Given the ever-increasing cost of living in the United States, low-wage working families and individuals are continually unable to meet and maintain the bare necessities of life.
This is especially true in New York City, where a working adult with 2 kids needs to make $53 an hour just to get by and afford basic items needed to support his or her family.
That’s why the minimum wage — which sits at just $15 an hour in NYC — needs to not only go up, but make financial, social, and geographic sense. One that factors in a host of everyday expenses and ultimately increases an individual’s chances of enduring potential hardships.
Enter the living wage — the hourly rate needed to afford and maintain a self-sufficient family. A location-based rate that factors in a host of everyday expenses — including child care, health insurance, transportation, personal care items, etc. — to determine what’s actually needed to survive in a specific community. In our case, that community is New York City.
To learn more, use the information below to explore the true cost of living in New York City boroughs and see why a living wage is so important in today’s work environment. Explore typical salaries and expenses in NYC and pair these findings with other interactive demographic tools to explore the issue further.
Cost of Living in NYC: 1 Working Adult
| Type of Wage | 1 Adult and 0 Children | 1 Adult and 1 Child | 1 Adult and 2 Children | 1 Adult and 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Wage | $25.42 | $43.18 | $53.00 | $69.90 |
| Poverty Wage | $6.19 | $8.38 | $10.56 | $12.74 |
| Minimum Wage | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 |
Cost of Living in NYC: 2 Adults (Only 1 Working)
| Type of Wage | 2 Adults and only 1 Working with 0 Children | 2 Adults and only 1 Working with 1 Child | 2 Adults and only 1 Working with 2 Children | 2 Adults and only 1 Working with 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Wage | $34.09 | $40.11 | $46.06 | $51.07 |
| Poverty Wage | $8.38 | $10.56 | $12.74 | $14.92 |
| Minimum Wage | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 |
Cost of Living in NYC: 2 Adults (Both Working)
| Type of Wage | 2 Adults and Both Working with 0 Children | 2 Adults and Both Working with 1 Child | 2 Adults and Both Working with 2 Children | 2 Adults and Both Working with 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Wage | $17.04 | $23.32 | $29.56 | $35.32 |
| Poverty Wage | $4.19 | $5.28 | $6.37 | $7.46 |
| Minimum Wage | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 |
Typical Expenses: 1 Adult in NYC
| Type of Expense | 1 Adult and 0 Children | 1 Adult and 1 Child | 1 Adult and 2 Children | 1 Adult and 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food | $3,891 | $5,734 | $8,613 | $11,425 |
| Child Care | $0 | $10,822 | $21,644 | $32,466 |
| Medical | $2,741 | $7,718 | $7,505 | $7,815 |
| Housing | $22,852 | $26,656 | $26,656 | $33,732 |
| Transportation | $4,244 | $7,531 | $9,791 | $11,565 |
| Civic | $3,207 | $5,149 | $6,361 | $8,307 |
| Other | $5,275 | $7,867 | $7,197 | $10,471 |
| Required annual income after taxes | $42,333 | $71,600 | $87,891 | $115,904 |
| Annual taxes | $10,530 | $18,214 | $22,359 | $29,485 |
| Required annual income before taxes | $52,863 | $89,815 | $110,249 | $145,388 |
Typical Expenses: 2 Adults with only 1 Working
| Type of Expense | 2 Adults, Only 1 Working, and 0 Children | 2 Adults, Only 1 Working, and 1 Child | 2 Adults, Only 1 Working, and 2 Children | 2 Adults, Only 1 Working, and 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food | $7,133 | $8,878 | $11,446 | $13,934 |
| Child Care | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Medical | $5,591 | $7,505 | $7,815 | $7,604 |
| Housing | $23,384 | $26,656 | $26,656 | $33,732 |
| Transportation | $7,531 | $9,791 | $11,565 | $12,560 |
| Civic | $5,149 | $6,361 | $8,307 | $6,603 |
| Other | $7,867 | $7,197 | $10,471 | $10,128 |
| Required annual income after taxes | $56,779 | $66,511 | $76,382 | $84,684 |
| Annual taxes | $14,124 | $16,920 | $19,431 | $21,543 |
| Required annual income before taxes | $70,903 | $83,431 | $95,813 | $106,227 |
Typical Expenses: Two Adults Both Working
| Type of Expense | 2 Adults, Both Working, and 0 Children | 2 Adults, Both Working, and 1 Child | 2 Adults, Both Working, and 2 Children | 2 Adults, Both Working, and 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food | $7,133 | $8,878 | $11,446 | $13,934 |
| Child Care | $0 | $10,822 | $21,644 | $32,466 |
| Medical | $5,591 | $7,505 | $7,815 | $7,604 |
| Housing | $23,384 | $26,656 | $26,656 | $33,732 |
| Transportation | $7,531 | $9,791 | $11,565 | $12,560 |
| Civic | $5,149 | $6,361 | $8,307 | $6,603 |
| Other | $7,867 | $7,197 | $10,471 | $10,128 |
| Required annual income after taxes | $56,779 | $77,333 | $98,026 | $117,150 |
| Annual taxes | $14,124 | $19,673 | $24,937 | $29,802 |
| Required annual income before taxes | $70,903 | $97,006 | $122,963 | $146,952 |
Typical Annual Salaries for all Five NYC Boroughs
| Occupational Area | Typical Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Management | $155,118 |
| Business & Financial Operations | $90,383 |
| Computer & Mathematical | $102,164 |
| Architecture & Engineering | $88,703 |
| Life, Physical, & Social Science | $74,911 |
| Community & Social Service | $55,266 |
| Legal | $120,375 |
| Education, Training, & Library | $69,903 |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, & Media | $75,638 |
| Healthcare Practitioners & Technical | $87,751 |
| Healthcare Support | $34,604 |
| Protective Service | $54,912 |
| Food Preparation & Serving Related | $32,817 |
| Building & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance | $37,600 |
| Personal Care & Service | $34,368 |
| Sales & Related | $39,954 |
| Office & Administrative Support | $47,208 |
| Farming, Fishing, & Forestry | $35,952 |
| Construction & Extraction | $63,365 |
| Installation, Maintenance, & Repair | $56,582 |
| Production | $40,767 |
| Transportation & Material Moving | $39,975 |
In New York City, typical annual salaries range from $32,817 — if working in the Food Preparation & Serving Related industry — to $155,118 — if working in management.
