Living comfortably costs the most in these Californian cities
In California’s spendy cities, living comfortably costs more than almost anywhere else.
From the Bay Area to Orange County, living well requires incomes north of $150,000 in the pricier places, according to a recent study. A family with two kids needs more than $400,000 per year in some spots.
The study, conducted by financial technology company SmartAsset, analyzed 100 of the largest cities in the country.
San José ranked as the second-most expensive city, where a single adult must make nearly $160,000 and a family of four needs over $400,000 to live comfortably, the study found. Orange County cities — Irvine, Anaheim and Santa Ana — followed closely behind.
New York City topped the list, with a salary for comfortable living at about $900 higher than in San José. Los Angeles ranked 16th on the list, where a single adult must make $120,307 to live comfortably. A family of four should bring in just over $280,000 annually.
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-03-28/california-cities-have-highest-price-tags-comfortable-living