24 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : For Indian professionals moving to the United States on an H-1B visa, a six-figure salary can appear substantial when converted into Indian rupees. But housing, healthcare, childcare, transportation, taxes and everyday expenses can make a significant difference to how much money a family actually has left.
A recent estimate shared by US-based entrepreneur Aniruddha Anjana has highlighted how much a family of four may need to earn annually to maintain what he describes as a comfortable lifestyle in 10 major US cities in 2026. His calculations assume two adults and two children and use the 50/30/20 budgeting rule.
San Francisco Tops the List
According to Anjana’s calculations, San Francisco requires the highest annual household income among the 10 cities examined.
His estimate puts the required income at $407,597 a year, or roughly ₹3.9 crore at the exchange rate used in reports. San Jose follows closely at $402,771, while Boston requires approximately $368,742.
The figures illustrate the financial pressure faced by families living in some of America’s most expensive technology and business hubs.
New York and Seattle Also Require High Incomes
The estimate for New York stands at $337,875 annually, while Seattle comes in at $334,131.
Washington, DC, requires around $319,405 under the same calculation.
These cities combine relatively high housing costs with expenses related to transportation, food, healthcare, childcare and other household necessities.
Chicago, Austin and Dallas
The estimated income requirements fall considerably for several other major cities.
For Chicago, Anjana’s calculation puts the annual figure at $242,278.
In Austin, the estimate is $229,050, while Dallas requires approximately $214,490.
Although these figures are lower than those for the Bay Area and New York, they still represent substantial household incomes, particularly for families relying primarily on one H-1B salary.
Houston Has the Lowest Estimate in the Comparison
Among the 10 cities included in Anjana’s comparison, Houston has the lowest estimated income requirement at $204,672 per year.
Even this figure is above $200,000, showing the gap between headline H-1B salaries and the household income that some families may consider comfortable when savings and discretionary spending are included.