National Low Income Housing Coalition: How Many Minimum Wage Hours Does It Take To Afford A Two-Bedroom Apartment In Your State?

Do you ever wonder how many hours does it take for someone earning minimum wage to afford a two-bedroom apartment in the United States? The number of hours varies per state. Nevertheless, it is very alarming that the most vulnerable (i.e., teens, single parents, individuals with only a high school diploma or GED, individuals working in retail and service jobs) cannot afford housing expenses. In extreme cases, depending on the metropolitan area, more than half of a person's monthly income goes towards rent! If you are a college graduate with student loans, your monthly income leaves little for discretionary spending once you have paid for housing, utilities, and food and groceries. The National Low Income Housing Coalition created this infographic below to illustrate the growing disparities between the minimum wage and the affordability of housing.