As housing costs have continued to outpace wages, no one suffers more than minimum-wage workers. However, some places are more affordable than others and provide a better chance for low-income employees to make a decent life for themselves.
Here are the 10 best — and 10 worst — places to live in America if you’re making minimum wage, based on data from real estate site Clever.
No. 10 Best: Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is home of the NFL Bills, the Goo Goo Dolls, and huge amounts of snow. However, in exchange for heavy winters, you’ll get reasonable housing costs. Someone earning minimum wage would only have to pay 39% of their income for a one-bedroom apartment in the Nickel City.
9. St. Louis
Home to the famous Arch, St. Louis is less famous for being affordable. If you’re earning a minimum wage salary in the Lou, it would only cost you about 46% of your salary to pay for a one-bedroom apartment.
8. Hartford, Connecticut
While New England generally has a reputation for being more expensive than other parts of the country, Hartford may be an exception to the rule. A minimum-wage employee would spend a little less than half of their income to pay for a one-bedroom apartment.
7. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Most people think of Minneapolis as a snow-filled metropolis. However, it’s shockingly affordable, even for those living on minimum wage. It would only take 1.71 people living on minimum wage salaries to comfortably pay for a one-bedroom apartment.
6. Providence, Rhode Island
Located in the smallest state in the union, Providence is a mystery to many people. But if you live here, you probably know that it’s fairly cheap.
Someone surviving on minimum wage would only have to spend 54% of their salary to afford a one-bedroom apartment.
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5. Cincinnati
The Midwest is known for lots of things — and affordability is definitely one of them. A minimum-wage employee in Cincy City would only have to spend 55% of their income to afford a one-bedroom apartment.
4. Cleveland
Whether you’re a local or a tourist, you know that Cleveland is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. But you may not know that a resident of Clevleand making minimum wage only has to pay 55% of their salary for their one-bedroom apartment.
3. Kansas City, Missouri
Home to the Super Bowl-winning Chiefs and delicious BBQ, Kansas City is also home to an affordable lifestyle for those making minimum wage. Only 1.85 people earning minimum wage are needed to pay rent on a one-bedroom apartment.
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2. Denver
While Denver is known for its proximity to the mountains and more than 300 days of sunshine, it may not be as well-known for being budget-friendly for minimum wage employees.
You would only have to spend 56% of your salary as a minimum wage worker to cover rent on a one-bedroom apartment.
1. Detroit
Detroit has a lot of things going for it — and affordability is at the top of the list. If you’re living on a minimum wage salary in the Motor City, you only have to pay 61% of your salary to have your very own one-bedroom apartment.
No. 10 Worst: New Orleans
Despite the beautiful history of the Crescent City, life isn’t so grand. It takes about 3.28 minimum wage salaries to afford a one-bedroom apartment. That’s definitely not what I call easy living in the Big Easy.
9. Houston
As the third biggest city in the country, it makes sense that Houston is expensive. And boy is it expensive. If you live on minimum wage, you would have to pay 98% of your salary to cover that one-bedroom apartment.
8. Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is a beautiful place to live — but you’ll be paying a hefty price for that scenery. You would need 3.85 consumers earning minimum wage to easily afford a one-bedroom apartment in Utah’s capital.
7. Philadelphia
What’s harder — climbing the Rocky steps or paying for a one bedroom apartment? It’s a toss up. You would need at least four people to easily pay for a one-bedroom apartment in what was once America’s capital.
6. Raleigh, North Carolina
Close to both Duke University and the University of North Carolina, Raleigh is one of the biggest cities in North Carolina. And a minimum wage worker will pay a hefty price of 131% of their income for rent.
It would take 4.22 people to easily pay for a one-bedroom apartment.
5. Dallas
If you don’t know the Big D, you may think that it’s an affordable place. Unfortunately, someone earning minimum wage would have to spend 128% of their salary to pay for a one-bedroom apartment — or get more than three roommates to easily pay for that pad.
4. Charlotte, North Carolina
If you want to live in the Queen City, you may have to be as rich as the Queen. A minimum-wage worker in Charlotte would have to spend 131% of their salary to afford a one-bedroom apartment. Or they could split the rent with 3.37 other people.
3. Austin, Texas
Austin was once famous for its live music scene and “weird” attitude. However, as a recent home to many tech companies, it’s become unaffordable for most minimum wage workers. It takes 4.38 minimum wage workers to comfortably pay for a one-bedroom apartment, since it costs 131% of one worker’s salary to pay rent.
2. Nashville, Tennessee
The fairly recent growth of Nashville may be responsible for the financial hardships that minimum wage workers face. It costs 131% of their salary to pay for a one-bedroom apartment, just shy of the No. 1 spot.
1. Atlanta
It may seem odd that Atlanta tops this list, until you consider that it costs 132% of a full-time minimum wage income to afford a one-bedroom apartment. That’s more than any other city in the country.
