Earning a six-figure income has long been a sign of success and financial comfort for American workers. Yet with high inflation and high cost of living, the annual income may not be enough to support a life in California.
A new study from Smart Asset analyzed the after-tax income of $100,000 in 76 of the largest US cities and adjusted those numbers to represent the cost of living in each location. California cities ranked at the bottom of where $100,000 had the greatest buying power.
California cities where six-figure income had low purchasing power:
| City | Net payment adjusted for inflation and cost of living |
| Bakersfield | $63,539 |
| Sacramento | $57,669 |
| Stockton | $55,962 |
| Oakland | $46,198 |
| San Diego | $46,167 |
| Angels | $44,623 |
| Long Beach | $44,623 |
| San Francisco | $36,445 |
The researchers used the Smart Asset Paycheck Calculator to determine after-tax income for several cities. They used data from the Council for Community and Economic Research to determine the cost of living in the United States included in the study.
While $100,000 might not have much buying power in California, six-figure income goes a long way in other states, mostly due to lower tax rates and lower cost of living. to those in the Golden State.
This is where $100,000 has the most buying power:
| City | Net payment adjusted for inflation and cost of living |
| Memphis, TN | Between $74,515 and $86,444 |
| El Paso, TX | Between $74,515 and $84,966 |
| Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Between $70,302 and $84,498 |
| Corpus Christi, Texas | $83,443 |
| Lubbock, TX | Between $74,515 and $83,350 |
| Houston, TX | Between $74,515 and $81,350 |
| San Antonio, TX | Between $74,515 and $80,124 |
| Fort Worth, TX | Between $74,515 and $80,124 |
| Arlington, TX | Between $74,515 and $80,124 |
| St. Louis, Missouri | Between $69,531 and $79,921 |
While cities in Texas dominated the list of places with the most spending power per $100,000, Memphis, Tennessee takes the top spot.