Being a breadwinner within the Large Apple can actually chew.
The massive ballers, shot callers and finance bros of NYC making $100,000 annually are, in actuality, making peanuts, in keeping with a brand new report on how far the six-figure wage really stretches in main U.S. cities in 2025.
And in Gotham, there isn’t a lot give.
An annual revenue of “$100K goes least far in Manhattan, NY with solely $30,362 spending energy,” research authors from SmartAsset, a monetary know-how firm, revealed of their latest findings.
Researchers used $100K as a baseline wage for the nationwide investigation — an incomes that locations a person on the higher restrict of the 22% federal tax bracket, per the info.
The consultants then thought-about the federal, state and native taxes imposed upon a metropolis resident, in addition to FICA taxes, inflation and value of dwelling premiums (to not point out what the brand new tariffs will do to lease costs) to find out the reality value of the wage.
“After accounting for federal taxes, significantly excessive native taxes, and a price of dwelling 130.6% increased than the nationwide common, a $100K wage goes least far in [Manhattan],” the examiners reiterated, noting that the web pay’s worth has decreased by $552 since 2024 — when incomes $100,000 within the coronary heart of the concrete jungle equated to $30,914.
However the hunch isn’t a lot better in its neighboring boroughs.
For bigwigs in Brooklyn, bringing house the $100K bacon quantities to $43,461 this yr, which comes as no shock as Pink Hook and Carroll Gardens had been just lately named two of the most costly nabes in New York.
Nevertheless, in Queens, the identical cash equals a measly $46,708. It’s a staggering 6.5% drop from the $49,978 worth it held 12 months in the past.
“This will principally be attributed to a rise within the relative price of dwelling in Queens,” the insiders defined.
However New Yorkers aren’t 9-to-5ers whose {dollars} aren’t make a lot sense these days.
The research discovered that Honolulu, Hawaii, alongside a number of stellar zip codes in California — together with San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego — ranked within the prime 10 worst cities for staff taking house $100,000.
Nevertheless, much less buzzy and busy places, reminiscent of Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma and El Paso, Texas, took the highest two slots, respectively, on the checklist of cities the place $100,000 is value probably the most.
Right here’s how far the dough goes within the main locales.
10 Cities The place $100k Is Well worth the Least
Cities are ranked based mostly on the worth of $100,000 after accounting for taxes and native cost-of-living premiums.
- Manhattan, NY
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $30,362
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $30,914
- Yr-over-year change: -1.8%
2. Honolulu, HI
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $38,610
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $39,148
- Yr-over-year change: -1.4%
3. San Francisco, CA
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $42,128
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $40,997
- Yr-over-year change: 2.8%
4. Brooklyn, NY
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $43,461
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $43,376
- Yr-over-year change: 0.2%
5. Queens, NY
- Worth of $100k in 2025: $46,708
- Worth of $100k in 2024: $49,978
- Yr-over-year change: -6.5%
6. Los Angeles, CA
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $47,983
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $47,762
- Yr-over-year change: 0.5%
7. San Diego, CA
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $49,337
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $50,082
- Yr-over-year change: -1.5%
8. Boston, MA
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $50,602
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $50,109
- Yr-over-year change: 1.0%
9. Washington, DC
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $51,339
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $48,734
- Yr-over-year change: 5.3%
10. Oakland, CA
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $52,060
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $51,237
- Yr-over-year change: 1.6%
10 Cities The place $100k Is Well worth the Most
Cities are ranked based mostly on the worth of $100,000 after accounting for taxes and native price of dwelling premiums.
- Oklahoma Metropolis, OK
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $89,989
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $87,585
- Yr-over-year change: 2.7%
2. El Paso, TX
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $89,114
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $88,840
- Yr-over-year change: 0.3%
3. Corpus Christi, TX
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $88,015
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $86,383
- Yr-over-year change: 1.9%
4. Tulsa, OK
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $87,439
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $84,507
- Yr-over-year change: 3.5%
5. Memphis, TN
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $87,427
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $86,960
- Yr-over-year change: 0.5%
6. Lubbock, TX
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $86,846
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $85,065
- Yr-over-year change: 2.1%
7. San Antonio, TX
- Worth of $100k in 2025: $86,084
- Worth of $100k in 2024: $85,625
- Yr-over-year change: 0.5%
8. Jacksonville, FL
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $84,509
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $83,878
- Yr-over-year change: 0.8%
9. Houston, TX
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $83,343
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $82,986
- Yr-over-year change: 0.4%
10. St. Louis, MO
- Worth of $100K in 2025: $83,082
- Worth of $100K in 2024: $82,614
- Yr-over-year change: 0.6%
