by Francisco Velasquez
@CRAFT | Twenty20
For single people living in the U.S., earning enough money to make ends meet looks different for each person. But location can play a major role, since the cost of housing, food, insurance and other necessities varies from place to place.
MIT’s Living Wage Calculator estimates the minimum income necessary for a single person to cover their living expenses and stay above the poverty line, without outside help, across the U.S.
The calculator takes into account a number of factors, including the cost of food, health care, housing, transportation and other necessities, such as personal care, clothing and housekeeping supplies. It also considers each state’s minimum wage and looks at annual changes in consumer spending patterns.
The most recent update to the calculator included a few changes to its methodology. The calculator’s estimates now include cell phone and Wi-Fi expenses, as well as civic engagement expenditures, such as pets, clubs and movie or museum excursions.
Overall, living costs have been increasing for Americans. They are spending more on where they live, the food they buy and how they get around.
Here’s a closer look at what a living wage would be, before taxes, for a single person, including the estimated costs of housing and food, in every U.S. state.
Alabama
Wilmington, Delaware.
Getty Images
Florida
Des Moines, Iowa.
Jeremy Woodhouse | Getty Images
Kansas
An early morning jog around Lake Bde Maka Ska, St. Paul, Minnesota.
John Elk | Getty Images
Mississippi
Twenty/20
Oklahoma
DenisTangneyJr | iStock Unreleased | Getty Images
Utah
@CRAFT | Twenty20
For single people living in the U.S., earning enough money to make ends meet looks different for each person. But location can play a major role, since the cost of housing, food, insurance and other necessities varies from place to place.
MIT’s Living Wage Calculator estimates the minimum income necessary for a single person to cover their living expenses and stay above the poverty line, without outside help, across the U.S.
The calculator takes into account a number of factors, including the cost of food, health care, housing, transportation and other necessities, such as personal care, clothing and housekeeping supplies. It also considers each state’s minimum wage and looks at annual changes in consumer spending patterns.
The most recent update to the calculator included a few changes to its methodology. The calculator’s estimates now include cell phone and Wi-Fi expenses, as well as civic engagement expenditures, such as pets, clubs and movie or museum excursions.
Overall, living costs have been increasing for Americans. They are spending more on where they live, the food they buy and how they get around.
Here’s a closer look at what a living wage would be, before taxes, for a single person, including the estimated costs of housing and food, in every U.S. state.
Alabama
- Total required income before taxes: $28,652
- Estimated housing costs: $7,357
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
- Total required income before taxes: $31,333
- Estimated housing costs: $10,851
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
- Total required income before taxes: $31,077
- Estimated housing costs: $9,363
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
- Total required income before taxes: $27,652
- Estimated housing costs: $6,526
- Estimated food costs: $3,171
- Total required income before taxes: $38,823
- Estimated housing costs: $15,235
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
- Total required income before taxes: $34,009
- Estimated housing costs: $11,583
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
- Total required income before taxes: $33,240
- Estimated housing costs: $11,094
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
- Total required income before taxes: $31,868
- Estimated housing costs: $9,765
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
Wilmington, Delaware.
Getty Images
Florida
- Total required income before taxes: $30,825
- Estimated housing costs: $10,756
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
- Total required income before taxes: $31,940
- Estimated housing costs: $9,878
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
- Total required income before taxes: $40,412
- Estimated housing costs: $16,337
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
- Total required income before taxes: $29,007
- Estimated housing costs: $7,047
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
- Total required income before taxes: $31,975
- Estimated housing costs: $9,869
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
- Total required income before taxes: $27,955
- Estimated housing costs: $7,072
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
- Total required income before taxes: $28,327
- Estimated housing costs: $6,564
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
Des Moines, Iowa.
Jeremy Woodhouse | Getty Images
Kansas
- Total required income before taxes: $28,093
- Estimated housing costs: $7,154
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
- Total required income before taxes: $28,048
- Estimated housing costs: $6,510
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
- Total required income before taxes: $29,251
- Estimated housing costs:$7,981
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
- Total required income before taxes: $31,043
- Estimated housing costs: $8,809
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
- Total required income before taxes: $35,879
- Estimated housing costs: $13,193
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
- Total required income before taxes: $36,889
- Estimated housing costs: $15,894
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
- Total required income before taxes: $28,354
- Estimated housing costs: $7,415
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
- Total required income before taxes: $30,997
- Estimated housing costs: $8,608
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
An early morning jog around Lake Bde Maka Ska, St. Paul, Minnesota.
John Elk | Getty Images
Mississippi
- Total required income before taxes: $27,936
- Estimated housing costs: $6,941
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
- Total required income before taxes: $28,535
- Estimated housing costs: $6,976
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
- Total required income before taxes: $29,004
- Estimated housing costs: $7,209
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
- Total required income before taxes: $28,234
- Estimated housing costs: $6,913
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
- Total required income before taxes: $28,442
- Estimated housing costs: $8,563
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
- Total required income before taxes: $30,089
- Estimated housing costs: $10,155
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
- Total required income before taxes: $33,696
- Estimated housing costs: $12,740
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
- Total required income before taxes: $29,057
- Estimated housing costs: $7,300
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
- Total required income before taxes: $38,719
- Estimated housing costs: $15,084
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
- Total required income before taxes: $30,617
- Estimated housing costs: $8,865
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
- Total required income before taxes: $27,211
- Estimated housing costs: $7,266
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
- Total required income before taxes: $27,369
- Estimated housing costs: $6,779
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
Twenty/20
Oklahoma
- Total required income before taxes: $28,133
- Estimated housing costs: $7,109
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
- Total required income before taxes: $35,050
- Estimated housing costs: $11,314
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
- Total required income before taxes: $27,861
- Estimated housing costs: $8,443
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
- Total required income before taxes: $30,763
- Estimated housing costs: $9,638
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
- Total required income before taxes: $30,328
- Estimated housing costs: $8,336
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
- Total required income before taxes: $26,225
- Estimated housing costs: $6,551
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
- Total required income before taxes: $27,563
- Estimated housing costs: $7,928
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
- Total required income before taxes: $29,134
- Estimated housing costs: $9,333
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
DenisTangneyJr | iStock Unreleased | Getty Images
Utah
- Total required income before taxes: $30,211
- Estimated housing costs: $8,495
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
- Total required income before taxes: $31,057
- Estimated housing costs: $10,061
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
- Total required income before taxes: $34,552
- Estimated housing costs: $12,162
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
- Total required income before taxes: $33,982
- Estimated housing costs: $13,739
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
- Total required income before taxes: $27,837
- Estimated housing costs: $7,062
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
- Total required income before taxes: $29,160
- Estimated housing costs: $7,325
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
- Total required income before taxes: $27,425
- Estimated housing costs: $7,732
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
I’ve gotten by with less in Florida. All my bills were 3 months late but I made it 
“Killa Season”
