• Household income for the American dream: $199K
• Total annual cost of living: $99K
• Grocery costs per year: $10,094
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $4,685

• Household income for the American dream: $187K
• Total annual cost of living: $94K
• Grocery costs per year: $10,339
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $4,165

• Household income for the American dream: $177K
• Total annual cost of living: $88K
• Grocery costs per year: $9,722
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,839

• Household income for the American dream: $159K
• Total annual cost of living: $80K
• Grocery costs per year: $9,233
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,452

• Household income for the American dream: $156K
• Total annual cost of living: $78K
• Grocery costs per year: $9,396
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,228

• Household income for the American dream: $153K
• Total annual cost of living: $77K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,762
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,156

• Household income for the American dream: $150K
• Total annual cost of living: $75K
• Grocery costs per year: $9,496
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,864

• Household income for the American dream: $143K
• Total annual cost of living: $71K
• Grocery costs per year: $9,269
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,656

• Household income for the American dream: $141K
• Total annual cost of living: $70K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,952
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,577

• Household income for the American dream: $138K
• Total annual cost of living: $68K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,807
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,617

• Household income for the American dream: $136K
• Total annual cost of living: $68K
• Grocery costs per year: $9,242
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,600

• Household income for the American dream: $136K
• Total annual cost of living: $68K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,816
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,485

• Household income for the American dream: $134K
• Total annual cost of living: $67K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,916
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,704

• Household income for the American dream: $133K
• Total annual cost of living: $67K
• Grocery costs per year: $9,115
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,600

• Household income for the American dream: $133K
• Total annual cost of living: $66K
• Grocery costs per year: $9,088
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,453

• Household income for the American dream: $130K
• Total annual cost of living: $65K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,970
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,323

• Household income for the American dream: $130K
• Total annual cost of living: $65K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,989
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,308

• Household income for the American dream: $129K
• Total annual cost of living: $64K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,989
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,368

• Household income for the American dream: $121K
• Total annual cost of living: $61K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,807
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,813

• Household income for the American dream: $121K
• Total annual cost of living: $60K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,979
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,873

• Household income for the American dream: $120K
• Total annual cost of living: $60K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,889
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,858

• Household income for the American dream: $119K
• Total annual cost of living: $60K
• Grocery costs per year: $9,170
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,964

• Household income for the American dream: $118K
• Total annual cost of living: $59K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,853
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,768

• Household income for the American dream: $117K
• Total annual cost of living: $58K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,653
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,983

• Household income for the American dream: $115K
• Total annual cost of living: $58K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,989
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,753

• Household income for the American dream: $114K
• Total annual cost of living: $57K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,699
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,965

• Household income for the American dream: $113K
• Total annual cost of living: $57K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,889
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,597

• Household income for the American dream: $113K
• Total annual cost of living: $57K
• Grocery costs per year: $9,288
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,254

• Household income for the American dream: $110K
• Total annual cost of living: $55K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,753
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,634

• Household income for the American dream: $106K
• Total annual cost of living: $53K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,789
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,464

• Household income for the American dream: $105K
• Total annual cost of living: $53K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,952
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,509

• Household income for the American dream: $105K
• Total annual cost of living: $53K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,282
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,482

• Household income for the American dream: $103K
• Total annual cost of living: $52K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,771
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,388

• Household income for the American dream: $101K
• Total annual cost of living: $50K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,880
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,059

• Household income for the American dream: $100K
• Total annual cost of living: $50K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,481
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,323

• Household income for the American dream: $99K
• Total annual cost of living: $50K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,336
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,324

• Household income for the American dream: $99K
• Total annual cost of living: $49K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,418
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,194

• Household income for the American dream: $99K
• Total annual cost of living: $49K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,581
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,171

• Household income for the American dream: $98K
• Total annual cost of living: $49K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,599
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,216

• Household income for the American dream: $95K
• Total annual cost of living: $48K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,608
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,134

• Household income for the American dream: $91K
• Total annual cost of living: $46K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,064
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $421

• Household income for the American dream: $89K
• Total annual cost of living: $44K
• Grocery costs per year: $8,454
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $842

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the largest 50 cities based on population, as sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces. Average expenditure costs were from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Home value and mortgage data came from Zillow Home Value Index for January 2025 and Federal Reserve Economic Data. Using the 50/30/20 rule that states 50% of household income goes to needs, 30% goes to discretionary spending and 20% is used for savings, the cost of living was doubled to find the income needed to live the American Dream. All data was collected on and is up to date as of March 4, 2025.