15 U.S. Cities Where a $100,000 Salary Feels Like Much Less

Written by Erin Kuschner on updated
Aerial view of a luxurious residential neighborhood with large houses, lush green lawns, and a golf course. The area is surrounded by trees and vegetation, under a hazy sky. Roads interconnect the properties.
dszc / istockphoto

A $100,000 salary used to mean absolute security, regardless of where you lived. Now? That’s chump change in some cities.

SmartAsset recently crunched the numbers to create a list of exactly how far $100,000 will go in 69 of the largest U.S. cities. To do so, they used SmartAsset’s paycheck calculator to calculate an individual’s take-home pay after applying federal, FICA, state, and local taxes. That number was then adjusted for the cost of living in each of the 69 cities assessed.

Here are 15 U.S. cities where a salary of $100,000 doesn’t mean that much.

1. Manhattan, NY

Aerial view of a city skyline at sunset with numerous skyscrapers and a large park, featuring green spaces and winding paths. The horizon shows a river and distant urban landscape under a clear sky.
Art Wager/istockphoto
Art Wager/istockphoto

Value of $100k, 2025: $30,362

Value of $100k, 2024: $30,914

2. Honolulu, HI

Scenic view of a beach at dusk with gentle waves and people in the water. The shoreline is lined with tall buildings and palm trees, while the sky transitions from warm sunset hues to deep blue. Soft reflections of city lights shimmer on the water.
marchello74/istockphoto
marchello74/istockphoto

Value of $100k, 2025: $38,610

Value of $100k, 2024: $39,148

3. San Francisco, CA

A vibrant city street scene with a steep hill. Cars line the road, flanked by colorful, varied architecture. Trees dot the sidewalks, and multi-story buildings and houses rise in the distance under a blue sky with fluffy clouds.
tunart/istockphoto
tunart/istockphoto

Value of $100k, 2025: $42,128

Value of $100k, 2024: $40,997

4. Brooklyn, NY

Aerial view of a cityscape featuring two large suspension bridges crossing a river. Skyscrapers and dense urban buildings spread across the horizon under a colorful sunset sky. Boats create wakes in the water below.
Art Wager/istockphoto
Art Wager/istockphoto

Value of $100k, 2025: $43,461

Value of $100k, 2024: $43,376

5. Queens, NY

A subway train travels on an elevated track in an urban area. Below, a busy street is filled with cars and school buses. Skyscrapers rise in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Bim/istockphoto
Bim/istockphoto

Value of $100k, 2025: $46,708

Value of $100k, 2024: $49,978

6. Los Angeles, CA

Aerial view of a cityscape with a central pond surrounded by trees and palm trees. In the background, a skyline of tall buildings under a clear sky. Residential areas and roads with light traffic are visible in the foreground.
simonkr/istockphoto
simonkr/istockphoto

Value of $100k, 2025: $47,983

Value of $100k, 2024: $47,762

7. San Diego, CA

Aerial view of a city skyline with numerous skyscrapers under a partly cloudy sky. In the foreground, a large body of water with a docked military ship and marina can be seen.
Art Wager / istockphoto
Art Wager / istockphoto

Value of $100k, 2025: $49,337

Value of $100k, 2024: $50,082

8. Boston, MA

City skyline at sunset with buildings reflecting on a calm river. The scene includes a prominent glass skyscraper and a dome-shaped structure, set against a clear sky with a horizon of trees and distant buildings.
Sanghwan Kim / istockphoto
Sanghwan Kim / istockphoto

Value of $100k, 2025: $50,602

Value of $100k, 2024: $50,109

9. Washington, DC

A row of colorful townhouses with green, yellow, red, and blue facades. Each house has multiple windows and distinct front doors, with small gardens and trees in front. The scene is bright and lively.
benedek / istockphoto
benedek / istockphoto

Value of $100k, 2025: $51,339

Value of $100k, 2024: $48,734

10. Oakland, CA

Aerial view of a cityscape with a large lake in the center, surrounded by buildings and trees. The skyline features tall skyscrapers under a clear sky with scattered clouds, as roads and structures line the waterfront.
JasonDoiy/istockphoto
JasonDoiy/istockphoto

Value of $100k, 2025: $52,060

Value of $100k, 2024: $51,237

11. Seattle, WA

View of Seattle from the Queen Anne neighborhood
via Shutterstock
via Shutterstock

Value of $100k, 2025: $54,107

Value of $100k, 2024: $54,004

12. Arlington, VA

Skyline of a city with modern skyscrapers and a bridge, reflected in a calm river. Trees with autumn foliage line the water's edge under a blue sky with wispy clouds.
SeanPavonePhoto/istockphoto
SeanPavonePhoto/istockphoto

Value of $100k, 2025: $54,426

Value of $100k, 2024: $53,443

13. Portland, OR

Aerial view of a cityscape at dusk with a river in the foreground. Buildings are illuminated, reflecting on the water. A bridge with lights crosses the river, and hills are visible in the background under a cloudy sky.
Jacob Boomsma/istockphoto
Jacob Boomsma/istockphoto

Value of $100k, 2025: $60,427

Value of $100k, 2024: $58,205

14. Anchorage, AK

Aerial view of a cityscape at sunset with a downtown area featuring tall buildings. Residential areas with colorful houses are in the foreground. Snow-capped mountains and a partly cloudy sky are in the background.
Jacob Boomsma/istockphoto
Jacob Boomsma/istockphoto

Value of $100k, 2025: $63,772

Value of $100k, 2024: $62,968

15. Chicago, IL

A vibrant cityscape featuring a river with a yellow water taxi, surrounded by towering skyscrapers and a bridge. The buildings reflect sunlight, and the sky is partly cloudy, adding to the urban atmosphere.
Jeremy Poland/istockphoto
Jeremy Poland/istockphoto

Value of $100k, 2025: $64,029

Value of $100k, 2024: $64,603

Author
Erin Kuschner

Erin Kuschner has spent the past decade as a writer and editor for both digital and print publications. Prior to joining Wealth Gang, she was a reporter and editor at Boston.com, Time Out Austin, and Time Out Los Angeles, and has written for the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, Eater, and other publications.