Quick answer
On a $80K salary, 61 of 75 US cities are affordable (under 30% rent burden), and 13 are unaffordable (over 40%). Cheapest: Memphis at 19% rent. Most expensive: New York at 72%.
Affordability · 2026
What Can I Afford on $80K?
Every US city ranked by rent burden at a $80K 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
36
Comfortable
<25% rent
25
Affordable
25–29%
24
Stretched
30–39%
13
Unaffordable
40%+
Every City Ranked (best to worst)
| City | Take-home/mo | 1BR rent | Rent % | After essentials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MemphisTN | $5,200 | $980 | 19% | $3,745 |
| Oklahoma CityOK | $4,883 | $920 | 19% | $3,488 |
| WichitaKS | $4,820 | $900 | 19% | $3,380 |
| Baton RougeLA | $4,917 | $950 | 19% | $3,502 |
| Little RockAR | $4,907 | $1,000 | 20% | $3,377 |
| El PasoTX | $5,200 | $1,050 | 20% | $3,665 |
| IndianapolisIN | $4,997 | $1,050 | 21% | $3,467 |
| DetroitMI | $4,917 | $1,050 | 21% | $3,367 |
| ClevelandOH | $4,934 | $1,050 | 21% | $3,404 |
| TucsonAZ | $5,033 | $1,080 | 21% | $3,458 |
| MobileAL | $4,867 | $1,000 | 21% | $3,317 |
| SpokaneWA | $5,200 | $1,100 | 21% | $3,565 |
| FayettevilleAR | $4,907 | $1,050 | 21% | $3,437 |
| PensacolaFL | $5,200 | $1,100 | 21% | $3,575 |
| LouisvilleKY | $4,900 | $1,080 | 22% | $3,345 |
| OmahaNE | $4,811 | $1,050 | 22% | $3,286 |
| CincinnatiOH | $4,934 | $1,100 | 22% | $3,354 |
| AlbuquerqueNM | $4,873 | $1,050 | 22% | $3,353 |
| RochesterNY | $4,767 | $1,050 | 22% | $3,187 |
| LexingtonKY | $4,933 | $1,100 | 22% | $3,303 |
| Sioux FallsSD | $5,200 | $1,150 | 22% | $3,610 |
| Kansas CityMO | $4,840 | $1,100 | 23% | $3,260 |
| San AntonioTX | $5,200 | $1,180 | 23% | $3,505 |
| St. LouisMO | $4,870 | $1,100 | 23% | $3,290 |
| KnoxvilleTN | $5,200 | $1,200 | 23% | $3,485 |
| TallahasseeFL | $5,200 | $1,200 | 23% | $3,445 |
| BuffaloNY | $4,767 | $1,100 | 23% | $3,132 |
| AnchorageAK | $5,200 | $1,200 | 23% | $3,295 |
| ProvoUT | $4,877 | $1,100 | 23% | $3,392 |
| Winston-SalemNC | $4,883 | $1,100 | 23% | $3,338 |
| ColumbusOH | $4,934 | $1,180 | 24% | $3,274 |
| ChattanoogaTN | $5,200 | $1,250 | 24% | $3,420 |
| BirminghamAL | $4,867 | $1,150 | 24% | $3,167 |
| Des MoinesIA | $4,880 | $1,150 | 24% | $3,190 |
| Grand RapidsMI | $4,917 | $1,200 | 24% | $3,187 |
| Overland ParkKS | $4,820 | $1,150 | 24% | $3,225 |
| HoustonTX | $5,200 | $1,280 | 25% | $3,380 |
| MilwaukeeWI | $4,690 | $1,150 | 25% | $3,040 |
| Fort WorthTX | $5,200 | $1,280 | 25% | $3,400 |
| JacksonvilleFL | $5,200 | $1,280 | 25% | $3,430 |
| Ann ArborMI | $4,917 | $1,250 | 25% | $3,177 |
| Las VegasNV | $5,200 | $1,350 | 26% | $3,325 |
| PittsburghPA | $4,995 | $1,280 | 26% | $3,225 |
| New OrleansLA | $4,917 | $1,280 | 26% | $3,102 |
| HuntsvilleAL | $4,867 | $1,250 | 26% | $3,092 |
| GreenvilleSC | $4,773 | $1,250 | 26% | $3,038 |
| PhoenixAZ | $5,033 | $1,380 | 27% | $3,113 |
| RichmondVA | $4,817 | $1,320 | 27% | $3,007 |
| PlanoTX | $5,200 | $1,400 | 27% | $3,335 |
| DallasTX | $5,200 | $1,450 | 28% | $3,220 |
| RenoNV | $5,200 | $1,450 | 28% | $3,230 |
| DurhamNC | $4,883 | $1,350 | 28% | $3,078 |
