Region by region, state by state, city by city, earning enough money to get by looks different everywhere for single people. MIT’s Living Wage Calculator gives us an estimate of the minimum income a single person would need in each state to keep them above the poverty line.
The calculator considers the cost of food, housing, health care, and other important budget line items like personal care and housekeeping goods. It also takes into account the state’s minimum wage. The recent update included cell and Wi-Fi expenses and pets, clubs, and movie outings.
Living costs have been on the rise — we’re spending more to get around, to live, and to eat. Here’s how each state shapes up:
1. Alabama
- Total required income before taxes: $28,652
- Estimated housing costs: $7,357
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
2. Alaska
- Total required income before taxes: $31,333
- Estimated housing costs: $10,851
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
3. Arizona
- Total required income before taxes: $31,077
- Estimated housing costs: $9,363
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
4. Arkansas
- Total required income before taxes: $27,652
- Estimated housing costs: $6,526
- Estimated food costs: $3,171
5. California
- Total required income before taxes: $38,823
- Estimated housing costs: $15,235
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
6. Colorado
- Total required income before taxes: $34,009
- Estimated housing costs: $11,583
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
7. Connecticut
- Total required income before taxes: $33,240
- Estimated housing costs: $11,094
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
8. Delaware
- Total required income before taxes: $31,868
- Estimated housing costs: $9,765
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
9. Florida
- Total required income before taxes: $30,825
- Estimated housing costs: $10,756
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
10. Georgia
- Total required income before taxes: $31,940
- Estimated housing costs: $9,878
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
11. Hawaii
- Total required income before taxes: $40,412
- Estimated housing costs: $16,337
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
12. Idaho
- Total required income before taxes: $29,007
- Estimated housing costs: $7,047
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
13. Illinois
- Total required income before taxes: $31,975
- Estimated housing costs: $9,869
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
14. Indiana
- Total required income before taxes: $27,955
- Estimated housing costs: $7,072
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
15. Iowa
- Total required income before taxes: $28,327
- Estimated housing costs: $6,564
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
16. Kansas
- Total required income before taxes: $28,093
- Estimated housing costs: $7,154
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
17. Kentucky
- Total required income before taxes: $28,048
- Estimated housing costs: $6,510
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
18. Louisiana
- Total required income before taxes: $29,251
- Estimated housing costs:$7,981
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
19. Maine
- Total required income before taxes: $31,043
- Estimated housing costs: $8,809
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
20. Maryland
- Total required income before taxes: $35,879
- Estimated housing costs: $13,193
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
21. Massachusetts
- Total required income before taxes: $36,889
- Estimated housing costs: $15,894
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
22. Michigan
- Total required income before taxes: $28,354
- Estimated housing costs: $7,415
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
23. Minnesota
- Total required income before taxes: $30,997
- Estimated housing costs: $8,608
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
24. Mississippi
- Total required income before taxes: $27,936
- Estimated housing costs: $6,941
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
25. Missouri
- Total required income before taxes: $28,535
- Estimated housing costs: $6,976
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
26. Montana
- Total required income before taxes: $29,004
- Estimated housing costs: $7,209
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
27. Nebraska
- Total required income before taxes: $28,234
- Estimated housing costs: $6,913
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
28. Nevada
- Total required income before taxes: $28,442
- Estimated housing costs: $8,563
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
29. New Hampshire
- Total required income before taxes: $30,089
- Estimated housing costs: $10,155
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
30. New Jersey
- Total required income before taxes: $33,696
- Estimated housing costs: $12,740
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
31. New Mexico
- Total required income before taxes: $29,057
- Estimated housing costs: $7,300
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
32. New York
- Total required income before taxes: $38,719
- Estimated housing costs: $15,084
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
33. North Carolina
- Total required income before taxes: $30,617
- Estimated housing costs: $8,865
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
34. North Dakota
- Total required income before taxes: $27,211
- Estimated housing costs: $7,266
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
35. Ohio
- Total required income before taxes: $27,369
- Estimated housing costs: $6,779
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
36. Oklahoma
- Total required income before taxes: $28,133
- Estimated housing costs: $7,109
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
37. Oregon
- Total required income before taxes: $35,050
- Estimated housing costs: $11,314
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
38. Pennsylvania
- Total required income before taxes: $27,861
- Estimated housing costs: $8,443
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
39. Rhode Island
- Total required income before taxes: $30,763
- Estimated housing costs: $9,638
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
40. South Carolina
- Total required income before taxes: $30,328
- Estimated housing costs: $8,336
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
41. South Dakota
- Total required income before taxes: $26,225
- Estimated housing costs: $6,551
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
42. Tennessee
- Total required income before taxes: $27,563
- Estimated housing costs: $7,928
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
43. Texas
- Total required income before taxes: $29,134
- Estimated housing costs: $9,333
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
44. Utah
- Total required income before taxes: $30,211
- Estimated housing costs: $8,495
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
45. Vermont
- Total required income before taxes: $31,057
- Estimated housing costs: $10,061
- Estimated food costs: $3,690
46. Virginia
- Total required income before taxes: $34,552
- Estimated housing costs: $12,162
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
47. Washington
- Total required income before taxes: $33,982
- Estimated housing costs: $13,739
- Estimated food costs: $3,792
48. West Virginia
- Total required income before taxes: $27,837
- Estimated housing costs: $7,062
- Estimated food costs: $3,177
49. Wisconsin
- Total required income before taxes: $29,160
- Estimated housing costs: $7,325
- Estimated food costs: $3,246
50. Wyoming
- Total required income before taxes: $27,425
- Estimated housing costs: $7,732
- Estimated food costs: $3,792