Chie Davis

@chieone

It’s no surprise that when it comes to living the fabulous life in any city in America, it’s all about the dollar, dollar bill y’all. But if we’re talking about living comfortably, a modified set of rules apply.

According to a Go BankingRates study on "What it costs to live comfortably in the 50 most populous U.S. cities," the trick to calculating your comfort level is sticking to the 50-30-20 rule.

No fear—it’s not complicated, even for those who don’t do math.

Check out your household budget. If you can allot 50% of your income to necessities, 30% to cover the fun stuff and 20% to feed your precious piggy-bank- BINGO! You’re officially living comfortably.

“The budget rule is proportional. It's adaptable to people's individual circumstances, such as the city where they live,” Go BankingRates writer Andrew DePietro explained to the Courier-Journal.

So, how much cashola can you squeak by on in Louisville?

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According to the study, you’ll need $48,897 to kick up your heels, if you believe in the 50/30/20 rule. And although the cost of living in the Derby City is one of the lowest nationally according to Go BankingRates’ list, the median household income of $45,762 makes it harder to live without being financially stressed.

Louisville is on the pricey side when compared to its neighbors. It costs about $1,000 less to live in Indianapolis and $44,000 to live in Columbus, Ohio. If you’re cash-strapped, avoid Nashville. You’ll need over $70,000 to live well in the music city. Think that's steep? It's almost pocket change when likened to the cost of living in San Francisco. It takes over $110,000 to live smoothly in 49ers country. It's the highest ranked on their list.

The Go BankingRates study is based on the average cost of essentials, like rent, food, transportation, in 50 select populous cities.

Click here to scope out the entire study.