What Is A Living Wage In Seattle?
/Seattle is a beautiful city with great career opportunities, stunning vistas, and great culture. But with all that comes one gigantic question—can you afford to live there? Everyone talks about the "living wage," but what does it actually mean? Let us spell it out for you so that you can get an idea of what it will cost to live in Seattle.
How Much Do You Need To Earn To Be Able To Pay Your Basic Living Expenses In Seattle Without Hurting Yourself Financially?
A living wage is how much you need to make so you can afford all the essentials of living—like rent, food, transportation, and medical care—without falling short. Seattle is an expensive town compared to most, so you need to earn more money in order to keep pace.
As of recent reports, one Seattle adult needs to earn between $22 and $25 per hour simply to cover necessities. That's significantly higher than the state minimum of roughly $16.28 per hour. If you have a family, the number is even higher. For a one-child, two-parent working family, both parents need to earn roughly $30 to $35 per hour simply to cover the basics.
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The Reasons Why Seattle Has A Higher Cost Of Living Compared To Most Cities In Most Locations In The United States
Seattle's cost of living is always rising because of various factors. Housing is not cheap, with an average one-bedroom home priced around $2,000 each month, while buying a residence can run upwards of $800,000. Common items such as groceries, gasoline, and coffee run higher in Seattle compared to towns. Taxes are to be accounted for because Washington does not have an individual income tax, yet sales taxes and other added spending take their place. Demand exists as well. As Seattle is growing so rapidly, everything from residences to housecleaning jobs, including Maria's Green Cleaning, can be in demand. When demand is greater, prices go up.
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What It's Like To Try To Live Comfortably In Seattle While Only Making The Minimum Wage
In Seattle, it's very hard to make ends meet on minimum wage, especially if you don't have roommates or a second source of income. Many people who make the minimum wage can barely scrape together enough cash to pay their rent, eat, and get to work. Because of this, most people in Seattle split the cost of rent by living with family or roommates.
Others work for more money or other perks, like health insurance and a car allowance. You can use your tips even if you work for a job that pays by the hour, like in a coffee shop or restaurant, but it's still hard to make enough to cover all your costs.
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The Best Ways To Pay For Living Expenses In Seattle And Keep Your Finances In Order So You Don't Have To Deal With Constant Money Problems
You don't have to be broke in Seattle. One of the most helpful things to obtain is a better-paying job because tech work, healthcare work, and labor work are better paid. If you have someone to live with, sharing a bedroom can be cheaper because you can halve the rent and lower your bill. One money-saving tip is not to spend money where money is not required. One tip is to have dinner in-house instead of eating dinner in a restaurant, take the bus or the train instead of driving, and have fun inexpensively.
Understanding If Seattle Is Great To Live In And Call Home Depending On Your Wage And Financial Status
Seattle is a great place to live in, although not an affordable one. Seattle has a pricey cost of living, and survival on a minimal wage is not an achievement to take lightly. But with proper work, budgeting correctly, and forward planning, Seattle life can work in your favor. If relocating to Seattle is in your future plans, knowing the money reality is beneficial to accomplish.
