Living in Georgia Now Needs Over $100K a Year

SmartAsset's 2026 study looked at what income is needed to live comfortably in each state. It placed Georgia at number twenty‑one out of fifty. That means roughly half the states need less money and half need more.

For a single adult with no kids, the study says you need about $100,714 per year. For a family of four with two working parents and two children, the figure jumps to $214,573. Compared to 2025, the single‑adult amount rose by about one point one percent.

Other states show a big spread. Hawaii tops the list at $129,002 for a single adult. Massachusetts follows at $127,213 and California at $126,797. New York and New Jersey come in at $124,342 and $113,776. At the bottom, West Virginia requires only $81,245. Louisiana, Kentucky and Arkansas are also low, in the mid‑80s range.

The researchers started with the MIT Living Wage Calculator, last updated in February 2026. They then applied the common 50/30/20 budget rule: half of income for needs, thirty percent for wants, twenty percent for savings or debt. The living‑wage number was treated as the needs portion, so they doubled it to get the "comfortable" income. The authors note this is an estimate based on that specific budgeting method, not a universal truth.