Where You Live May Determine Whether You Live Paycheck to Paycheck

More Americans spend 95% of their income on basic necessities in 2025. Investopedia / Photo Illustration by Alice Morgan / Getty Images Close KEY TAKEAWAYS More families are living paycheck to paycheck as inflation continues to rise nationwide, but some regions are experiencing higher cost increases than others. Living paycheck to paycheck means that a household spends more than 95% of its income on necessities, according to Bank of America. In the third quarter of 2025, nearly a quarter of American househo ...