How Much Money It Takes to Be Wealthy in 11 Major US Cities

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• To be wealthy, you need a net worth of $2.2 million, according to the 2023 Charles Schwab Modern Wealth Survey. 
• But that varies by city: In places like DC, Seattle, and New York, it’s much more than that.
• Respondents in nearly a dozen cities said they feel “financially comfortable” with much less than millions.

To be considered wealthy in the US, you need a net worth of $2.2 million.

That’s according to the 2023 Modern Wealth survey by Charles Schwab, which surveyed 1,000 US adults across four generations. But $2.2 million is just an average — there are some cities where it would be considered only a drop in the bucket. 

If you don’t have millions, try not to lose hope: 48% of respondents say they feel wealthy and of those that do, their average net worth is $560,000. Net worth is the value of the assets a person owns minus liabilities they owe. The feeling of being wealthy can be subjective; oftentimes feeling wealthy is not having to worry about money and bills, as opposed to actual net worth.

Here’s the net worth you need to be considered wealthy in various cities across the US, from least amount required to most:

11. Houston: $2.1 million

• Average net worth it takes to be “wealthy”: $2.1 million
• Average net worth it takes to be “financially comfortable”: $606,000
• How many people feel wealthy: 39%

10. Atlanta $2.3 million

• Average net worth it takes to be “wealthy”: $2.3 million 
• Average net worth it takes to be “financially comfortable”: $729,000
• How many people feel wealthy: 43%

9. Chicago: $2.3 million

• Average net worth it takes to be “wealthy”: $2.3 million
• Average net worth it takes to be “financially comfortable”: $817,000
• How many people feel wealthy: 38%

8. Dallas: $2.3 million

• Average net worth it takes to be “wealthy”: $2.3 million
• Average net worth it takes to be “financially comfortable”: $820,000
• How many people feel wealthy: 40%

7. Phoenix: $2.4 million

• Average net worth it takes to be “wealthy”: $2.4 million
• Average net worth it takes to be “financially comfortable”: $$653, 000
• How many people feel wealthy: 33%

6. Denver: $2.5 million

• Average net worth it takes to be “wealthy”: $2.5 million
• Average net worth it takes to be “financially comfortable”: $710,000
• How many people feel wealthy: 37%

5. Boston: $2.9 million

• Average net worth it takes to be “wealthy”: $2.9 million 
• Average net worth it takes to be “financially comfortable”:  $932,000
• How many people feel wealthy: 32%

4. Washington, DC: $3 million

• Average net worth it takes to be “wealthy”: $3 million
• Average net worth it takes to be “financially comfortable”: $1 million
• How many people feel wealthy: 37%

3. Seattle: $3.1 million

• Average net worth it takes to be “wealthy”: $3.1 million
• Average net worth it takes to be “financially comfortable”: $1 million
• How many people feel wealthy: 41%

2. New York: $3.3 million

• Average net worth it takes to be “wealthy”: $3.3 million
• Average net worth it takes to be “financially comfortable”: $1.2 million
• How many people feel wealthy: 46%

1. San Francisco: $4.7 million

• Average net worth it takes to be “wealthy”: $4.7 million
• Average net worth it takes to be “financially comfortable”: $1.7 million 
• How many people feel wealthy: 39%