Quick answer
On a $30K salary, 0 of 75 US cities are affordable (under 30% rent burden), and 98 are unaffordable (over 40%). Cheapest: Wichita at 45% rent. Most expensive: New York at 173%.
Affordability · 2026
What Can I Afford on $30K?
Every US city ranked by rent burden at a $30K salary. Take-home pay uses real federal + state tax rates. Rent % is based on median 1BR in each city; green = under 30% (comfortable), red = over 40% (unaffordable).
Last updated: April 23, 2026
0
Comfortable
<25% rent
0
Affordable
25–29%
0
Stretched
30–39%
98
Unaffordable
40%+
Every City Ranked (best to worst)
| City | Take-home/mo | 1BR rent | Rent % | After essentials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WichitaKS | $1,982 | $900 | 45% | $542 |
| MemphisTN | $2,125 | $980 | 46% | $670 |
| Oklahoma CityOK | $2,006 | $920 | 46% | $611 |
| Baton RougeLA | $2,019 | $950 | 47% | $604 |
| El PasoTX | $2,125 | $1,050 | 49% | $590 |
| MobileAL | $2,000 | $1,000 | 50% | $450 |
| Little RockAR | $2,015 | $1,000 | 50% | $485 |
| IndianapolisIN | $2,049 | $1,050 | 51% | $519 |
| DetroitMI | $2,019 | $1,050 | 52% | $469 |
| ClevelandOH | $2,025 | $1,050 | 52% | $495 |
| TucsonAZ | $2,063 | $1,080 | 52% | $488 |
| AlbuquerqueNM | $2,002 | $1,050 | 52% | $482 |
| SpokaneWA | $2,125 | $1,100 | 52% | $490 |
| FayettevilleAR | $2,015 | $1,050 | 52% | $545 |
| PensacolaFL | $2,125 | $1,100 | 52% | $500 |
| OmahaNE | $1,979 | $1,050 | 53% | $454 |
| LouisvilleKY | $2,012 | $1,080 | 54% | $457 |
| CincinnatiOH | $2,025 | $1,100 | 54% | $445 |
| RochesterNY | $1,962 | $1,050 | 54% | $382 |
| LexingtonKY | $2,025 | $1,100 | 54% | $395 |
| Sioux FallsSD | $2,125 | $1,150 | 54% | $535 |
| Kansas CityMO | $1,990 | $1,100 | 55% | $410 |
| St. LouisMO | $2,001 | $1,100 | 55% | $421 |
| ProvoUT | $2,004 | $1,100 | 55% | $519 |
| Winston-SalemNC | $2,006 | $1,100 | 55% | $461 |
| San AntonioTX | $2,125 | $1,180 | 56% | $430 |
| KnoxvilleTN | $2,125 | $1,200 | 56% | $410 |
| TallahasseeFL | $2,125 | $1,200 | 56% | $370 |
| BuffaloNY | $1,962 | $1,100 | 56% | $327 |
| AnchorageAK | $2,125 | $1,200 | 56% | $220 |
| Des MoinesIA | $2,005 | $1,150 | 57% | $315 |
| ColumbusOH | $2,025 | $1,180 | 58% | $365 |
| BirminghamAL | $2,000 | $1,150 | 58% | $300 |
| Overland ParkKS | $1,982 | $1,150 | 58% | $387 |
| MilwaukeeWI | $1,934 | $1,150 | 59% | $284 |
| ChattanoogaTN | $2,125 | $1,250 | 59% | $345 |
| Grand RapidsMI | $2,019 | $1,200 | 59% | $289 |
| HoustonTX | $2,125 | $1,280 | 60% | $305 |
| Fort WorthTX | $2,125 | $1,280 | 60% | $325 |
| JacksonvilleFL | $2,125 | $1,280 | 60% | $355 |
| PittsburghPA | $2,048 | $1,280 | 62% | $278 |
| Ann ArborMI | $2,019 | $1,250 | 62% | $279 |
| New OrleansLA | $2,019 | $1,280 | 63% | $204 |
| HuntsvilleAL | $2,000 | $1,250 | 63% | $225 |
| Las VegasNV | $2,125 | $1,350 | 64% | $250 |
| GreenvilleSC | $1,965 | $1,250 | 64% | $230 |
| PlanoTX | $2,125 | $1,400 | 66% | $260 |
| PhoenixAZ | $2,063 | $1,380 | 67% | $143 |
| RichmondVA | $1,981 | $1,320 | 67% | $171 |
| DurhamNC | $2,006 | $1,350 | 67% | $201 |
| DallasTX | $2,125 | $1,450 | 68% | $145 |
| RenoNV | $2,125 | $1,450 | 68% | $155 |
| HendersonNV | $2,125 | $1,450 | 68% | $110 |
