Living comfortably now requires an annual income of more than $96,000, according to a study by SmartAsset. The personal finance website used the 50/30/20 rule, which allocates 50% of a person’s budget to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings or debt, to determine the minimum pre-tax salary needed to avoid living paycheck to paycheck.

In cities like Tampa Bay, a single individual without children must make at least $94,432 annually, or about $45.40 per hour, to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. That amount covers basic needs such as housing and transportation, while also allowing for discretionary spending and savings. Last year, the same individual needed only $67,740 to live comfortably, highlighting the sharp rise in the cost of living.

For a two-working-parent household with two children, the combined income required is even higher, at $209,498 annually. This reflects growing expenses across the board, driven by inflation and higher costs for necessities like housing and groceries.

SmartAsset’s report shows that across the U.S., the average individual needs $96,500 per year to live comfortably in major cities, with Florida following this trend closely. As the cost of living continues to rise, residents may need to reassess their budgets and income goals to maintain financial stability.