Cushy Index guide
How Much Salary Do You Need to Live Comfortably?
A framework for estimating the salary required to live comfortably after rent, tax and essentials.
Direct answer
To live comfortably, your salary should normally cover tax, rent, essentials and lifestyle costs while still leaving savings capacity every month.
Comfort is not the same as survival
A survival salary pays bills. A comfortable salary leaves room for savings, travel, restaurants and emergencies.
Use salary tiers
Cushy Index models survival, stable, comfortable and very cushy tiers for each city so the answer is specific rather than generic.
Adjust for household
Couples share some costs, while families face childcare and housing upgrades. A household-specific estimate is more useful than a single number.