How Far a Typical Middle-Class Salary Goes in America’s Largest Cities

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Additionally, the share of total U.S. household income held by the middle class has significantly decreased.

Heres a closer look athow far the typical middle-class salary goes in Americas largest cities.

Average monthly expenditures are also on the higher end at $2,476.

Once other living costs are factored in, the median middle-class homeowner would fall $30,864 short each year.

Another California city rounds out thetop least affordable citiesfor middle-class Americans.

Heres a closer look at the cities where a middle-class salary goes the furthest.

Monthly expenditures average $2,299.

That puts the total annual cost for a homeowner at $33,747.

The median middle-class salary is enough to cover this with $41,402 left over.

The total annual cost of living in Wichita including mortgage payments is $37,563.

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The median middle-class salary in Wichita can cover this with $37,586 left over.

Rounding out the major cities where a middle-class salary goes the furthest is Baltimore.

Using this data, the percentage of the population ages 65 and over was calculated.

Next, cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces.

These include grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous cost of living indexes.

Next, the average single-family home value was sourced from the Zillow Home Value Index for September 2024.

The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes for each location and included as supplemental information.

All data was collected on and is up to date as of Nov. 5, 2024.