SEATTLE — Seattle residents face a steep financial climb to live comfortably, with a new study revealing that a single adult needs to earn $135,265 annually to maintain a comfortable lifestyle in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area.
This figure ranks as the sixth highest among large metro areas in the United States, according to research conducted by Upgraded Points using data from the Economic Policy Institute and the U.S. Census Bureau.
The study highlights the growing economic pressures on American families, as essentials like rent, groceries, and child care have become increasingly expensive. The analysis applies the 50/30/20 budget rule, which allocates 50% of income to necessities, 30% to discretionary spending, and 20% to savings or debt payments, to determine the income needed for a comfortable living.
For Seattle metro families, the financial demands are even more pronounced. A two-parent household requires an income ranging from $242,585 with one child to $370,036 with three children to live comfortably. These figures starkly contrast with the median household income in the area, which stands at $146,665…