| HendersonNV | $5,200 | $1,450 | 28% | $3,185 |
| NashvilleTN | $5,200 | $1,520 | 29% | $3,165 |
| CharlotteNC | $4,900 | $1,420 | 29% | $2,990 |
| BoiseID | $4,813 | $1,380 | 29% | $2,953 |
| MadisonWI | $4,690 | $1,380 | 29% | $2,810 |
| Virginia BeachVA | $4,817 | $1,400 | 29% | $2,862 |
| FresnoCA | $4,767 | $1,400 | 29% | $2,777 |
| Santa FeNM | $4,873 | $1,400 | 29% | $2,983 |
| TempeAZ | $5,033 | $1,450 | 29% | $3,043 |
| RaleighNC | $4,900 | $1,480 | 30% | $2,925 |
| MinneapolisMN | $4,543 | $1,380 | 30% | $2,648 |
| OrlandoFL | $5,200 | $1,580 | 30% | $3,115 |
| Salt Lake CityUT | $4,890 | $1,450 | 30% | $2,940 |
| SavannahGA | $4,841 | $1,450 | 30% | $2,831 |
| Colorado SpringsCO | $4,907 | $1,450 | 30% | $2,897 |
| EugeneOR | $4,633 | $1,400 | 30% | $2,673 |
| Cape CoralFL | $5,200 | $1,550 | 30% | $3,045 |
| ScottsdaleAZ | $5,033 | $1,550 | 31% | $2,968 |
| AustinTX | $5,200 | $1,650 | 32% | $2,995 |
| TampaFL | $5,200 | $1,680 | 32% | $3,000 |
| BaltimoreMD | $4,817 | $1,550 | 32% | $2,737 |
| AshevilleNC | $4,900 | $1,550 | 32% | $2,810 |
| HartfordCT | $4,833 | $1,550 | 32% | $2,708 |
| St. PetersburgFL | $5,200 | $1,700 | 33% | $2,910 |
| AtlantaGA | $4,834 | $1,650 | 34% | $2,659 |
| ProvidenceRI | $4,900 | $1,650 | 34% | $2,670 |
| DenverCO | $4,907 | $1,740 | 35% | $2,652 |
| PortlandOR | $4,540 | $1,590 | 35% | $2,430 |
| PhiladelphiaPA | $4,995 | $1,800 | 36% | $2,645 |
| SacramentoCA | $4,313 | $1,580 | 37% | $2,198 |
| CharlestonSC | $4,773 | $1,750 | 37% | $2,463 |
| ChicagoIL | $4,870 | $1,850 | 38% | $2,475 |
| BoulderCO | $4,907 | $1,850 | 38% | $2,532 |
| SeattleWA | $5,200 | $2,100 | 40% | $2,540 |
| MiamiFL | $5,200 | $2,200 | 42% | $2,405 |
| Fort LauderdaleFL | $5,200 | $2,250 | 43% | $2,305 |
| HonoluluHI | $4,733 | $2,100 | 44% | $1,728 |
| Jersey CityNJ | $4,775 | $2,100 | 44% | $2,075 |
| Long BeachCA | $4,580 | $2,050 | 45% | $1,965 |
| OaklandCA | $4,580 | $2,200 | 48% | $1,795 |
| San DiegoCA | $4,313 | $2,250 | 52% | $1,513 |
| Washington, DCDC | $4,633 | $2,400 | 52% | $1,643 |
| BostonMA | $4,867 | $2,600 | 53% | $1,687 |
| Los AngelesCA | $4,313 | $2,400 | 56% | $1,333 |
| San FranciscoCA | $4,313 | $2,800 | 65% | $928 |
| New YorkNY | $4,473 | $3,200 | 72% | $628 |
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 $80K salary?
Of 75 major US cities we track, 61 are affordable (rent under 30% of take-home) on $80K. 13 are unaffordable (rent over 40% of take-home). The most affordable: Memphis at 19% rent burden. The least: New York at 72%.
What's take-home pay on $80K by state?
Federal effective tax at $80K is about 22%. State tax varies 0–11%. In no-tax states (TX, FL, TN, WA, NV, AK), take-home is $5,200/month. In California (~9.3% effective), it drops to $4,580/month — a $620/month difference.
Is $80K a good salary to live on in 2026?
Depends entirely on city. In Memphis or similar cheap metros, $80K is comfortable with room to save. In SF, NYC, or coastal California, $80K often means roommates or sub-urban rent. The table below ranks all 75 cities from most comfortable to most stretched at this salary.