Cost of Living By ZIP Code: How Far Does $100K Go in Different Neighborhoods?
Discover the massive variations in purchasing power across America—where $100K buys a comfortable lifestyle and where it barely covers basics
A $100,000 salary sounds impressive—but its purchasing power varies wildly depending on where you live. In San Francisco, that six-figure income might leave you sharing an apartment and brown-bagging lunch. In Memphis, it affords a spacious home, new car, and comfortable savings.
This guide analyzes cost of living across US ZIP codes to show exactly how far your income goes. We\'ll break down housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and other expenses to reveal the true value of earnings in different neighborhoods.
Understanding Our Methodology
Cost of living calculations weight expenses based on typical household spending:
Data Methodology Note: Rankings and statistics in this article combine official U.S. government data (Census Bureau for demographics/housing, NOAA for weather, FBI for crime) with modeled estimates for schools and some economic indicators. While we strive for accuracy, specific figures should be verified with official sources for critical decisions. Learn more about our data sources and methodology.
Top 20 ZIP Codes: Where $100K Goes Furthest
The Winners: Midwest & South Dominate
$100,000 in Memphis (38103) equals $148,200 in purchasing power. That means you can afford 48% more goods, services, and lifestyle compared to the national average. Low housing costs drive these advantages—median rents under $1,200/month and home prices around $250K make middle-class living accessible.
Key Pattern: Cities that lack one major industry (tech, finance) and don\'t face geographic constraints (coastal, limited land) offer the best value.
| Rank | ZIP | City | Equivalent Value | Housing % | Total Cost % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 38103 | Memphis, TN | $148,200 | 35% | 80% |
| 2 | 73102 | Oklahoma City, OK | $145,600 | 36% | 83% |
| 3 | 67202 | Wichita, KS | $142,800 | 37% | 85% |
| 4 | 46204 | Indianapolis, IN | $139,500 | 38% | 87% |
| 5 | 28202 | Charlotte, NC | $136,700 | 39% | 90% |
| 6 | 75201 | Dallas, TX | $134,200 | 40% | 92% |
| 7 | 30303 | Atlanta, GA | $132,800 | 41% | 94% |
| 8 | 85001 | Phoenix, AZ | $131,400 | 42% | 96% |
| 9 | 63101 | St. Louis, MO | $139,200 | 38% | 87% |
| 10 | 45202 | Cincinnati, OH | $137,500 | 39% | 89% |
| 11 | 44113 | Cleveland, OH | $141,300 | 37% | 85% |
| 12 | 37203 | Nashville, TN | $128,600 | 43% | 96% |
| 13 | 77002 | Houston, TX | $133,100 | 40% | 92% |
| 14 | 48226 | Detroit, MI | $138,900 | 38% | 87% |
| 15 | 15222 | Pittsburgh, PA | $135,400 | 39% | 89% |
| 16 | 53202 | Milwaukee, WI | $134,700 | 40% | 91% |
| 17 | 55401 | Minneapolis, MN | $126,300 | 44% | 98% |
| 18 | 80202 | Denver, CO | $118,900 | 47% | 105% |
| 19 | 33131 | Miami, FL | $115,700 | 48% | 106% |
| 20 | 97201 | Portland, OR | $113,400 | 49% | 108% |
What $100K Actually Affords
Equivalent to $148,200
In Memphis, $100K affords a 3-bedroom house ($225K median), two reliable cars, family health insurance, and substantial savings. Monthly budget breakdown:
Quality of Life: Homeownership, savings, vacations, dining out regularly, college savings for kids.
Equivalent to $134,200
Dallas offers Sunbelt living with no state income tax and reasonable costs. $100K provides comfortable middle-class life with homeownership achievable.
Bonus: No state income tax saves $6,000-$8,000 annually compared to California or New York.
Where $100K Barely Covers Basics
The Challenge: Coastal Metro Squeeze
In San Francisco, $100,000 has the purchasing power of just $49,300. That means you need to earn $203,000 to match the middle-class lifestyle available for $100K in Memphis. Housing drives this disparity—median SF rents exceed $3,500/month for one-bedroom apartments, and homes cost $1.5M+.