| BoiseID | $1,980 | $1,380 | 70% | $120 |
| Santa FeNM | $2,002 | $1,400 | 70% | $112 |
| TempeAZ | $2,063 | $1,450 | 70% | $73 |
| CharlotteNC | $2,012 | $1,420 | 71% | $102 |
| MadisonWI | $1,934 | $1,380 | 71% | $54 |
| Virginia BeachVA | $1,981 | $1,400 | 71% | $26 |
| FresnoCA | $1,962 | $1,400 | 71% | −$28 |
| NashvilleTN | $2,125 | $1,520 | 72% | $90 |
| Salt Lake CityUT | $2,009 | $1,450 | 72% | $59 |
| Colorado SpringsCO | $2,015 | $1,450 | 72% | $5 |
| MinneapolisMN | $1,879 | $1,380 | 73% | −$16 |
| SavannahGA | $1,990 | $1,450 | 73% | −$20 |
| EugeneOR | $1,913 | $1,400 | 73% | −$48 |
| Cape CoralFL | $2,125 | $1,550 | 73% | −$30 |
| RaleighNC | $2,012 | $1,480 | 74% | $37 |
| OrlandoFL | $2,125 | $1,580 | 74% | $40 |
| ScottsdaleAZ | $2,063 | $1,550 | 75% | −$3 |
| AshevilleNC | $2,012 | $1,550 | 77% | −$78 |
| AustinTX | $2,125 | $1,650 | 78% | −$80 |
| BaltimoreMD | $1,981 | $1,550 | 78% | −$99 |
| HartfordCT | $1,987 | $1,550 | 78% | −$138 |
| TampaFL | $2,125 | $1,680 | 79% | −$75 |
| St. PetersburgFL | $2,125 | $1,700 | 80% | −$165 |
| ProvidenceRI | $2,012 | $1,650 | 82% | −$218 |
| AtlantaGA | $1,988 | $1,650 | 83% | −$187 |
| PortlandOR | $1,878 | $1,590 | 85% | −$233 |
| DenverCO | $2,015 | $1,740 | 86% | −$240 |
| SacramentoCA | $1,793 | $1,580 | 88% | −$323 |
| PhiladelphiaPA | $2,048 | $1,800 | 88% | −$302 |
| CharlestonSC | $1,965 | $1,750 | 89% | −$345 |
| ChicagoIL | $2,001 | $1,850 | 92% | −$394 |
| BoulderCO | $2,015 | $1,850 | 92% | −$360 |
| SeattleWA | $2,125 | $2,100 | 99% | −$535 |
| MiamiFL | $2,125 | $2,200 | 104% | −$670 |
| Fort LauderdaleFL | $2,125 | $2,250 | 106% | −$770 |
| Jersey CityNJ | $1,966 | $2,100 | 107% | −$734 |
| HonoluluHI | $1,950 | $2,100 | 108% | −$1,055 |
| Long BeachCA | $1,893 | $2,050 | 108% | −$723 |
| OaklandCA | $1,893 | $2,200 | 116% | −$893 |
| Washington, DCDC | $1,913 | $2,400 | 125% | −$1,078 |
| San DiegoCA | $1,793 | $2,250 | 126% | −$1,008 |
| BostonMA | $2,000 | $2,600 | 130% | −$1,180 |
| Los AngelesCA | $1,793 | $2,400 | 134% | −$1,188 |
| San FranciscoCA | $1,793 | $2,800 | 156% | −$1,593 |
| New YorkNY | $1,853 | $3,200 | 173% | −$1,993 |
Take-home uses effective federal tax + state tax. Essentials = rent + utilities + groceries. Click a city for the full breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many US cities are affordable on a $30K salary?
Of 75 major US cities we track, 0 are affordable (rent under 30% of take-home) on $30K. 98 are unaffordable (rent over 40% of take-home). The most affordable: Wichita at 45% rent burden. The least: New York at 173%.
What's take-home pay on $30K by state?
Federal effective tax at $30K is about 15%. State tax varies 0–11%. In no-tax states (TX, FL, TN, WA, NV, AK), take-home is $2,125/month. In California (~9.3% effective), it drops to $1,893/month — a $233/month difference.
Is $30K a good salary to live on in 2026?
Depends entirely on city. In Wichita or similar cheap metros, $30K is comfortable with room to save. In SF, NYC, or coastal California, $30K often means roommates or sub-urban rent. The table below ranks all 75 cities from most comfortable to most stretched at this salary.