Here's how much money a family of four now needs to earn each year to live comfortably in New York
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A family of four living in New York state now needs a staggering $276,973 per year to live comfortably, a new study has found.

SmartAsset conducted the study during a period of persistent inflation, examining the expenses related to housing and groceries in each state. They defined “comfort” as the ability to adhere to the “50/30/20 budget rule.”

“This rule suggests allocating 50% of your income to necessities, 30% to discretionary spending, and 20% to long-term goals like retirement savings or paying off debt,” the study’s authors explained.

The average household income in the Empire State currently stands at about $126,000, meaning most families subsist on about half of what is needed to by the SmartAsset definition of comfort.


Happy multiethnic family laughing on a couch.
SmartAsset conducted the study amid the rising cost of living, looking at each state’s costs for housing and groceries and defining “comfort” as being able to live by the “50/30/20 budget rule.” Rido – stock.adobe.com

While New York is certainly pricey for families, it’s the cheapest in the tri-state area, according to the study.

In neighboring New Jersey, a family of four now needs $282,713 to live comfortably.

SmartAsset says the Garden State is one of the areas where costs are rising most rapidly. Just a year ago, a family of four needed $251,181 to live comfortably there, meaning overall costs have surged a whopping 12.55% in the past year alone.

Meanwhile, Connecticut was the costliest in the tri-state area, with a family of four now needing an annual income of $290,368 to be comfortable.


Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood in Rochester, NY.
Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood in Rochester, NY. bilanol – stock.adobe.com

The priciest state for a family of four in the US is currently Massachusetts, per the study, where $313,747 is needed to live by the 50/30/20 budget rule.

Meanwhile, the state with the lowest household income needed for a family of four is Mississippi, where $186,618 is required to live in relative comfort.

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