Here’s how much debt middle-class New Yorkers are going into each year just to get by — and it will shock you
Middle-class New Yorkers are going more than $12,000 into the red every year just to make ends meet, a depressing new study has uncovered.
GOBankingRates analyzed America’s most populous cities to determine where salaries go the furthest. The study examined the cost of living in each metropolis and compared it to the median income there. To calculate the figures, the financial site used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census American Community Survey, and Pew Research.
The Big Apple was determined to be one of the worst cities in the country for the middle class. Annual household living expenses are estimated at $91,888, which is higher than the median household income of $79,713. This means the average middle-class New York family is spending $12,175 more than they earn just to cover the essentials, including food, housing, utilities, transportation, and medical expenses.
Despite New York City’s reputation as a hub for high-earning jobs, the median household income is actually far higher in multiple other cities. For instance, in San Francisco, the median household income is $141,446, while in Seattle it’s $121,984.
While the cost of essentials is also high in both those cities, GOBankingRates determined that the average middle-class family is financially far better off there than in New York City.
The study indicates that mid-size cities are the better financial bet for middle-class families, where decent median household incomes far outweigh cost of living expenses.
For example, in Oklahoma City, the median household income is $66,072, but the annual cost of living for a middle-class family is just $38,391. That means there’s leftover savings of $28,311 per year.
Meanwhile, in Fort Worth, Texas, the median household income is $76,602, while annual middle-class expenditures total $43,383. Thus, families there have $33,219 remaining for discretionary spending or saving.
This analysis sheds light on the financial challenges middle-class families face in America’s largest cities and highlights more affordable options across the country.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/08/lifestyle/heres-how-much-debt-middle-class-new-yorkers-are-going-into-each-year-just-to-get-by-and-it-will-shock-you/
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