Americans making $150,000 a year could still find themselves qualify only as "lower middle class" in some cities in the country, according to a report.
A recent analysis from GOBankingRates found that, in some high-cost cities in the United States, individuals earning $150,000 in annual salary could still struggle financially as the cost of living-including housing, childcare, and transportation, continue to rise.
Topping the list was Arlington, Virginia, where the lower-middle-class income range is between $91,591 to $152,652. The cost of living in the city is 41% higher than the national average, which goes up to 121% when housing is taken into account.
Second on the list is San Francisco, California, where individuals earning $91,126 to $151,877 are considered lower middle class. The cost of living in the city is 79% higher than the national average, with housing costing 207% more. Individuals looking to buy a home in the city, where the median price is $1.2 million, could expect to pay $5,000 in monthly mortgage.
Following Arlington and San Francisco is San Jose, California, where the lower-middle-class income range is $90,673 to $151,122. The cost of living in San Jose is 49% higher than the national average, with the cost of housing about 142% above the national norm. Additionally, utility bills are 24% higher than average, while transportation costs are 5% above the norm and groceries are 21% higher, per the analysis.
"In America's most expensive cities, the bar has definitely been raised to be considered 'middle class,'" GOBankingRates lead content data researcher Andrew Murray told Fox News Digital. "To escape the lower middle class, you'll need to earn as much as $150,000, which is substantially higher than what it used to be."
Cities Where $100K Salary Is Considered Lower Middle Class
Outside of the $150,000 salary threshold, there were a dozen cities where Americans earning $100,000 annually are considered lower middle class. The list includes Irvine, San Diego, and Oakland in California; Seattle, Washington; Gilbert, Scottsdale, and Chandler in Arizona; Plano, Texas; Washington, DC; Anchorage, Alaska; Chesapeake, Virginia; and Jersey City, New Jersey.
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