Here’s the Living Wage a Family of Four Must Have in Every State

The cost of living continues to rise at a slightly elevated rate. Inflation is a tick under 3%, just as it was in 2024. Trips to the grocery store still take a sizeable bite out of wallets, and tariff-related price hikes continue to affect consumers — inflation is up 0.6% since April.

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To determine the required living wage for a family of four in every state, GOBankingRates analyzed data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey,
Missouri Economic and Research Information Center and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. GOBankingRates defines the living wage as the bare minimum needed to get by, which means the cost of groceries, healthcare, transportation, utilities and housing.

The results of the study indicated that nearly three-quarters of America requires a living wage of at least $50,000 to sustain a family of four with the current cost of living. Only 13 states require under $50,000.

Key Findings

• Hawaii requires the highest living wage for a family of four. The Aloha State frequently tops any list of America’s most expensive states, and it comes as no surprise that it does so here as well. The living wage necessary for a family of four in Hawaii? A staggering $112,313.

• West Virginia necessitates the lowest wage for a family of four. The Mountain State requires just $54,247 for the basics — less than half of what’s needed in Hawaii.

• Hawaii may require the highest living wage, but it doesn’t pay it. The median household income there falls short of that amount, at $100,149. The state with the highest median household income in America is Massachusetts, with $104,828.

See how much a household with a family of four needs to make in every state.

Also see the safest, most affordable cities for a family of four.

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Alabama

• Living wage for a family of four: $46,065

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,839

• Median household income: $66,659

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Alaska

• Living wage for a family of four: $68,335

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,695

• Median household income: $95,665

Arizona

• Living wage for a family of four: $61,643

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,137

• Median household income: $81,486

Arkansas

• Living wage for a family of four: $44,141

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,678

• Median household income: $61,106

California

• Living wage for a family of four: $92,163

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $7,680

• Median household income: $100,149

Colorado

• Living wage for a family of four: $69,536

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,795

• Median household income: $97,113

Also See: How Much You Need To Earn To Be Upper Middle Class in Every State

Connecticut

• Living wage for a family of four: $66,731

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,561

• Median household income: $96,049

Delaware

• Living wage for a family of four: $59,517

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,960

• Median household income: $87,534

Florida

• Living wage for a family of four: $58,906

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,909

• Median household income: $77,735

Georgia

• Living wage for a family of four: $54,134

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,511

• Median household income: $79,991

Hawaii

• Living wage for a family of four: $112,313

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $9,359

• Median household income: $100,745

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Idaho

• Living wage for a family of four: $63,232

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,269

• Median household income: $81,166

Illinois

• Living wage for a family of four: $51,589

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,299

• Median household income: $83,211

Indiana

• Living wage for a family of four: $48,320

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,027

• Median household income: $71,959

Iowa

• Living wage for a family of four: $46,281

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,857

• Median household income: $75,501

Kansas

• Living wage for a family of four: $47,447

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,954

• Median household income: $75,514

Read More: Check Out the Median Salary of Americans Your Age in Every State

Kentucky

• Living wage for a family of four: $45,574

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,798

• Median household income: $64,526

Louisiana

• Living wage for a family of four: $44,532

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,711

• Median household income: $60,986

Maine

• Living wage for a family of four: $62,740

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,228

• Median household income: $76,442

Maryland

• Living wage for a family of four: $64,201

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,350

• Median household income: $102,905

Massachusetts

• Living wage for a family of four: $84,325

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $7,027

• Median household income: $104,828

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Michigan

• Living wage for a family of four: $48,392

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,033

• Median household income: $72,389

Minnesota

• Living wage for a family of four: $55,584

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,632

• Median household income: $87,117

Mississippi

• Living wage for a family of four: $42,636

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,553

• Median household income: $59,127

Missouri

• Living wage for a family of four: $47,458

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,955

• Median household income: $71,589

Montana

• Living wage for a family of four: $62,813

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,234

• Median household income: $75,340

See More: Here’s the Cost of Living in Every State

Nebraska

• Living wage for a family of four: $49,324

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,110

• Median household income: $76,375

Nevada

• Living wage for a family of four: $63,369

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,281

• Median household income: $81,134

New Hampshire

• Living wage for a family of four: $69,305

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,775

• Median household income: $99,782

New Jersey

• Living wage for a family of four: $72,546

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $6,046

• Median household income: $104,294

New Mexico

• Living wage for a family of four: $52,213

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,351

• Median household income: $67,816

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New York

• Living wage for a family of four: $66,845

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,570

• Median household income: $85,820

North Carolina

• Living wage for a family of four: $54,417

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,535

• Median household income: $73,958

North Dakota

• Living wage for a family of four: $50,842

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,237

• Median household income: $77,871

Ohio

• Living wage for a family of four: $48,405

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,034

• Median household income: $72,212

Oklahoma

• Living wage for a family of four: $44,574

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,714

• Median household income: $66,148

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Oregon

• Living wage for a family of four: $69,418

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,785

• Median household income: $85,220

Pennsylvania

• Living wage for a family of four: $51,537

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,295

• Median household income: $77,545

Rhode Island

• Living wage for a family of four: $67,877

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,656

• Median household income: $83,504

South Carolina

• Living wage for a family of four: $51,608

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,301

• Median household income: $72,350

South Dakota

• Living wage for a family of four: $53,564

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,464

• Median household income: $76,881

For You: The Living Wage a Single Person Needs in All 50 States in 2025

Tennessee

• Living wage for a family of four: $51,420

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,285

• Median household income: $71,997

Texas

• Living wage for a family of four: $51,569

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,297

• Median household income: $79,721

Utah

• Living wage for a family of four: $66,789

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,566

• Median household income: $96,658

Vermont

• Living wage for a family of four: $62,038

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $5,170

• Median household income: $82,730

Virginia

• Living wage for a family of four: $59,818

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,985

• Median household income: $92,090

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Washington

• Living wage for a family of four: $76,879

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $6,407

• Median household income: $99,389

West Virginia

• Living wage for a family of four: $42,211

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $3,518

• Median household income: $60,798

Wisconsin

• Living wage for a family of four: $54,247

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,521

• Median household income: $77,488

Wyoming

• Living wage for a family of four: $55,520

• Monthly cost of necessities (including mortgage): $4,627

• Median household income: $75,532

Methodology: Median household income was sourced from the U.S. Census 2023 American Community Survey. The cost of necessities was calculated using data from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center (grocery, healthcare, transportation and utilities) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey (cost for a married couple with children). The average home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index from August 2025, and the mortgage was included using Federal Reserve Economic Data. GOBankingRates defines the living wage as the bare minimum needed to get by, including only groceries, healthcare, transportation, utilities and housing. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Sept. 29, 2025.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here’s the Living Wage a Family of Four Must Have in Every State