Required Income for Living Alone in the 25 Largest U.S. Cities

To live independently in the United States’ 25 largest cities, you’ll need to earn around $25 per hour. This figure represents a median, meaning that in more expensive cities like San Francisco or Boston, the required wage is higher, while in cities like San Antonio or Detroit, it’s lower. This $25 hourly wage translates to an annual salary of approximately $52,000, assuming a 40-hour work week. This income is necessary to cover essential living expenses such as housing, food, health care, and transportation, according to the Economic Policy Institute’s Living Wage Family Budget calculator.

However, the reality for many Americans is that the local minimum wage falls significantly short of this living wage. In nearly half of these major cities, the minimum wage is less than half of the local living wage. For instance, in some cities, the minimum wage is as low as $7.25 per hour—the federal minimum wage.

This wage disparity means that many minimum-wage earners struggle to afford basic expenses without additional support from family or government assistance. The Economic Policy Institute’s estimates do not account for these supplemental income sources, nor do they consider the sacrifices that minimum-wage workers often make, such as forgoing car ownership or health insurance. Employer-sponsored health insurance can significantly reduce the hourly living wage requirement by about $2, according to EPI’s estimates.

Here’s a closer look at the hourly wages needed to cover basic costs versus the minimum wages in the 25 most populated U.S. metro areas:

1. San Francisco

• Hourly wage needed: $35.98
• Hourly minimum wage: $18.07 ($20 for fast food workers)

1. Boston

• Hourly wage needed: $34.02
• Hourly minimum wage: $15

1. New York

• Hourly wage needed: $33.58
• Hourly minimum wage: $16

1. Seattle

• Hourly wage needed: $31.93
• Hourly minimum wage: $19.97 (for most workers)

1. San Diego

• Hourly wage needed: $30.46
• Hourly minimum wage: $16.85 ($20 for fast food workers)

1. Washington, DC

• Hourly wage needed: $28.89
• Hourly minimum wage: $17.50

1. Los Angeles

• Hourly wage needed: $26.81
• Hourly minimum wage: $16.90 ($20 for fast food workers)

1. Atlanta

• Hourly wage needed: $26.63
• Hourly minimum wage: $7.25

1. Denver

• Hourly wage needed: $25.85
• Hourly minimum wage: $18.29

1. Portland, Oregon
   • Hourly wage needed: $25.67
   • Hourly minimum wage: $15.45
2. Orlando
   • Hourly wage needed: $25.51
   • Hourly minimum wage: $12
3. Inland Empire, California
   • Hourly wage needed: $25.34
   • Hourly minimum wage: $16 ($20 for fast food workers)
4. Miami
   • Hourly wage needed: $24.97
   • Hourly minimum wage: $12
5. Phoenix
   • Hourly wage needed: $24.78
   • Hourly minimum wage: $14.35
6. Charlotte
   • Hourly wage needed: $24.48
   • Hourly minimum wage: $7.25
7. Tampa Bay
   • Hourly wage needed: $24.32
   • Hourly minimum wage: $12
8. Dallas
   • Hourly wage needed: $23.84
   • Hourly minimum wage: $7.25
9. Chicago
   • Hourly wage needed: $23.72
   • Hourly minimum wage: $15 (for most workers)
10. Philadelphia
    • Hourly wage needed: $23.39
    • Hourly minimum wage: $7.25
11. Baltimore
    • Hourly wage needed: $23.13
    • Hourly minimum wage: $15
12. Minneapolis-St. Paul
    • Hourly wage needed: $22.81
    • Hourly minimum wage: $15.57 (starting July 1)
13. Houston
    • Hourly wage needed: $21.56
    • Hourly minimum wage: $7.25
14. St. Louis
    • Hourly wage needed: $20.39
    • Hourly minimum wage: $12.30
15. San Antonio
    • Hourly wage needed: $20.29
    • Hourly minimum wage: $7.25
16. Detroit
    • Hourly wage needed: $19.70
    • Hourly minimum wage: $10.33

For those navigating the high cost of living, particularly in cities where the minimum wage lags far behind the necessary living wage, the financial challenges can be significant. As the U.S. presidential election draws near, voters will be looking closely at the candidates’ economic policies, hoping for solutions that will address these pressing financial disparities.