In some cities, people barely make it from one paycheck to the next. What’s the reason? Where you live can play a big role in your finances – Across America, there are cities where the high living costs, not-so-great wages & other issues make it hard to survive. Here are the top 10 cities where residents’ bank accounts run on empty before payday even hits.
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McAllen, TX
Down in McAllen, Texas, lots of people are feeling the pinch. Beyond the tacos & sunshine, the city has one of the highest poverty rates around since most jobs don’t pay enough to cover the basics. This leaves many people counting pennies until their next paycheck. While many people are doing their best, they still can’t seem to get ahead.
New Haven, CT
New Haven, Connecticut, is famous for its Ivy League colleges—but not everyone’s living the dream. With an extortionate cost of living & salaries that don’t always keep up, it’s easy to see why some locals are struggling. Paying for the essentials is a real challenge and this makes living paycheck-to-paycheck rather common here.
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Riverside, CA
Over in Riverside, California, the housing market is as hot as the weather. Yes, it’s a bit cheaper than its LA neighbors—but owning a home here can still feel like a distant dream for many. High housing costs use up a lot of your paycheck before you even think about other expenses. All the beauty of this place comes with a price—and it’s a high one.
New York, NY
New York, New York—the city so nice they named it twice! Unfortunately, living costs aren’t always so great because the rent is sky-high and groceries are expensive. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Even with the high salaries in certain jobs, most New Yorkers are financially struggling just to live in the Big Apple.
Orlando, FL
As the land of theme parks & sunshine, you’d think living in Orlando, Florida, would be pretty nice. However, the job market revolves around service jobs that don’t pay much and rising costs of living mean that many locals find it hard to keep up. It’s not exactly fun and games when your paycheck barely covers the bills.
San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, Texas, sure is growing fast — yet the job market isn’t keeping pace with this growth. The majority of locals struggle to find a job that pays enough to enjoy all the cultural & historical sites the city has to offer. Low-wage jobs are far too common. This makes it difficult for families to move beyond living from one paycheck to the next.
Allentown, PA
In Allentown, Pennsylvania, the economy used to do well with manufacturing jobs—but those days are mostly gone. Now, more low-paying service jobs have made it harder for people to make ends meet. Of course, the cost of living isn’t as high as in New York or San Francisco. Yet it’s still a challenge for the locals.
Columbus, OH
Columbus, Ohio, is on the up & up, thanks to an expanding tech market. But if you’re not in one of those high-paying tech jobs, you’ll probably struggle since the city’s popularity has made housing prices increase. For many, that means more of their paycheck is going towards just keeping a roof over their head.
Las Vegas, NV
Living in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a real gamble if you’re not working in the right job. After all, the city’s economy depends a lot on tourism and this is rather hit or miss. When times are good, it’s great—but when they’re not, people here can have a hard time making ends meet. Bright lights & big entertainment don’t exactly pay the bills.
Milwaukee, WI
Last but not least, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has its share of financial problems. Despite its rich history and strong community ties, many of its residents are stuck in jobs that haven’t seen a wage increase in ages. Living costs are also increasing and this makes it harder for the city’s hardworking population to stay ahead of their bills.
Source: List With Clever Report.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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