Comparing Salaries: New York State vs NYC Metro
| Occupational Area | Typical Annual Salary: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY Metro | Typical Annual Salary: New York State |
|---|---|---|
| Management | $167,220 | $155,118 |
| Business & Financial Operations | $96,022 | $90,383 |
| Computer & Mathematical | $110,510 | $102,164 |
| Architecture & Engineering | $95,786 | $88,703 |
| Life, Physical, & Social Science | $84,081 | $74,911 |
| Community & Social Service | $57,620 | $55,266 |
| Legal | $129,962 | $120,375 |
| Education, Training, & Library | $71,883 | $69,903 |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, & Media | $78,656 | $75,638 |
| Healthcare Practitioners & Technical | $94,963 | $87,751 |
| Healthcare Support | $34,914 | $34,604 |
| Protective Service | $52,698 | $54,912 |
| Food Preparation & Serving Related | $32,710 | $32,817 |
| Building & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance | $38,820 | $37,600 |
| Personal Care & Service | $34,529 | $34,368 |
| Sales & Related | $42,757 | $39,954 |
| Office & Administrative Support | $48,706 | $47,208 |
| Farming, Fishing, & Forestry | $33,983 | $35,952 |
| Construction & Extraction | $67,357 | $63,365 |
| Installation, Maintenance, & Repair | $61,151 | $56,582 |
| Production | $39,644 | $40,767 |
| Transportation & Material Moving | $39,537 | $39,975 |
Comparing Salaries: New York Metro Areas
| Occupational Area | Typical Annual Salary: Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY (Metro) | Typical Annual Salary: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY (Metro) | Typical Annual Salary: Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management | $116,191 | $167,220 | $121,220 |
| Business & Financial Operations | $72,182 | $96,022 | $73,370 |
| Computer & Mathematical | $80,988 | $110,510 | $82,454 |
| Architecture & Engineering | $81,352 | $95,786 | $85,076 |
| Life, Physical, & Social Science | $63,697 | $84,081 | $65,666 |
| Community & Social Service | $49,402 | $57,620 | $50,151 |
| Legal | $68,598 | $129,962 | $85,868 |
| Education, Training, & Library | $58,122 | $71,883 | $60,680 |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, & Media | $50,440 | $78,656 | $51,606 |
| Healthcare Practitioners & Technical | $75,028 | $94,963 | $68,095 |
| Healthcare Support | $32,475 | $34,914 | $32,228 |
| Protective Service | $55,672 | $52,698 | $58,850 |
| Food Preparation & Serving Related | $29,778 | $32,710 | $29,874 |
| Building & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance | $31,929 | $38,820 | $31,586 |
| Personal Care & Service | $30,442 | $34,529 | $30,923 |
| Sales & Related | $32,721 | $42,757 | $32,507 |
| Office & Administrative Support | $42,286 | $48,706 | $41,612 |
| Farming, Fishing, & Forestry | $38,017 | $33,983 | $33,084 |
| Construction & Extraction | $57,962 | $67,357 | $55,062 |
| Installation, Maintenance, & Repair | $51,093 | $61,151 | $50,033 |
| Production | $43,378 | $39,644 | $40,403 |
| Transportation & Material Moving | $34,700 | $39,537 | $34,936 |
The True Cost of Living in NYC
While the minimum wage in NYC is just $15 an hour, the true cost of living in New York City is far greater. If you’re a single parent with three kids, you need to make $69.90 just to afford the very basic necessities needed to get by — a whopping $54.90 difference in hourly wages. If there are two 2 adults working, both would still need to make $35.32 to survive with three kids in New York City — a $20.32 difference.
An alternate method of calculating basic needs in NYC — instead of the minimum wage — is the living wage model. A family’s expected minimal costs for food, child care, health insurance, housing, transportation, and other basic necessities (such as clothing, personal care products, etc.) that are market-based and person-specific.
For New York City, where the cost of living is an ever-increasing guarantee, a living wage would successfully capture the “actual” minimum employment earnings required to cover a family’s basic necessities to achieve self-sufficiency.
Explore the MIT Living Wage Calculator
If you’re interested in learning more about “living wages” and what exactly they entail, explore the Living Wage Calculator out of MIT.
Created by Dr. Amy K. Glasmeier, the MIT Living Wage Calculator allows you pick any location in the U.S. (county level only) and calculate/compare living wages, typical expenses, and typical annual salaries.