Only semi-beautiful, but I tried

Annual cost of living data according to SmartAsset 2025 Report, except for DC which is not included in their reporting.

DC annual cost of living was estimated to be $99,424 per separate data, however it may be outdated. This would place DC as less expensive than 18 states by 2025 numbers, which is probably lower than it should be.

Minimum wage income assumes 40 hours per week by 52 weeks a year at the minimum wage rate.

  • glimse@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    7 days ago

    I was indeed “barely” getting by but I’m still shocked to see 115k. I don’t even make that now and I live very comfortably

    Not trying to put down your work at all! I’m just very confused by the data. Are the handful of rich cities really skewing the average that much?

    • ToastedRavioli@midwest.socialOPEnglish
      1·
      7 days ago

      Of course! I didnt mean to imply you were trying to put me down.

      Digression

      I think the largest thing skewing the averages in most states is probably housing costs. The cost of rent or financing a house is pretty unrealistic anywhere near minimum wage in most places, or even at whatever the bottom of the market actually is in any given area (even if well above legal minimum wage).

      Housing should be a bit over 30% of income, so of the 50% of their breakdown in cost of living calculations should be 33% towards rent and 17% to cover literally everything else thats a necessary expense, plus taxes I would assume. That 17% has to do a lot of heavy lifting if you will also have half of your income going to fun stuff and saving money.

      Realistically I think many people are stuck with something like 33% on rent, 33% on everything else necessary, and 33% on discretionary shit so they dont off themselves due to bleak life outlook. I know thats where I was at for the first 10 years of my working life