Hey Sajha folks,

How much money do you need to start a family in the US? May be a family with 4 members: husband, wife, and two children. How much should a person must make yearly to have a decent life here in the USA? The definition of decent life may vary from person to person but in general able to have all the necessary items in life such as health insurance, education, food, shelter, car etc.

Ujl,
If you ask me - when I was making 50K a few years back and I think i was living comfortably. I didn't go vacation very often and was busy with work and school. I don't remember struggling to pay anything. I used to live in Apt and had everything that I needed. Now, my household is above 200K plus bonus but my lifestyle hasn't changed much. I live in the bigger house, drive a nice car, pay life insurance and go vacation few times a year. Everything else is same but little more comfortable.

Thanks daredream. Do you alone make 200K or you and your spouse together? How many children you have?

If you make between 33k-39k you will have a comfortable life.

For a family of four..80k to 100k would be decent..

Household (both). We have no children.

@Daredream
Where do you live? Are you in Northern Virginia or Maryland?

For a family of four, I think 75-80K a year would be a comfortable range. However, it depends on your lifestyles. If eating out, expensive vacations, private schooling, luxury cars are necessary then the range goes north.