WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - Wichita has made the top 10 list in "Least Expensive U.S. Cities To Live Comfortably" based on salary in a study by SmartAsset released this month. 

The study says while the cost of living premiums and inflation metrics capture the price increases in goods and services, they do not necessarily account for all the additional costs needed to live comfortably – such as a buffer from the stress of living paycheck to paycheck.

Researchers found the cities are ranked by the lowest annual salary needed for a "single adult to live in sustainable comfort" while utilizing a budgeting rule called the 50/30/20 method. The 50/30/20 rule breaks your money up into three basic divisions: needs, wants and debt/savings. Parceling up your costs in this way can help you understand where your money is going more precisely, according to SmartAsset. 

The 50/30/20 Budget

  • 50% of your income goes toward needs, including housing, utilities, insurance, food, etc.
  • 30% of your income goes toward wants, including entertainment, vacations, dining out, etc.
  • 20% of your income goes toward debt/savings, including paying off credit cards, emergency funds, student loan payments, etc.

The study, released March 19, highlights both the least and the most expensive cities to live comfortably based on the study guidelines. 

5 Most Expensive U.S. Cities To Live Comfortably

 

1. New York City, New York

  • Single adult hourly wage: $66.62
  • Single adult annual salary: $138,570
  • Combined salaries for two working adults with two children: $318,406

2. San Jose, California

  • Single adult hourly wage: $65.74
  • Single adult annual salary: $136,739
  • Combined salaries for two working adults with two children: $334,547

3. Irvine, California

  • Single adult hourly wage: $60.96
  • Single adult annual salary: $126,797
  • Combined salaries for two working adults with two children: $291,450

4. Santa Ana, California

  • Single adult hourly wage: $60.96
  • Single adult annual salary: $126,797
  • Combined salaries for two working adults with two children: $291,450

5. Boston, Massachusetts

  • Single adult hourly wage: $60.08
  • Single adult annual salary: $124,966
  • Combined salaries for two working adults with two children: $319,738

5 Least Expensive U.S. Cities To Live Comfortably

 

1. Houston, Texas

  • Single adult hourly wage: $36.10
  • Single adult annual salary: $75,088
  • Combined salaries for two working adults with two children: $175,219

2. El Paso, Texas

  • Single adult hourly wage: $36.18
  • Single adult annual salary: $75,254
  • Combined salaries for two working adults with two children: $180,461

3. Lubbock, Texas

  • Single adult hourly wage: $36.24
  • Single adult annual salary: $75,379
  • Combined salaries for two working adults with two children: $181,043

4. Toledo, Ohio

  • Single adult hourly wage: $37.26
  • Single adult annual salary: $77,501
  • Combined salaries for two working adults with two children: $208,416

5. Laredo, Texas

  • Single adult hourly wage: $37.72
  • Single adult annual salary: $78,458
  • Combined salaries for two working adults with two children: $179,046

Wichita came in at #9 on the list of least expensive U.S. cities:

1 Houston, Texas $36.10 75,088 175,219
2 El Paso, Texas $36.18 75,254 180,461
3 Lubbock, Texas $36.24 75,379 181,043
4 Toledo, Ohio $37.26 77,501 208,416
5 Laredo, Texas $37.72 78,458 179,046
6 Milwaukee, Wisconsin $38.30 79,664 237,952
7 Lexington, Kentucky $38.46 79,997 196,102
8 Tulsa, Oklahoma $38.98 81,078 199,430
9 Wichita, Kansas $39.04 81,203 186,784
10 Cleveland, Ohio $39.32 81,786 217,984

Do you agree with the study's findings?

To learn more about the study, click here.