Quick answer
On a $90K salary, 76 of 75 US cities are affordable (under 30% rent burden), and 8 are unaffordable (over 40%). Cheapest: Memphis at 17% rent. Most expensive: New York at 64%.
Affordability · 2026
What Can I Afford on $90K?
Every US city ranked by rent burden at a $90K 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
49
Comfortable
<25% rent
27
Affordable
25–29%
14
Stretched
30–39%
8
Unaffordable
40%+
Every City Ranked (best to worst)
| City | Take-home/mo | 1BR rent | Rent % | After essentials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MemphisTN | $5,850 | $980 | 17% | $4,395 |
| Oklahoma CityOK | $5,494 | $920 | 17% | $4,099 |
| WichitaKS | $5,423 | $900 | 17% | $3,983 |
| Baton RougeLA | $5,531 | $950 | 17% | $4,116 |
| MobileAL | $5,475 | $1,000 | 18% | $3,925 |
| Little RockAR | $5,520 | $1,000 | 18% | $3,990 |
| El PasoTX | $5,850 | $1,050 | 18% | $4,315 |
| IndianapolisIN | $5,621 | $1,050 | 19% | $4,091 |
| DetroitMI | $5,531 | $1,050 | 19% | $3,981 |
| ClevelandOH | $5,551 | $1,050 | 19% | $4,021 |
| OmahaNE | $5,412 | $1,050 | 19% | $3,887 |
| TucsonAZ | $5,663 | $1,080 | 19% | $4,088 |
| AlbuquerqueNM | $5,483 | $1,050 | 19% | $3,963 |
| SpokaneWA | $5,850 | $1,100 | 19% | $4,215 |
| FayettevilleAR | $5,520 | $1,050 | 19% | $4,050 |
| PensacolaFL | $5,850 | $1,100 | 19% | $4,225 |
| Kansas CityMO | $5,445 | $1,100 | 20% | $3,865 |
| San AntonioTX | $5,850 | $1,180 | 20% | $4,155 |
| St. LouisMO | $5,479 | $1,100 | 20% | $3,899 |
| LouisvilleKY | $5,513 | $1,080 | 20% | $3,958 |
| CincinnatiOH | $5,551 | $1,100 | 20% | $3,971 |
| RochesterNY | $5,363 | $1,050 | 20% | $3,783 |
| LexingtonKY | $5,550 | $1,100 | 20% | $3,920 |
| ProvoUT | $5,486 | $1,100 | 20% | $4,001 |
| Sioux FallsSD | $5,850 | $1,150 | 20% | $4,260 |
| Winston-SalemNC | $5,494 | $1,100 | 20% | $3,949 |
| ColumbusOH | $5,551 | $1,180 | 21% | $3,891 |
| ChattanoogaTN | $5,850 | $1,250 | 21% | $4,070 |
| KnoxvilleTN | $5,850 | $1,200 | 21% | $4,135 |
| TallahasseeFL | $5,850 | $1,200 | 21% | $4,095 |
| BuffaloNY | $5,363 | $1,100 | 21% | $3,728 |
| BirminghamAL | $5,475 | $1,150 | 21% | $3,775 |
| Des MoinesIA | $5,490 | $1,150 | 21% | $3,800 |
| AnchorageAK | $5,850 | $1,200 | 21% | $3,945 |
| Overland ParkKS | $5,423 | $1,150 | 21% | $3,828 |
| HoustonTX | $5,850 | $1,280 | 22% | $4,030 |
| MilwaukeeWI | $5,276 | $1,150 | 22% | $3,626 |
| Fort WorthTX | $5,850 | $1,280 | 22% | $4,050 |
| JacksonvilleFL | $5,850 | $1,280 | 22% | $4,080 |
| Grand RapidsMI | $5,531 | $1,200 | 22% | $3,801 |
| Las VegasNV | $5,850 | $1,350 | 23% | $3,975 |
| PittsburghPA | $5,620 | $1,280 | 23% | $3,850 |
| New OrleansLA | $5,531 | $1,280 | 23% | $3,716 |
| Ann ArborMI | $5,531 | $1,250 | 23% | $3,791 |
| HuntsvilleAL | $5,475 | $1,250 | 23% | $3,700 |
| GreenvilleSC | $5,370 | $1,250 | 23% | $3,635 |
| PhoenixAZ | $5,663 | $1,380 | 24% | $3,743 |
| RichmondVA | $5,419 | $1,320 | 24% | $3,609 |
| PlanoTX | $5,850 | $1,400 | 24% | $3,985 |
| DallasTX | $5,850 | $1,450 | 25% | $3,870 |
| BoiseID | $5,415 | $1,380 | 25% | $3,555 |
| RenoNV | $5,850 | $1,450 | 25% | $3,880 |
