Supporting a larger household generally increases overall costs. But thanks to economies of scale, the cost per child decreases when having more than one child per family. Additionally, if one parent stays home to care for the children, families can potentially save a significant amount on childcare and other expenses. Despite these general trends, the minimum costs required to support a family – such as housing, food, medical care, transportation and childcare – can vary due to local job and housing markets, city infrastructure and legislation, and even social and cultural influences.
SmartAsset examined cost data from MIT Living Wage to determine the incomes needed for various family types to cover life's basic costs.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
SmartAsset reviewed the minimum cost of living for each state based on MIT Living Wage Calculator data for February 2024. States are ranked by the pre-tax income needed to support 12 different family types, ranging from single adults to two working parents raising three children.
This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.