The Real Value of a $100,000 Salary in Major US Cities.
A new study by Smart Asset analyzed the after-tax income for $100,000 in 76 of the largest U.S. cities and adjusted those figures to represent the cost of living in each place. California cities ranked low for the places where $100,000 had the most purchasing power due to high inflation and cost of living expenses. Meanwhile, the six-figure income goes a long way in other states, mainly due to lower taxes and cost of living rates than in California. Texas cities dominated the list of the places with the most purchasing power for $100,000, with Memphis, Tennessee, holding the top spot.