Revealed: The salary needed to live comfortably in America's 50 biggest cities

Stark new data has revealed just how much Americans need to earn in order to live comfortably in the biggest cities across the country. 

Analyzing data from the US Census, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and housing marketplace Zillow, GOBankingRates found that to afford life in the most expensive cities in the US, Americans need a salary of at least $125,000. 

Even in the most affordable city on the list - Detroit - residents still need a yearly income of almost $65,000 in order to live comfortably. 

The study judged 'living comfortably' by the 50/30/20 rule. 

This is where 50 percent of a person's income meets the costs of living, 30 percent is expendable and 20 percent goes toward savings. 

Of the eight cities where Americans need the highest salaries to live comfortably by this measure, six are located in California. 

In San Jose, which is the most expensive city on the list, Americans need to earn a staggering salary of $265,926 to cover a $132,963 cost of living annually - and have money to spare for savings and spending.

In San Francisco, locals need to earn at least $252,878, versus $207,332 in San Diego and $194,500 in Los Angeles.

In Long Beach, meanwhile, Americans still need to earn $177,553 to live comfortably, or $171,898 in Oakland.

Other major and notoriously expensive cities including New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston and Miami require a yearly salary of at least $140,000 to live comfortably, GOBankingRates found.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary in the US is $59,228.

This is below the income needed to live comfortably in Detroit, which is the most affordable major city on the list of 50 compiled by GOBankingRates. 

It is also far below other less expensive cities including Memphis, Indianapolis or Oklahoma City - where the annual cost of living is $37,605, but residents need a salary of $75,211 for a comfortable life. 

The stark figures come as the cost of living has been on the rise across the US over the last several years. 

The cost of many essentials have soared, leaving households feeling the pinch. 

While the rate of inflation has slowed since reaching a 40-year high of 9.1 percent in June 2022, it is still above the Federal Reserve's 2 percent target.  

The annual rate of inflation was 2.5 percent in latest data for August - down from 2.9 percent in July.

But food prices have risen by 20 percent in the last five years, according to Labor Department data. 

Decades-high mortgage rates and record house prices mean the average payment on a home loan this year is also double what it was in 2000.

But mortgage rates have been falling in recent weeks following a bumper interest rate cut by the Fed last month, which could provide some respite for prospective homebuyers. 

The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 6.12 percent as of latest Freddie Mac data from October 3.