MINIMUM WAGE
and rentals in the U.S.
www.cozy.co
We looked at Cozy’s data across the country and compared it with local and
national government data to examine what it really means to be a renter who
makes minimum wage in America. Learn more at cozy.co/minimum-wage.
BEST SPACE TO COST RATIO:
ST. LOUIS, MO
0.72
HIGHEST % OF INCOME SPENT ON RENT:
HIGHEST MINIMUM WAGE:
53.3
$12
NEW YORK, NY
¢
PER SQUARE FOOT
MEDIAN SQUARE FEET: 1,250
MEDIAN RENT: $805/mo.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
%
25
PER HOUR
And yet would take over 4 minimum-wage
salaries to afford a 1 bedroom there.
MEDIAN INCOME: $50,711/year
MEDIAN RENT: $2,500/mo.
How much do you need to earn annually to rent a 1 bedroom?
Seattle, WA
$52,595
Minneaplois, MN
$33,997
Portland, OR
Milwaukee, WI
$36,039
$41,555
Boston, MA
Chicago, IL
$52,412
Salt Lake City, UT
San Francisco, CA
$33,165
$113,694
Las Vegas, NV
Denver, CO
Cincinnati, OH
$38,516
$90,100
Baltimore, MD
$50,097
$26,592
$25,815
Washington, DC
Nashville, TN
Phoenix, AZ
$70,353
$50,020
$31,980
New York, NY
$25,359
St. Louis, MO
$42,696
$72,524
Philadelphia, PA
Atlanta, GA
Los Angeles, CA
$39,393
$74,126
San Diego, CA
$53,900
Austin, TX
$61,437
New Orleans, LA
$43,328
Houston, TX
$44,258
Miami, FL
$51,200
How many full-time, minimum-wage earners are
needed to afford a typical 1 bedroom?
MINIMUM WAGE
PER CITY:
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
$12.25
SEATTLE, WA
$11.00
SAN DIEGO, CA
$9.75
WASHINGTON, DC
$9.50
PORTLAND, OR
$9.25
BOSTON, MA
$9.00
LOS ANGELES, CA
$9.00
NEW YORK, NY
$8.75
BALTIMORE, MD
$8.25
CHICAGO, IL
$8.25
DENVER, CO
$8.23
CINCINNATI, OH
$8.10
PHOENIX, AZ
$8.05
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
$8.00
MIAMI, FL
$7.93
SAINT LOUIS, MO
$7.65
ATLANTA, GA
$7.25
AUSTIN, TX
$7.25
HOUSTON, TX
$7.25
LAS VEGAS, NV
$7.25
MILWAUKEE, WI
$7.25
NASHVILLE, TN
$7.25
NEW ORLEANS, LA
$7.25
PHILADELPHIA, PA
$7.25
SALT LAKE CITY, UT
$7.25
Rental rates and square footage data was collected using current data from properties on cozy.co. Minimum wage and income data collected from U.S. census data and local
government sources (as of June 10th, 2015). Annual income needed to rent a 1 bedroom is based on HUD’s recommendation that renters should spend no more than 30% of their
income on housing.
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