H-1B salary in US 2026: How much a family of 4 needs in 10 cities | Explained

PTC Web Desk: For Indians planning to move to the US on an H-1B visa, a high salary can appear to offer a comfortable lifestyle. But rising costs of housing, healthcare, education and daily expenses can quickly eat into household income, especially for families with children.

An NRI entrepreneur has shared an estimate of how much a family of four may need to earn each year to maintain a comfortable lifestyle in 10 major US cities in 2026.

Aniruddha Anjana, a startup entrepreneur who spent around 10 years in the US before returning to India, shared the figures in an Instagram post. His calculation is based on the 50/30/20 budgeting rule, which generally allocates 50% of income to essential expenses, 30% to discretionary spending and 20% to savings or investments.

Anjana said his figures were intended to show what it could take for an H-1B worker supporting a family to live comfortably, rather than simply manage basic expenses.

San Francisco tops the list

According to Anjana's estimate, San Francisco requires the highest annual income among the 10 cities listed. A family of four would need about $407,597 a year, or roughly Rs 3.89 crore, under his calculation.

The estimated income requirements for the cities are:

San Francisco: $407,597

San Jose: $402,771

Boston: $368,742

New York: $337,875

Seattle: $334,131

Washington DC: $319,405

Chicago: $242,278

Austin: $229,050

Dallas: $214,490

Houston: $204,672

The figures are based on Anjana's own budgeting method and are not official income requirements. Actual household expenses can differ significantly depending on rent, location, childcare, healthcare, taxes, schooling and personal spending habits.

Even Houston crosses the $200,000 mark

One of the notable points in the calculation is that even Houston, which is generally considered more affordable than several major US technology hubs, comes in at more than $200,000 a year.

Anjana said this is something Indians considering a move to the US should keep in mind, particularly those relocating with spouses and children on H-1B visas.

He argued that a salary that may seem very large when converted into Indian currency can feel much less impressive after accounting for the cost of living in the US.

Why a six-figure US salary may not feel as high

For immigrant families, housing is often one of the biggest expenses. Healthcare premiums and out-of-pocket costs can also add to the monthly budget. Families with young children may additionally have to account for childcare, while education and other household expenses can further increase the financial burden.

As a result, the amount an H-1B worker actually needs can vary widely from one family to another.

Entrepreneur shares his US experience

Anjana also spoke about his own experience in the US and the reasons behind his decision to return to India.

He said he eventually felt that his earnings did not adequately reflect the personal and financial trade-offs involved in living in the US. He later started a company there and eventually moved back to India to operate it.

According to Anjana, earning in US dollars while living in India provided him with more financial flexibility. He suggested that building an income source that is not directly linked to US living costs could be an alternative to simply pursuing a higher salary.

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His post has since drawn attention to the financial realities of life in the US for immigrant families. While American salaries can appear considerably higher than comparable Indian salaries, the difference becomes less straightforward once taxes and living expenses are taken into account.

For H-1B holders with families, there is no single salary figure that guarantees a comfortable lifestyle. The required income depends on the city, family size, housing choice, childcare needs, healthcare costs and individual lifestyle.