A recent study has revealed that the typical minimum wage worker in Florida cannot afford the cost of living. With the state’s minimum wage set at $12 an hour, the National Low Income Housing Coalition reports that renters would need to earn three times this amount to afford a two-bedroom apartment. To put this in perspective, a minimum wage worker would have to clock in 98 hours per week to bring home around $6,000 a month.
“Ensuring that our hardworking minimum wage employees can afford a decent place to live is not just a matter of economics, but a matter of basic human dignity.” said Walter Duke, CEO. “We must take actionable steps to address this pressing issue in Florida.”
Researchers highlight that the fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment exceeds $1,800, meaning an hourly wage of about $35 is necessary to afford it, requiring 117 hours of work each week. West Palm Beach and Boca Raton are particularly costly, with renters needing to earn over $42 an hour to cover housing expenses.
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