Quick answer
On a $55K salary, 5 of 75 US cities are affordable (under 30% rent burden), and 51 are unaffordable (over 40%). Cheapest: Memphis at 27% rent. Most expensive: New York at 104%.
Affordability · 2026
What Can I Afford on $55K?
Every US city ranked by rent burden at a $55K 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
5
Affordable
25–29%
42
Stretched
30–39%
51
Unaffordable
40%+
Every City Ranked (best to worst)
| City | Take-home/mo | 1BR rent | Rent % | After essentials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MemphisTN | $3,575 | $980 | 27% | $2,120 |
| Oklahoma CityOK | $3,357 | $920 | 27% | $1,962 |
| WichitaKS | $3,314 | $900 | 27% | $1,874 |
| Baton RougeLA | $3,380 | $950 | 28% | $1,965 |
| El PasoTX | $3,575 | $1,050 | 29% | $2,040 |
| MobileAL | $3,346 | $1,000 | 30% | $1,796 |
| Little RockAR | $3,373 | $1,000 | 30% | $1,843 |
| IndianapolisIN | $3,435 | $1,050 | 31% | $1,905 |
| DetroitMI | $3,380 | $1,050 | 31% | $1,830 |
| ClevelandOH | $3,392 | $1,050 | 31% | $1,862 |
| TucsonAZ | $3,460 | $1,080 | 31% | $1,885 |
| AlbuquerqueNM | $3,350 | $1,050 | 31% | $1,830 |
| SpokaneWA | $3,575 | $1,100 | 31% | $1,940 |
| FayettevilleAR | $3,373 | $1,050 | 31% | $1,903 |
| PensacolaFL | $3,575 | $1,100 | 31% | $1,950 |
| LouisvilleKY | $3,369 | $1,080 | 32% | $1,814 |
| OmahaNE | $3,307 | $1,050 | 32% | $1,782 |
| CincinnatiOH | $3,392 | $1,100 | 32% | $1,812 |
| RochesterNY | $3,277 | $1,050 | 32% | $1,697 |
| LexingtonKY | $3,392 | $1,100 | 32% | $1,762 |
| Sioux FallsSD | $3,575 | $1,150 | 32% | $1,985 |
| Kansas CityMO | $3,327 | $1,100 | 33% | $1,747 |
| San AntonioTX | $3,575 | $1,180 | 33% | $1,880 |
| St. LouisMO | $3,348 | $1,100 | 33% | $1,768 |
| ProvoUT | $3,353 | $1,100 | 33% | $1,868 |
| Winston-SalemNC | $3,357 | $1,100 | 33% | $1,812 |
| KnoxvilleTN | $3,575 | $1,200 | 34% | $1,860 |
| TallahasseeFL | $3,575 | $1,200 | 34% | $1,820 |
| BuffaloNY | $3,277 | $1,100 | 34% | $1,642 |
| BirminghamAL | $3,346 | $1,150 | 34% | $1,646 |
| Des MoinesIA | $3,355 | $1,150 | 34% | $1,665 |
| AnchorageAK | $3,575 | $1,200 | 34% | $1,670 |
| ColumbusOH | $3,392 | $1,180 | 35% | $1,732 |
| ChattanoogaTN | $3,575 | $1,250 | 35% | $1,795 |
| Overland ParkKS | $3,314 | $1,150 | 35% | $1,719 |
| HoustonTX | $3,575 | $1,280 | 36% | $1,755 |
| MilwaukeeWI | $3,224 | $1,150 | 36% | $1,574 |
| Fort WorthTX | $3,575 | $1,280 | 36% | $1,775 |
| JacksonvilleFL | $3,575 | $1,280 | 36% | $1,805 |
| Grand RapidsMI | $3,380 | $1,200 | 36% | $1,650 |
| PittsburghPA | $3,434 | $1,280 | 37% | $1,664 |
| Ann ArborMI | $3,380 | $1,250 | 37% | $1,640 |
| HuntsvilleAL | $3,346 | $1,250 | 37% | $1,571 |
| Las VegasNV | $3,575 | $1,350 | 38% | $1,700 |
| New OrleansLA | $3,380 | $1,280 | 38% | $1,565 |
| GreenvilleSC | $3,282 | $1,250 | 38% | $1,547 |
| PlanoTX | $3,575 | $1,400 | 39% | $1,710 |
| PhoenixAZ | $3,460 | $1,380 | 40% | $1,540 |
| RichmondVA | $3,311 | $1,320 | 40% | $1,501 |
| DurhamNC | $3,357 | $1,350 | 40% | $1,552 |
| DallasTX | $3,575 | $1,450 | 41% | $1,595 |
| RenoNV | $3,575 | $1,450 | 41% | $1,605 |
