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How much money it takes to be "rich" is highest in San Francisco.
- How much money it takes to be "rich" varies from city to city.
- About 20% of Americans are upper income, or "rich," meaning they earn at least two times the national median household income.
- You have to earn the most money in San Francisco, California to be considered rich.
Everything in life is relative.
That phrase is especially true when looking at how much money it takes to be considered "rich" in different cities around America.
While terms like "middle class" and "rich" are broadly - and often incorrectly - used, the federal government strictly defines them using income data.
About 20% of Americans are upper income, or "rich," according to Pew Research Center. This group of earners makes at least two times more than the national median household income: $59,039 in 2016, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2016 American Community Survey.
Nationally, the threshold for how much money it takes to be considered rich is $118,080, but that figure varies from city to city depending on local median income.
To get a sense of how much you need to earn to be considered above middle class in your city, Business Insider pulled census data for the largest metropolitan statistical areas. For clarity, we listed the largest city in the MSA (some include more than one).
Below, find out what it takes to be considered rich in the 27 largest metro areas in the US, plus what income is needed to be in the top 1% in those states.