How far your monthly wages can go is dependent on where you live in the USA. When living in New York or San Francisco, a yearly salary of $55,000 may not get you very far due to the high cost of living. But living in a smaller area, it could stretch for miles. SmartAsset released the top places to live on a wage of $55,000 annually. The number one city to live in the USA and be able to live well on a salary of $55,000 is Fargo, North Dakota. The average percent of income spent on housing is 18.8 percent.