| HendersonNV | $3,575 | $1,450 | 41% | $1,560 |
| CharlotteNC | $3,369 | $1,420 | 42% | $1,459 |
| BoiseID | $3,309 | $1,380 | 42% | $1,449 |
| Virginia BeachVA | $3,311 | $1,400 | 42% | $1,356 |
| Santa FeNM | $3,350 | $1,400 | 42% | $1,460 |
| TempeAZ | $3,460 | $1,450 | 42% | $1,470 |
| NashvilleTN | $3,575 | $1,520 | 43% | $1,540 |
| Salt Lake CityUT | $3,362 | $1,450 | 43% | $1,412 |
| MadisonWI | $3,224 | $1,380 | 43% | $1,344 |
| FresnoCA | $3,277 | $1,400 | 43% | $1,287 |
| Colorado SpringsCO | $3,373 | $1,450 | 43% | $1,363 |
| Cape CoralFL | $3,575 | $1,550 | 43% | $1,420 |
| RaleighNC | $3,369 | $1,480 | 44% | $1,394 |
| MinneapolisMN | $3,124 | $1,380 | 44% | $1,229 |
| OrlandoFL | $3,575 | $1,580 | 44% | $1,490 |
| SavannahGA | $3,328 | $1,450 | 44% | $1,318 |
| EugeneOR | $3,185 | $1,400 | 44% | $1,225 |
| ScottsdaleAZ | $3,460 | $1,550 | 45% | $1,395 |
| AustinTX | $3,575 | $1,650 | 46% | $1,370 |
| AshevilleNC | $3,369 | $1,550 | 46% | $1,279 |
| TampaFL | $3,575 | $1,680 | 47% | $1,375 |
| BaltimoreMD | $3,311 | $1,550 | 47% | $1,231 |
| HartfordCT | $3,323 | $1,550 | 47% | $1,198 |
| St. PetersburgFL | $3,575 | $1,700 | 48% | $1,285 |
| ProvidenceRI | $3,369 | $1,650 | 49% | $1,139 |
| AtlantaGA | $3,323 | $1,650 | 50% | $1,148 |
| PortlandOR | $3,121 | $1,590 | 51% | $1,011 |
| DenverCO | $3,373 | $1,740 | 52% | $1,118 |
| PhiladelphiaPA | $3,434 | $1,800 | 52% | $1,084 |
| SacramentoCA | $2,965 | $1,580 | 53% | $850 |
| CharlestonSC | $3,282 | $1,750 | 53% | $972 |
| ChicagoIL | $3,348 | $1,850 | 55% | $953 |
| BoulderCO | $3,373 | $1,850 | 55% | $998 |
| SeattleWA | $3,575 | $2,100 | 59% | $915 |
| MiamiFL | $3,575 | $2,200 | 62% | $780 |
| Fort LauderdaleFL | $3,575 | $2,250 | 63% | $680 |
| Jersey CityNJ | $3,283 | $2,100 | 64% | $583 |
| HonoluluHI | $3,254 | $2,100 | 65% | $249 |
| Long BeachCA | $3,149 | $2,050 | 65% | $534 |
| OaklandCA | $3,149 | $2,200 | 70% | $364 |
| Washington, DCDC | $3,185 | $2,400 | 75% | $195 |
| San DiegoCA | $2,965 | $2,250 | 76% | $165 |
| BostonMA | $3,346 | $2,600 | 78% | $166 |
| Los AngelesCA | $2,965 | $2,400 | 81% | −$15 |
| San FranciscoCA | $2,965 | $2,800 | 94% | −$420 |
| New YorkNY | $3,075 | $3,200 | 104% | −$770 |
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 $55K salary?
Of 75 major US cities we track, 5 are affordable (rent under 30% of take-home) on $55K. 51 are unaffordable (rent over 40% of take-home). The most affordable: Memphis at 27% rent burden. The least: New York at 104%.
What's take-home pay on $55K by state?
Federal effective tax at $55K is about 22%. State tax varies 0–11%. In no-tax states (TX, FL, TN, WA, NV, AK), take-home is $3,575/month. In California (~9.3% effective), it drops to $3,149/month — a $426/month difference.
Is $55K a good salary to live on in 2026?
Depends entirely on city. In Memphis or similar cheap metros, $55K is comfortable with room to save. In SF, NYC, or coastal California, $55K often means roommates or sub-urban rent. The table below ranks all 75 cities from most comfortable to most stretched at this salary.