Here, you'll get a sense of how much an average person might spend per month so you can consider how your own budget looks. The average monthly expenses for one person can vary, but the average single person spends about $3,405 per month.
In summary, $5000 a month can provide a comfortable lifestyle in many parts of the US, particularly outside major metropolitan areas. However, in high-cost cities, it may require budgeting and lifestyle adjustments to make it work.
For a single individual, $100,000 would actually put you in the upper-income level in most places. For household sizes between two and four, $100,000 a year would put you squarely in the middle class.
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.
If you're a renter making $5,000 a month, it's a good rule of thumb to spend a maximum of $1,400 on rent. However, for a homeowner making the same amount, $1,400 should cover your monthly mortgage payment, as well as homeowners insurance premiums and property taxes.
This brings us to the question -- can a retired person live on $4,000 a month? The answer is yes, almost 1 in 3 retirees today are spending between $2,000 and $3,999 per month, implying that $4,000 is a good monthly income for a retiree.
Someone who has $1 million in liquid assets, for instance, is usually considered to be a high net worth (HNW) individual. You might need $5 million to $10 million to qualify as having a very high net worth while it may take $30 million or more to be considered ultra-high net worth.
Average Salary in California by Age in 2024
For instance, workers age 24 and younger earn an average of $44,205 a year, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Pay jumps up to an average of $90,138 a year for workers aged 25 to 44, and $98,785 a year for those age 45 to 64.
The average monthly expenses for one person in 2022 were $3,693, up 8.5% from 2021. That translates into an increase of $287.75 per month.
Setting budget percentages
That rule suggests you should spend 50% of your after-tax pay on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings and paying off debt. While this may work for some, it's often better to start with a more detailed categorizing of expenses to get a better handle on your spending.
30% Income Rule
According to this rule, multiply gross monthly income by 0.30 to find the maximum affordable rent. For example, if gross monthly income is $5,000, maximum rent would be $1,500 (5,000 x 0.30 = 1,500).
Getting by on $1,000 a month may not be easy, but it is possible to live well even on a small amount of money. Try these tactics. Surviving on $1,000 a month requires careful budgeting, prioritizing essential expenses, and finding ways to save money.
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.
$5,000 a month is how much an hour? If you make $5,000 a month, your hourly salary would be $28.85.
Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $57.10. Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $118,768. Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $316,243.
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.)
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.