| DurhamNC | $5,494 | $1,350 | 25% | $3,689 |
| HendersonNV | $5,850 | $1,450 | 25% | $3,835 |
| NashvilleTN | $5,850 | $1,520 | 26% | $3,815 |
| CharlotteNC | $5,513 | $1,420 | 26% | $3,603 |
| Salt Lake CityUT | $5,501 | $1,450 | 26% | $3,551 |
| MadisonWI | $5,276 | $1,380 | 26% | $3,396 |
| Virginia BeachVA | $5,419 | $1,400 | 26% | $3,464 |
| FresnoCA | $5,363 | $1,400 | 26% | $3,373 |
| Colorado SpringsCO | $5,520 | $1,450 | 26% | $3,510 |
| Cape CoralFL | $5,850 | $1,550 | 26% | $3,695 |
| Santa FeNM | $5,483 | $1,400 | 26% | $3,593 |
| TempeAZ | $5,663 | $1,450 | 26% | $3,673 |
| RaleighNC | $5,513 | $1,480 | 27% | $3,538 |
| MinneapolisMN | $5,111 | $1,380 | 27% | $3,216 |
| OrlandoFL | $5,850 | $1,580 | 27% | $3,765 |
| SavannahGA | $5,446 | $1,450 | 27% | $3,436 |
| EugeneOR | $5,213 | $1,400 | 27% | $3,253 |
| ScottsdaleAZ | $5,663 | $1,550 | 27% | $3,598 |
| AustinTX | $5,850 | $1,650 | 28% | $3,645 |
| AshevilleNC | $5,513 | $1,550 | 28% | $3,423 |
| TampaFL | $5,850 | $1,680 | 29% | $3,650 |
| BaltimoreMD | $5,419 | $1,550 | 29% | $3,339 |
| St. PetersburgFL | $5,850 | $1,700 | 29% | $3,560 |
| HartfordCT | $5,438 | $1,550 | 29% | $3,313 |
| AtlantaGA | $5,438 | $1,650 | 30% | $3,263 |
| ProvidenceRI | $5,513 | $1,650 | 30% | $3,283 |
| PortlandOR | $5,108 | $1,590 | 31% | $2,998 |
| DenverCO | $5,520 | $1,740 | 32% | $3,265 |
| PhiladelphiaPA | $5,620 | $1,800 | 32% | $3,270 |
| SacramentoCA | $4,853 | $1,580 | 33% | $2,738 |
| CharlestonSC | $5,370 | $1,750 | 33% | $3,060 |
| ChicagoIL | $5,479 | $1,850 | 34% | $3,084 |
| BoulderCO | $5,520 | $1,850 | 34% | $3,145 |
| SeattleWA | $5,850 | $2,100 | 36% | $3,190 |
| MiamiFL | $5,850 | $2,200 | 38% | $3,055 |
| Fort LauderdaleFL | $5,850 | $2,250 | 38% | $2,955 |
| HonoluluHI | $5,325 | $2,100 | 39% | $2,320 |
| Jersey CityNJ | $5,372 | $2,100 | 39% | $2,672 |
| Long BeachCA | $5,153 | $2,050 | 40% | $2,538 |
| OaklandCA | $5,153 | $2,200 | 43% | $2,368 |
| San DiegoCA | $4,853 | $2,250 | 46% | $2,053 |
| Washington, DCDC | $5,213 | $2,400 | 46% | $2,223 |
| BostonMA | $5,475 | $2,600 | 47% | $2,295 |
| Los AngelesCA | $4,853 | $2,400 | 49% | $1,873 |
| San FranciscoCA | $4,853 | $2,800 | 58% | $1,468 |
| New YorkNY | $5,033 | $3,200 | 64% | $1,188 |
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 $90K salary?
Of 75 major US cities we track, 76 are affordable (rent under 30% of take-home) on $90K. 8 are unaffordable (rent over 40% of take-home). The most affordable: Memphis at 17% rent burden. The least: New York at 64%.
What's take-home pay on $90K by state?
Federal effective tax at $90K is about 22%. State tax varies 0–11%. In no-tax states (TX, FL, TN, WA, NV, AK), take-home is $5,850/month. In California (~9.3% effective), it drops to $5,153/month — a $698/month difference.
Is $90K a good salary to live on in 2026?
Depends entirely on city. In Memphis or similar cheap metros, $90K is comfortable with room to save. In SF, NYC, or coastal California, $90K often means roommates or sub-urban rent. The table below ranks all 75 cities from most comfortable to most stretched at this salary.