*The cost of living is notoriously high in the US — but it can vary widely by state.

*GoBankingRates determined the "living wage" necessary to live comfortably in each US state late last year.

*Some states, like New York, require $95,724 to live comfortably, but in other states, it can be as low as $58,321.

Living paycheck to paycheck is an unfortunately common hallmark of American life. And that's more evident than ever now, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Many are reconsidering their living situations as the US faces a recession: Earlier last year, over 51 million people filed for unemployment in just a 17-week period. For context, the Great Recession eliminated 37 million jobs over 18 months.

Having it all — the ability to cover basic expenses, while still having "fun money" and contributing to savings — currently seems like an impossible feat.

That total amount, also known as the minimum annual "living wage," varies significantly depending on what state you're in.

In December, GoBankingRates determined the necessary living wage in each state using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the 50/30/20 budgeting rule. This popular general budgeting rule allocates 50% of annual income to necessities like housing, 30% to discretionary expenses like travel, and the remaining 20% to savings.

The median necessary living wage across the entire US is $67,690. The state with the lowest annual living wage is Mississippi, with $58,321. The state with the highest living wage is Hawaii, with $136,437. Other expensive states (unsurprisingly) included New York and California, which have notoriously high costs of living and expensive housing markets.

Keep reading to see the annual wage necessary for living comfortably in every US state, listed in alphabetical order by state name. Also included is the actual median household income in each state, according to 2019 data from the US Census Bureau and the median price of homes listed for sale in each state from Zillow.

1). The living wage in Alabama is $60,016.

Median household income in 2019: $51,734

Median price of homes currently listed: $220,000

2). The living wage in Alaska is $91,996.

Median household income in 2019: $75,463

Median price of homes currently listed: $296,646

3). The living wage in Arizona is $68,504.

Median household income in 2019: $62,055

Median price of homes currently listed: $303,230

4). The living wage in Arkansas is $59,641.

Median household income in 2019: $48,952

Median price of homes currently listed: $140,986

5). The living wage in California is $99,971.

Median household income in 2019: $80,440

Median price of homes currently listed: $609,757

6). The living wage in Colorado is $74,215.

Median household income in 2019: $77,127

Median price of homes currently listed: $431,100

7). The living wage in Connecticut is $90,278.

Median household income in 2019: $78,833

Median price of homes currently listed: $281,924

8). The living wage in Delaware is $71,254.

Median household income in 2019: $70,176

Median price of homes currently listed: $277,979

9). The living wage in Florida is $67,614.

Median household income in 2019: $59,227

Median price of homes currently listed: $264,149

10). The living wage in Georgia is $62,074.

Median household income in 2019: $61,980

Median price of homes currently listed: $218,609

11). The living wage in Hawaii is $136,437.

Median household income in 2019: $83,102

Median price of homes currently listed: $667,005

12). The living wage in Idaho is $66,486.

Median household income in 2019: $60,999

Median price of homes currently listed: $331,126

13). The living wage in Illinois is $66,847.

Median household income in 2019: $69,187

Median price of homes currently listed: $217,105

14). The living wage in Indiana is $62,086.

Median household income in 2019: $57,603

Median price of homes currently listed: $169,156

15). The living wage in Iowa is $63,397.

Median household income in 2019: $61,691

Median price of homes currently listed: $157,308

16). The living wage in Kansas is $62,090.

Median household income in 2019: $62,087

Median price of homes currently listed: $164,336

17). The living wage in Kentucky is $63,086.

Median household income in 2019: $52,295

Median price of homes currently listed: $156,926

18). The living wage in Louisiana is $63,842.

Median household income in 2019: $51,073

Median price of homes currently listed: $177,548

19). The living wage in Maine is $80,336.

Median household income in 2019: $58,924

Median price of homes currently listed: $269,753

20). The living wage in Maryland is $92,227.

