Can you afford to live where you are? The answer depends on two factors — your earnings and the cost of living in your area.
The federal minimum wage in the United States is $7.25 per hour. Some states and cities set their minimum wages higher — including many states that have increased their minimum wages this year, as we detail in “The Minimum Wage in Every State in 2021.”
The cost of living varies a great deal across the country. Even in lower-cost areas, a minimum-wage job may not be enough to support a family.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning calculates a “living wage” for each state and the District of Columbia that takes into account the costs in each area. We used MIT’s newly updated Living Wage Calculator for a state-by-state look at what it takes in 2021 to earn enough to enjoy a basic standard of living.
This ranking starts where the living wage is highest. See if you make a living wage for your state.
51. District of Columbia
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $20.12 per hour
- Two working adults: $14.88 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $25.90 per hour (per adult)
50. Hawaii
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $19.43 per hour
- Two working adults: $15.06 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $25.42 per hour (per adult)
49. California
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $18.66 per hour
- Two working adults: $15.13 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $27.08 per hour (per adult)
48. New York
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $18.62 per hour
- Two working adults: $13.73 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $24.66 per hour (per adult)
47. Massachusetts
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $17.74 per hour
- Two working adults: $13.12 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $25.61 per hour (per adult)
46. Maryland
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $17.25 per hour
- Two working adults: $13.33 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $23.40 per hour (per adult)
45. Oregon
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $16.85 per hour
- Two working adults: $13.26 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $22.37 per hour (per adult)
44. Virginia
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $16.61 per hour
- Two working adults: $12.57 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $22.33 per hour (per adult)
43. Colorado
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $16.35 per hour
- Two working adults: $12.91 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $23.57 per hour (per adult)
42. Washington
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $16.34 per hour
- Two working adults: $12.33 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $21.67 per hour (per adult)
41. New Jersey
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $16.20 per hour
- Two working adults: $13.19 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $25.11 per hour (per adult)
40. Connecticut
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $15.98 per hour
- Two working adults: $12.75 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $22.55 per hour (per adult)
39. Illinois
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $15.37 per hour
- Two working adults: $12.29 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $21.34 per hour (per adult)
38. Georgia
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $15.36 per hour
- Two working adults: $12.06 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $19.97 per hour (per adult)
37. Delaware
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $15.32 per hour
- Two working adults: $12.33 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $21.75 per hour (per adult)
36. Alaska
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $15.06 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.69 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $20.40 per hour (per adult)
35. Arizona
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $14.94 per hour
- Two working adults: $12.15 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $19.51 per hour (per adult)
34. Vermont
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $14.93 per hour
- Two working adults: $12.18 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $22.20 per hour (per adult)
33. Maine
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $14.92 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.94 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $21.14 per hour (per adult)
32. Minnesota
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $14.90 per hour
- Two working adults: $12.32 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $21.68 per hour (per adult)
31. Florida
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $14.82 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.99 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $20.79 per hour (per adult)
30. Rhode Island
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $14.79 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.70 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $21.21 per hour (per adult)
29. North Carolina
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $14.72 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.66 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $20.90 per hour (per adult)
28. South Carolina
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $14.58 per hour
- Two working adults: $12.07 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $19.76 per hour (per adult)
27. Utah
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $14.52 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.99 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $20.31 per hour (per adult)
26. New Hampshire
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $14.47 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.45 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $20.68 per hour (per adult)
25. Louisiana
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $14.06 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.64 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $19.99 per hour (per adult)
24. Wisconsin
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $14.02 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.49 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $21.24 per hour (per adult)
23. Texas
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $14.01 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.32 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $19.31 per hour (per adult)
22. New Mexico
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.97 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.66 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $19.62 per hour (per adult)
21. Idaho
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.95 per hour
Two working adults: $11.67 per hour (per adult) - Two working adults and two children: $19.27 per hour (per adult)
20. Montana
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.94 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.53 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $20.79 per hour (per adult)
19. Alabama
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.77 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.15 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $18.42 per hour (per adult)
18. Missouri
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.72 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.48 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $19.41 per hour (per adult)
17. Nevada
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.67 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.48 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $20.16 per hour (per adult)
16. Michigan
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.63 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.10 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $22.71 per hour (per adult)
15. Iowa
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.62 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.57 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $20.48 per hour (per adult)
14. Nebraska
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.57 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.65 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $20.19 per hour (per adult)
13. Oklahoma
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.53 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.25 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $19.33 per hour (per adult)
12. Kansas
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.51 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.27 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $19.48 per hour (per adult)
11. Kentucky
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.48 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.09 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $19.60 per hour (per adult)
10. Indiana
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.44 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.08 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $18.49 per hour (per adult)
9. Mississippi
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.43 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.28 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $18.07 per hour (per adult)
8. Pennsylvania
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.39 per hour
- Two working adults: $10.77 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $19.12 per hour (per adult)
7. West Virginia
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.38 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.17 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $19.87 per hour (per adult)
6. Arkansas
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.29 per hour
- Two working adults: $11.25 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $19.35 per hour (per adult)
5. Tennessee
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.25 per hour
- Two working adults: $10.72 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $17.82 per hour (per adult)
4. Wyoming
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.19 per hour
- Two working adults: $10.83 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $19.14 per hour (per adult)
3. Ohio
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.16 per hour
- Two working adults: $10.94 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $20.28 per hour (per adult)
2. North Dakota
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $13.08 per hour
- Two working adults: $10.86 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $19.20 per hour (per adult)
1. South Dakota
Living wage for a household with:
- One adult: $12.61 per hour
- Two working adults: $10.65 per hour (per adult)
- Two working adults and two children: $18.54 per hour (per adult)
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