A popular rule of thumb says your income should be around 3 times your rent. So, if you're looking for a place that costs $1,000 per month, you may need to earn at least $3,000 per month. Many apartment complexes and landlords do follow this rule, so it makes sense to focus only on rentals you're likely to qualify for.
A single person household spends an average of $4,641 on monthly expenses. Married couples without kids spend an average of $7,390 on monthly expenses. A family of four spends an average of $8,450–9,817 on monthly expenses (depending on kids' ages).
Use the 50/30/20 Rule of Money as a Guideline
There's no one-size-fits-all rule for how much money to spend or save, but a common formula looks like this: Put 50% of take-home pay toward necessary living expenses, such as rent, utility bills, debt payments, car loans, and medical expenses.
A good monthly income in California is $5,002, based on what the Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that Californians pay for their cost of living. A good monthly income for you will depend on what your expenses are and how much you typically spend per month.
In 2022, the national middle-income range was about $56,600 to $169,800 annually for a household of three. Lower-income households had incomes less than $56,600, and upper-income households had incomes greater than $169,800. (Incomes are calculated in 2022 dollars.)
“Retiring on $2,000 per month is very possible,” said Gary Knode, president at Safe Harbor Financial. “In my practice, I've seen it work. The key is reducing expenses and eliminating any market risk that could impact your savings if there were a major market downturn.
A good rule of thumb is to have 3-6 months of living expenses saved before moving out, which typically ranges from $3,000 to $10,000 depending on your location and lifestyle. This amount should cover your security deposit, first month's rent, moving costs, basic furniture, and provide an emergency fund buffer.
Investing $500 a month can lead to significant long-term growth, thanks to the power of compounding returns. Whether you are just starting out or adding to an existing portfolio, consistently investing $500 each month can help you build substantial savings for future goals, like retirement or a down payment on a house.
Bottom Line. Living on $1,000 per month is a challenge. From the high costs of housing, transportation and food, plus trying to keep your bills to a minimum, it would be difficult for anyone living alone to make this work. But with some creativity, roommates and strategy, you might be able to pull it off.
Housing is by far the largest expense for Americans. Monthly housing expenses in 2023 averaged $2,120, a 5% increase from 2022. Over the course of 2023, Americans spent $25,436 on housing on average.
According to a study conducted by GoBankingRates, 25% of respondents say they plan to live on just $1500 per month. While this may sound challenging as this amount is close to the poverty level for a family of two, it does not include housing costs.
If you're paid hourly, multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each month. Take the amount you earn before taxes each month and multiply it by 0.30. This is the maximum amount you should spend on rent each month, according to the 30% rule.
In short, no. Having $20k saved up to move out is ideal, it gives you extra cash for deposits and whatever else you might need. However, you cannot intend to live on $20,000. To give you a different idea about how much that is, that averages about $9 an hour, which is hard to live on.
Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.
Financial experts generally recommend saving 3-6 months' worth of living expenses in your emergency fund. For those just moving out, aim for the higher end of this range to provide extra security. Calculate your target amount based on your estimated monthly expenses, including: Rent or mortgage payments.
To live "comfortably" as a single person in 99 of the largest U.S. metro areas, you'll need a median income of $93,933, according to a recent SmartAsset analysis.
If you make $2,000 per month, your hourly salary would be $11.54. This result is obtained by multiplying your base salary by the amount of hours, week, and months you work in a year, assuming you work 40 hours a week.
Living on a budget of $1,200 is doable but a bit difficult. It would depend on where you live (touristy beach areas tend to be more expensive overall), how much your rent is, and what your lifestyle is. If you shop and eat out like a local, you can live cheaply.
According to the Census Bureau's Income in the United States: 2022 report, the median household income is $74,580 (a 2.3% decline from 2021), while household income levels for each class level are as follows: Lower class: less than or equal to $30,000. Lower-middle class: $30,001 – $58,020.
$150k a year would afford you a decent LA lifestyle. You should be able to secure comfortable living accommodations and live reasonably well. Buying a house would be your major investment along with a vehicle.
The middle class is commonly defined as households earning between two-thirds and double the median income, which is $128,151 in the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California metro area, the Census Bureau reports. That means middle class households there earn between $85,434 and $256,302 a year.