Median household income in 2019: $86,738

Median price of homes currently listed: $335,260

21). The living wage in Massachusetts is $93,895.

Median household income in 2019: $85,843

Median price of homes currently listed: $464,279

22). The living wage in Michigan is $67,712.

Median household income in 2019: $59,584

Median price of homes currently listed: $187,747

23). The living wage in Minnesota is $68,944.

Median household income in 2019: $74,593

Median price of homes currently listed: $277,276

24). The living wage in Mississippi is $58,321.

Median household income in 2019: $45,792

Median price of homes currently listed: $131,973

25). The living wage in Missouri is $60,858.

Median household income in 2019: $57,409

Median price of homes currently listed: $176,609

26). The living wage in Montana is $70,719.

Median household income in 2019: $57,153

Median price of homes currently listed: $313,261

27). The living wage in Nebraska is $65,162.

Median household income in 2018: $63,229

Median price of homes currently listed: $189,139

28). The living wage in Nevada is $75,902.

Median household income in 2019: $63,276

Median price of homes currently listed: $327,714

29). The living wage in New Hampshire is $74,415.

Median household income in 2019: $77,933

Median price of homes currently listed: $321,496

30). The living wage in New Jersey is $86,244.

Median household income in 2019: $85,751

Median price of homes currently listed: $367,103

31). The living wage in New Mexico is $63,629.

Median household income in 2019: $51,945

Median price of homes currently listed: $224,374

32). The living wage in New York is $95,724.

Median household income in 2019: $72,108

Median price of homes currently listed: $343,164

33). The living wage in North Carolina is $64,406.

Median household income in 2018: $57,341

Median price of homes currently listed: $220,710

34). The living wage in North Dakota is $69,085.

Median household income in 2019: $64,577

Median price of homes currently listed: $236,012

35). The living wage in Ohio is $63,204.

Median household income in 2018: $58,642

Median price of homes currently listed: $164,968

36). The living wage in Oklahoma is $60,318.

Median household income in 2019: $54,449

Median price of homes currently listed: $139,409

37). The living wage in Oregon is $93,285.

Median household income in 2019: $67,058

Median price of homes currently listed: $393,710

38). The living wage in Pennsylvania is $68,581.

Median household income in 2018: $63,463

Median price of homes currently listed: $211,287

39). The living wage in Rhode Island is $83,942.

Median household income in 2019: $71,169

Median price of homes currently listed:$331,458

40). The living wage in South Carolina is $65,953.

Median household income in 2019: $56,227

Median price of homes currently listed: $203,328

41). The living wage in South Dakota is $67,657.

Median household income in 2019: $59,533

Median price of homes currently listed: $222,435

42). The living wage in Tennessee is $60,682.

Median household income in 2019: $56,071

Median price of homes currently listed: $203,134

43). The living wage in Texas is $63,469.

Median household income in 2019: $64,034

Median price of homes currently listed: $220,034

44). The living wage in Utah is $67,807.

Median household income in 2019: $75,780

Median price of homes currently listed: $386,723

45). The living wage in Vermont is $83,878.

Median household income in 2019: $63,001

Median price of homes currently listed: $273,024

46). The living wage in Virginia is $69,886.

Median household income in 2019: $76,456

Median price of homes currently listed: $302,369

47). The living wage in Washington is $77,207.

Median household income in 2019: $78,687

Median price of homes currently listed: $458,313

48). The living wage in West Virginia is $62,635.

Median household income in 2019: $48,850

Median price of homes currently listed: $110,544

49). The living wage in Wisconsin is $67,667.

Median household income in 2019: $64,168

Median price of homes currently listed: $207,018

The living wage in Wyoming is $61,788.

50). Median household income in 2019: $65,003

Median price of homes currently listed: $258,280

Source: Taylor Borden and Dominic-Madori Davis/Businessinsider.com

Date Posted: Wednesday, March 10th, 2021 , Total Page Views: 1186