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

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(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

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 Texas in 2024, you will need $95,763 to be financially secure, according to a new survey by GOBankingRates.

In 26 U.S. states, you'll need a minimum of $100,000.

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. 

Hawaii required the most money with a whopping living wage of $259,918, followed by Massachusetts at $199,671 and California for $188,269. 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). 

Texas was on the cheaper side of things between both Louisiana ($95,480) and New Mexico ($96,130).

According to the study, the annual cost of housing in the Lone Star State is $17,843, groceries cost $7,601 and healthcare costs $7,319.

How Much a Family of Four Needs in Each State

1. West Virginia $82,338 
2. Mississippi $87,564 
3. Alabama $87,607
4. Kansas $87,944
5. Arkansas $88,312 
6. Oklahoma $90,659
7. Iowa $91,667 
8. Missouri $91,669 
9. Tennessee $92,179 
10. Kentucky $93,349 
11. Indiana $93,544 
12. Michigan $93,807 
13. Nebraska $94,102 
14. Georgia $94,682 
15. North Dakota $94,752 
16. Louisiana $95,480 
17. Texas $95,763 
18. New Mexico $96,130 
19. Minnesota $96,640 
20. Montana $96,870 
21. South Carolina $98,082 
22. Pennsylvania $98,427 
23. Maryland $98,585 
24. Ohio $99,453 
25. South Dakota $100,000 
26. Illinois $100,332 
27. Wyoming $100,750 
28. North Carolina $104,582 
29. Delaware $107,042 
30. Wisconsin $107,324 
31. Idaho $107,412 
32. Virginia $111,303 
33. Florida $112,401 
34. Colorado $112,828 
35. Nevada $112,965 
36. Rhode Island $123,298 
37. New Hampshire $123,863 
38. Connecticut $126,753 
39. Utah $128,484 
40. Washington $131,024 
41. Arizona $131,102 
42. Oregon $131,824 
43. Vermont $131,996 
44. New Jersey $134,990 
45. Maine $135,943 
46. Alaska $136,990 
47. New York $155,738 
48. California $188,269 
49. Massachusetts $199,671 
50. Hawaii $258,918