The Real Value of a $100K Salary in Major US Cities.

A new analysis from SmartAsset shows that a $100,000 salary in New York, San Francisco, and Honolulu buys the same quality of life as someone making $36,000 per year almost anywhere else in the nation due to the high cost of living. Memphis, Tennessee, offers the biggest bang for your buck, with a six-figure earner having the equivalent of $86,000 left after taxes. Texas also ranks high in affordability, with seven of the top 10 cheapest cities in the calculation. California features heavily on the least-affordable list, with the 10 priciest cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego, and Oakland.