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California Cities Require High Incomes for Comfortable Living

3/28/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The SmartAsset study shows California cities require very high incomes for a comfortable living.
San José is the second-most expensive city, costing over $400,000 for a family of four.
New York City tops the list at about $337,875 for a family.
The study notes income gaps, citing Santa Ana's median salary of $95,118 as below the required income, and attributes rising costs to stagnant wages and housing policy issues.

History

Historical Context

The 2008 housing crisis, triggered by a collapse in home prices and subprime mortgage failures, led to a peak unemployment rate of 12.4% in California. Cities like San José and New York City continue to struggle with affordability, as evidenced by a SmartAsset study indicating that a family of four in San José needs over $400,000 to live comfortably, highlighting persistent income disparities and housing challenges.

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Story summary

The SmartAsset study shows California cities require very high incomes for a comfortable living.
San José is the second-most expensive city, costing over $400,000 for a family of four.
New York City tops the list at about $337,875 for a family.
The study notes income gaps, citing Santa Ana's median salary of $95,118 as below the required income, and attributes rising costs to stagnant wages and housing policy issues.

1 / 2