Quick answer
On a $150K salary, 72 of 75 US cities are affordable (under 30% rent burden), and 0 are unaffordable (over 40%). Cheapest: Memphis at 10% rent. Most expensive: New York at 38%.
Affordability · 2026
What Can I Afford on $150K?
Every US city ranked by rent burden at a $150K 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
69
Comfortable
<25% rent
3
Affordable
25–29%
3
Stretched
30–39%
0
Unaffordable
40%+
Every City Ranked (best to worst)
| City | Take-home/mo | 1BR rent | Rent % | After essentials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MemphisTN | $9,750 | $980 | 10% | $8,295 |
| Oklahoma CityOK | $9,156 | $920 | 10% | $7,761 |
| WichitaKS | $9,038 | $900 | 10% | $7,598 |
| IndianapolisIN | $9,369 | $1,050 | 11% | $7,839 |
| DetroitMI | $9,219 | $1,050 | 11% | $7,669 |
| ClevelandOH | $9,251 | $1,050 | 11% | $7,721 |
| TucsonAZ | $9,438 | $1,080 | 11% | $7,863 |
| AlbuquerqueNM | $9,138 | $1,050 | 11% | $7,618 |
| MobileAL | $9,125 | $1,000 | 11% | $7,575 |
| Little RockAR | $9,200 | $1,000 | 11% | $7,670 |
| SpokaneWA | $9,750 | $1,100 | 11% | $8,115 |
| Kansas CityMO | $9,075 | $1,100 | 12% | $7,495 |
| San AntonioTX | $9,750 | $1,180 | 12% | $8,055 |
| St. LouisMO | $9,131 | $1,100 | 12% | $7,551 |
| LouisvilleKY | $9,188 | $1,080 | 12% | $7,633 |
| OmahaNE | $9,020 | $1,050 | 12% | $7,495 |
| CincinnatiOH | $9,251 | $1,100 | 12% | $7,671 |
| KnoxvilleTN | $9,750 | $1,200 | 12% | $8,035 |
| TallahasseeFL | $9,750 | $1,200 | 12% | $7,995 |
| BuffaloNY | $8,938 | $1,100 | 12% | $7,303 |
| RochesterNY | $8,938 | $1,050 | 12% | $7,358 |
| LexingtonKY | $9,250 | $1,100 | 12% | $7,620 |
| AnchorageAK | $9,750 | $1,200 | 12% | $7,845 |
| HoustonTX | $9,750 | $1,280 | 13% | $7,930 |
| ColumbusOH | $9,251 | $1,180 | 13% | $7,591 |
| MilwaukeeWI | $8,794 | $1,150 | 13% | $7,144 |
| Fort WorthTX | $9,750 | $1,280 | 13% | $7,950 |
| JacksonvilleFL | $9,750 | $1,280 | 13% | $7,980 |
| ChattanoogaTN | $9,750 | $1,250 | 13% | $7,970 |
| BirminghamAL | $9,125 | $1,150 | 13% | $7,425 |
| Des MoinesIA | $9,150 | $1,150 | 13% | $7,460 |
| Las VegasNV | $9,750 | $1,350 | 14% | $7,875 |
| PittsburghPA | $9,366 | $1,280 | 14% | $7,596 |
| New OrleansLA | $9,219 | $1,280 | 14% | $7,404 |
| PhoenixAZ | $9,438 | $1,380 | 15% | $7,518 |
| CharlotteNC | $9,188 | $1,420 | 15% | $7,278 |
| DallasTX | $9,750 | $1,450 | 15% | $7,770 |
| RichmondVA | $9,031 | $1,320 | 15% | $7,221 |
| BoiseID | $9,025 | $1,380 | 15% | $7,165 |
| RenoNV | $9,750 | $1,450 | 15% | $7,780 |
| NashvilleTN | $9,750 | $1,520 | 16% | $7,715 |
| RaleighNC | $9,188 | $1,480 | 16% | $7,213 |
| MinneapolisMN | $8,519 | $1,380 | 16% | $6,624 |
| OrlandoFL | $9,750 | $1,580 | 16% | $7,665 |
| Salt Lake CityUT | $9,169 | $1,450 | 16% | $7,219 |
| MadisonWI | $8,794 | $1,380 | 16% | $6,914 |
| Virginia BeachVA | $9,031 | $1,400 | 16% | $7,076 |
| SavannahGA | $9,076 | $1,450 | 16% | $7,066 |
| FresnoCA | $8,938 | $1,400 | 16% | $6,948 |
| Colorado SpringsCO | $9,200 | $1,450 | 16% | $7,190 |
| EugeneOR | $8,688 | $1,400 | 16% | $6,728 |
| AustinTX | $9,750 | $1,650 | 17% | $7,545 |
| TampaFL | $9,750 | $1,680 | 17% | $7,550 |
| BaltimoreMD | $9,031 | $1,550 | 17% | $6,951 |
| AshevilleNC | $9,188 | $1,550 | 17% | $7,098 |
| St. PetersburgFL | $9,750 | $1,700 | 17% | $7,460 |
| HartfordCT | $9,063 | $1,550 | 17% | $6,938 |
| AtlantaGA | $9,064 | $1,650 | 18% | $6,889 |
| ProvidenceRI | $9,188 | $1,650 | 18% | $6,958 |
| DenverCO | $9,200 | $1,740 | 19% | $6,945 |
| PortlandOR | $8,513 | $1,590 | 19% | $6,403 |
| PhiladelphiaPA | $9,366 | $1,800 | 19% | $7,016 |
| ChicagoIL | $9,131 | $1,850 | 20% | $6,736 |
| SacramentoCA | $8,088 | $1,580 | 20% | $5,973 |
| CharlestonSC | $8,950 | $1,750 | 20% | $6,640 |
| SeattleWA | $9,750 | $2,100 | 22% | $7,090 |
| MiamiFL | $9,750 | $2,200 | 23% | $6,955 |
| Fort LauderdaleFL | $9,750 | $2,250 | 23% | $6,855 |
| HonoluluHI | $8,875 | $2,100 | 24% | $5,870 |
| BostonMA | $9,125 | $2,600 | 28% | $5,945 |
| San DiegoCA | $8,088 | $2,250 | 28% | $5,288 |
| Washington, DCDC | $8,688 | $2,400 | 28% | $5,698 |
| Los AngelesCA | $8,088 | $2,400 | 30% | $5,108 |
| San FranciscoCA | $8,088 | $2,800 | 35% | $4,703 |
| New YorkNY | $8,388 | $3,200 | 38% | $4,543 |
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 $150K salary?
Of 75 major US cities we track, 72 are affordable (rent under 30% of take-home) on $150K. 0 are unaffordable (rent over 40% of take-home). The most affordable: Memphis at 10% rent burden. The least: New York at 38%.
What's take-home pay on $150K by state?
Federal effective tax at $150K is about 22%. State tax varies 0–11%. In no-tax states (TX, FL, TN, WA, NV, AK), take-home is $9,750/month. In California (~9.3% effective), it drops to $8,588/month — a $1,163/month difference.
Is $150K a good salary to live on in 2026?
Depends entirely on city. In Memphis or similar cheap metros, $150K is comfortable with room to save. In SF, NYC, or coastal California, $150K often means roommates or sub-urban rent. The table below ranks all 75 cities from most comfortable to most stretched at this salary.