Reality Check: Six-figure earners in SF, NYC, and Silicon Valley often live paycheck-to-paycheck, share apartments, or commute from distant suburbs.
| Rank | ZIP | City | Equivalent Value | Housing % | Income Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 94102 | San Francisco, CA | $49,300 | 72% | $203,000 |
| 2 | 94301 | Palo Alto, CA | $47,800 | 75% | $209,100 |
| 3 | 10022 | Manhattan, NY | $52,600 | 70% | $190,100 |
| 4 | 90210 | Beverly Hills, CA | $53,900 | 69% | $185,600 |
| 5 | 11211 | Brooklyn, NY | $58,200 | 66% | $171,800 |
| 6 | 02108 | Boston, MA | $59,700 | 65% | $167,500 |
| 7 | 98101 | Seattle, WA | $61,500 | 64% | $162,600 |
| 8 | 20001 | Washington DC, DC | $63,200 | 63% | $158,200 |
| 9 | 92101 | San Diego, CA | $65,800 | 62% | $152,000 |
| 10 | 10001 | Chelsea, NYC, NY | $56,400 | 67% | $177,300 |
What $100K Actually Means
Equivalent to $49,300 - Need $203K to match national average
In San Francisco, $100K means roommates, no car (too expensive), tight budget, and minimal savings. Monthly reality:
Reality: Homeownership unattainable, retirement savings challenging, living with roommates common into 30s.
Equivalent to $52,600 - Need $190K to match national average
NYC on $100K means constant financial stress, tiny apartments, and sacrificing savings for rent. The "six-figure broke" phenomenon is real.
Taxes Hit Hard: NYC adds city tax on top of NY state tax—losing 30%+ of gross income to taxes alone.
$100K in Four Major Cities: Side-by-Side
New York City
10022Equivalent Purchasing Power
$190,100 needed to match middle-class lifestyle
Housing
$3,600/mo (1BR)
Transportation
$1,400/mo
Food
$800/mo
Utilities
$180/mo
Discretionary
$1,020/mo
Savings Potential
$0 - Tight budget
Austin, TX
78701Equivalent Purchasing Power
$100K feels like $125K elsewhere
Housing
$2,100/mo (1BR)
Transportation
$900/mo
Food
$550/mo
Utilities
$150/mo
Discretionary
$2,800/mo
Savings Potential
$1,833/mo possible
Denver, CO
80202Equivalent Purchasing Power
$100K feels like $118K elsewhere
Housing
$2,300/mo (1BR)
Transportation
$950/mo
Food
$600/mo
Utilities
$140/mo
Discretionary
$2,510/mo
Savings Potential
$1,666/mo possible
Nashville, TN
37203Equivalent Purchasing Power
$100K feels like $128K elsewhere
Housing
$1,900/mo (1BR)
Transportation
$850/mo
Food
$520/mo
Utilities
$135/mo
Discretionary
$3,095/mo
Savings Potential
$2,083/mo possible
Remote Work: The Salary Arbitrage Opportunity
Salary Arbitrage: Keep Your Coastal Salary, Move to Affordable City
Remote work enables unprecedented salary arbitrage. A software engineer earning $150K in San Francisco can relocate to Austin, keep the salary (or negotiate slight reduction to $135K), and dramatically improve quality of life.
Example: SF → Austin Migration
San Francisco: $150K Salary
- • Rent: $3,400/mo (1BR)
- • State income tax: ~$13,000/yr
- • Purchasing power: ~$75K equivalent
- • Savings: $800/mo
- • Homeownership: Unattainable
Austin: $135K Salary
- • Mortgage: $2,500/mo (3BR house)
- • State income tax: $0/yr
- • Purchasing power: ~$168K equivalent
- • Savings: $3,200/mo
- • Homeownership: Yes, achieved
Result: Lower nominal salary but 124% increase in actual purchasing power and quality of life.
Tax Considerations
State income tax dramatically affects take-home pay:
High-Tax States
- • California: 13.3% top rate
- • New York: 10.9% top rate
- • New Jersey: 10.75% top rate
- $100K loses $10-13K to state tax
No-Tax States
- • Texas: 0% income tax
- • Florida: 0% income tax
- • Tennessee: 0% income tax
- $100K = full $100K pre-federal tax
How Different Income Levels Fare
$50,000 Salary
San Francisco
Barely survives, roommates essential
Austin
Tight budget, possible with discipline
Memphis
Comfortable, homeownership possible
$150,000 Salary
San Francisco
Comfortable but not wealthy, condo possible
Austin
Very comfortable, nice home, savings
Memphis
Affluent, large home, substantial wealth building
$250,000 Salary
San Francisco
Upper-middle class, homeownership, savings
Austin
Wealthy, luxury home, aggressive savings
Memphis
Top 1%, mansion, rapid wealth accumulation
Calculate Your Cost of Living
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