9 places in the US where you can earn 6 figures and still feel broke

pulse

June 27, 2017 5:51 PM

Magnify Money analyzed 381 major metros across the US to see where a family earning $100,000 would have the most and least room left in their budgets.

Six figures doesn't always stretch. San Francisco, pictured, is well-known for its high cost of living.

A six-figure salary sounds high.

But how far that money really goes depends on where you live.

Magnify Money analyzed 381 major metros across the US to see where a family earning $100,000 would have the most and least room left in their budgets to pay their expenses.

That's $8,333 a month before taxes for a household of three — two adults, one child — to pay for food, housing, transportation, child care, student loan payments, entertainment, and personal savings. (See the full methodology.)

According to Magnify Money's analysis, here are the most expensive metro areas to live in the US, where a six-figure salary barely makes the cut:

9. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Massachusetts

Monthly post-tax income: $6,204

Estimated monthly expenses: $5,876 (95% of monthly post-tax income)

Remaining income: $328

8. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii

Monthly post-tax income: $6,098

monthly expenses: $5,796

Remaining income: $302

7. Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, Hawaii

Monthly post-tax income: $6,098

monthly expenses: $5,806

Remaining income: $292

6. California-Lexington Park, Maryland

Monthly post-tax income: $6,014

monthly expenses: $5,727

Remaining income: $287

5. New York-Newark-Jersey City-New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania

Monthly post-tax income: $6,370

monthly expenses: $6,101

Remaining income: $269

4. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, California

Monthly post-tax income: $6,291

monthly expenses: $6,023

Remaining income: $268

3. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California

Monthly post-tax income: $6,291

monthly expenses: $6,212

Remaining income: $79

2. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut

Monthly post-tax income: $6,297

monthly expenses: $6,436

Remaining income: -$139

1. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia

Monthly post-tax income: $6,264

monthly expenses: $6,578

Remaining income: -$315

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