This is the living wage needed for a family of four in California

LOS ANGELES - The cost of living continues to rise across the U.S. - and that rings true in some states more than others. 

Just how expensive is it? 

If you're raising a family of four in 2024, you'll need a minimum of $100,000 in 26 U.S. states - that's more than half of America - to be financially secure, according to a new survey by GOBankingRates.

For the rankings, GOBankingRates surveyed annual living expenses for a family of four across the U.S. with data from the 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey, and for a married couple with children from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Living wage" is defined as the income required to cover 50% necessities, 30% discretionary spending and 20% for savings. Using the 50-30-20 budget rule, the study doubled the total annual expenditure on necessities to determine the "living wage" for a family of four in each state. 

According to the study, a family of four in California needs a living wage of $188,269, making the Golden State the third-least affordable state in the U.S. The annual cost of housing was estimated at $45,891, with the annnal cost of groceries around $19,549. The annual cost of healthcare was around $8,213, according to the study. 

Hawaii took the top spot with a whopping living wage of $259,918, followed by Massachusetts at $199,671. New York ranks #4 with a $155,738 living wage, and Alaska rounds out the top five with $136,990. 

By comparison, the most affordable state in terms of living wage is West Virginia ($82,338). 

To see the full study of how much living wages are in the U.S., tap or click here.