3 New Jersey cities that crush anyone making under $100K

A recent survey of some 3,000 people has listed the least desirable cities to live in on $100,000/year and three spots in New Jersey made the cut; one is in the top 40.

• Remember when you were a kid and you thought making $100,000/year would have you living in a mansion and driving an expensive sports car? Yeah, not so much these days.

Editors at couponbirds.com said, "An annual salary of $100,000 sounds like quite a lot of money, particularly when the average US salary is $53,490 per year. However, it is relative depending on your purchasing power."

In other words, the cost of living in New Jersey, which is the fourth highest in the nation, is sky high, and that $100,000 will go a heck of a lot further in Dodge City, Kansas, than it will here.

Top 5 Worst U.S. Cities on a $100K Income

A prime example of that is the city at the top of the list: Palm Beach, FL.

Palm Beach, Florida is an expensive city to live in due to its high cost of real estate, exclusive location, high cost of goods and services, and high property taxes. The city is known for its luxury homes, condos, and apartments, which are some of the most expensive in the country, as well as its reputation as a luxury destination with high-end restaurants and upscale retail stores.

Rounding out the top five are these hot spots:

2. Wailea, HI
3. Hilton Head Island, SC

4. Isle of Palms, SC
5. New York City

I think it's safe to say that just about everyone in New Jersey knows how expensive New York City is -- and that was fifth on the list. Those other four cities are more expensive than that, apparently.

• READ MORE: The shocking number of people moving from Florida and the Carolinas to New Jersey

Worst New Jersey Cities With a $100K Income

As for the Garden State, three cities appear on the list.

#111 — Mountainside, Union County

Residents of Mountainside enjoy a high quality of life, with excellent schools, a low crime rate, and access to numerous amenities and recreational opportunities. However, the relatively high cost of living in the area may make it less accessible for some individuals or families.

If you want to live close enough to New York City but still be away from it all, Mountainside is pretty expensive, and $100,000/year probably isn't going to cut it.

#100 — Englewood Cliffs, Bergen County

Englewood Cliffs is home to a wealthy and affluent community, with many high-income earners living in the area. The high cost of living is reflective of the high standard of living that many residents expect and enjoy. Finally, the location of Englewood Cliffs is also a factor contributing to its high cost of living.

Again, since Englewood Cliffs is right across the Hudson River from New York City, you'll be living an almost-NYC lifestyle on almost-NYC prices.

#38 — Palisades Park, Bergen County

Cue the Freddie "Boom Boom" Cannon song...

The city is situated close to New York City and is popular with commuters, which has driven up the cost of housing. Additionally, the city has a limited supply of affordable housing, which can make it difficult for lower-income residents to find suitable housing. The city is located in a relatively affluent area, and as such, many of the goods and services in the area are relatively expensive. Additionally, the city has a relatively high sales tax rate, which can further add to the cost of goods and services.

Regardless of income, here are the state's real estate hot spots...