Thanks to things like inflation, growing rent and unaffordable housing, life has become pretty expensive for the average American.

What constitutes a comfortable life will look different to everyone, but for many, being able to stick to the 50/30/20 budget rule — where 50 percent of your income is spent on basic needs, 30 percent goes on wants and the rest is used for savings or paying off debt — means your living situation is pretty cushy.

Using the 50/30/20 rule and cost of living data, SmartAsset calculated the earnings both a single working adult and two working adults raising two children need to live comfortably in each of the country's states.

It's most expensive to live comfortably in Massachusetts, where a single person requires an income of at least $116,022 to afford basic expenses, wants and savings. A family of two adults and two kids will also need to earn a considerable $301,184 to have a comfy life in the state.

West Virginia is the cheapest state in the country when it comes to living comfortably as a single adult, with a required salary of just $78,790. For two working adults raising two children, on the other hand, Mississippi is most affordable — just $177,798 is needed to afford basic needs, extras and payments towards long-term goals.

Via SmartAsset.

[Image credit: Michael Baccin]