How Much Would ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ Need To Survive in 2026?
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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When Jed Clampett struck oil and moved his family to Beverly Hills in the 1960s sitcom, $25 million made them fabulously wealthy. But if the Clampetts were swapping the Ozarks for the 90210 ZIP code today, they’d find their money won’t get them as far — but it will still get them to Beverly Hills.
Beverly Hills remains one of America’s most expensive cities, where even basic survival requires a six-figure income. Here’s the reality check Jed, Granny, Elly May and Jethro would face in 2026.
Housing: Where Your Money Disappears
The biggest shock for the Clampetts? That mansion they casually bought for cash would now cost millions. The median home price in Beverly Hills hit $4.5 million in November 2025, up 33.4% from the previous year.
Can’t afford to buy? Renting isn’t much better. A basic one-bedroom apartment averages $2,807 per month, though other data shows median rents closer to $4,700. If the Clampetts wanted a modest three-bedroom rental to house the whole clan, they’d shell out $7,172 or more monthly — that’s $86,064 annually just for rent.
Everything Else Costs More Too
According to Salary.com, the overall cost of living in Beverly Hills runs 43% higher than the U.S. national average. Food costs 2.8% more than average, while energy, transportation and healthcare run 7.3% higher.
For a single person trying to survive in Beverly Hills, the total monthly cost hits $2,885 — or about $34,620 annually. That covers housing, food, transportation, utilities and healthcare, but doesn’t include luxuries like Granny’s rheumatism medicine or Jethro’s sixth-grade education expenses.
Got a family of four? You’re looking at $6,209 per month, which works out to $74,508 per year. And that’s assuming you’re living modestly — no fancy “cement pond” (swimming pool) or double portions of “vittles.”
Breaking Down the Hillbilly Budget
Here’s what a realistic survival budget looks like for a family living in Beverly Hills in 2026:
- Housing: $72,000-$90,000 annually (modest rental)
- Food and groceries: $12,000-$18,000 annually
- Utilities and internet: $3,600-$7,200 annually
- Transportation: $4,800-$9,600 annually
- Healthcare: $6,000-$12,000 annually
- Miscellaneous: $6,000-$12,000 annually
Total: Roughly $100,000-$150,000 per year for basic survival — and that’s without private schools, fancy shopping on Rodeo Drive or hiring anyone to teach Jethro his cipherin’.
The Bottom Line
In the original series, Jed’s $25 million fortune made the family ridiculously wealthy. But in 2026 Beverly Hills, even middle-class survival requires an annual household income of at least $100,000 to $150,000 — and that’s just scraping by. But by spending just that much annually, the money would last them at least 166 years. By spending much more at $400,000 annually, $25 million would last 62 years.
It’ll cost more if the family wants to buy a mansion and live a little of the high life — something achievable on $25 million, but only if they make smart moves.
They could survive (and maybe even thrive!) by investing wisely. However, it’s not hard to imagine Jed taking one look at Beverly Hills prices today and hightailing it back to the hills!
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