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What does it take to live in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is the low wage capital of America. We have more working poor families than any city in the nation and still there are those that feel that workers such as those employed by the Department of Water and Power should apologize because they make on average $76,949 a year. They are wrong. Take a look below and see how much it really takes to live in Los Angeles.
HOUSING
- Income needed to purchase a median ($549,000) priced home in Los Angeles County
- With 20% down - $112,509
- With 5% down - $133,605
EXPENSES PER MONTH:
| A single adult would have to make $13.52 per hour or $28,198 a year to support a modest standard of living in Los Angeles. Basic expenses include: |
Housing/Utilities |
$843 |
| Child Care |
$0 |
| Transportation |
$400 |
| Food |
$211 |
| Health Care |
$233 |
| Miscellaneous |
$206 |
| Taxes |
$451 |
| MONTHLY TOTAL |
$2,344 |
| ANNUAL TOTAL |
$28,126 |
| A single parent family would have to make $30 per hour or $62,393 a year to support a modest standard of living in Los Angeles. Basic expenses include: |
Housing/Utilities |
$1,269 |
| Child Care |
$1,163 |
| Transportation |
$400 |
| Food |
$507 |
| Health Care |
$654 |
| Miscellaneous |
$437 |
| Taxes |
$770 |
| MONTHLY TOTAL |
$5,199 |
| ANNUAL TOTAL |
$62,393 |
| A two parent family with one parent working* would have to make $24.54 per hour or $51,035 a year to support a modest standard of living in Los Angeles. Basic expenses include: |
Housing/Utilities |
$1,269 |
| Child Care |
$0 |
| Transportation |
$400 |
| Food |
$731 |
| Health Care |
$861 |
| Miscellaneous |
$506 |
| Taxes |
$485 |
| MONTHLY TOTAL |
$4,253 |
| ANNUAL TOTAL |
$51,035 |
A two parent family with both parents working:
| A two parent family with both parents working would each have to make $17.80 per hour or $74,044 a year to support a modest standard of living in Los Angeles. Basic expenses include: |
Housing/Utilities |
$1,269 |
| Child Care |
$1,163 |
| Transportation |
$723 |
| Food |
$731 |
| Health Care |
$861 |
| Miscellaneous |
$506 |
| Taxes |
$917 |
| MONTHLY TOTAL |
$6,170 |
| ANNUAL TOTAL |
$74,044 |
Note:
- The hourly wage standard given above assumes full-time employment for 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year and does not allow for any unpaid days off during a year.
- Assumes that families rent, rather than own their homes and live in housing that many would consider overcrowded for a three – or four – person household.
- Assumes that families use home-based child care, rather than more expensive center-based child care.
- Assumes that health coverage is purchased privately with no assistance from employer.
- Miscellaneous category includes expenditures on clothing and services, education, reading, personal care, housekeeping supplies, and basic telephone service.
- These estimates allow little to no room for savings toward retirement or a child’s college education.
Source: CA Budget Project Report: Making Ends Meet 2007 |
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