Summary
A study by USA Today and MoneyLion shows that there are big differences in how much money families need to cover basic living costs in each U.S. state. The research details the hourly wage needed for a family of four to afford essentials like rent, groceries, and healthcare. Hawaii, Massachusetts, and California are the states requiring the highest wages, while Mississippi and Oklahoma have the lowest.
Key Facts
- The study calculates the living wage needed for a family of four, using data from the 2024 Consumer Expenditure Survey and cost-of-living indexes.
- In Hawaii, the highest hourly living wage is $69.43, needed due to high housing and food costs.
- The lowest hourly living wage is $25.35 in Mississippi.
- Massachusetts and California have high living wages at $54.25 and $46.22 per hour, respectively.
- On average, households in half of the U.S. states need to earn about $30 per hour to meet basic needs.
- The analysis was based on the assumption that family members work 2,080 hours a year, which is typical full-time work.
- The study uses data from USA Today and fintech company MoneyLion.
