
The Minimum Wage You’d Need to Afford Rent in Every State
We all know that everything costs an arm and a leg these days. Groceries, healthcare costs, gas... And trying to buy a home is incredibly difficult.
The cost of living is way up, and let's keep in mind, the national minimum wage hasn't gone up since July 2009; it's currently sitting at $7.25 per hour.
Michiganders are a bit better off when it comes to minimum wage, with ours getting two increases in 2025; one took hold on January 1st which took the minimum wage to $10.56 per hour, and the second will take the minimum wage to $12.48 on February 21st.
With this in mind, could you afford rent with Michigan's minimum wage?
How Much Do You Need to Make Per Hour to Afford Rent in Michigan?
The cost of living differs from state to state, so it would take a different minimum wage for each state.
It's recommended to keep the cost of your housing (rent or mortgage) to one-third of your gross monthly income or less.
And to figure out how much you would need to make in each state, the National Low Income Housing Coalition looks at the numbers to release their annual Out of Reach report. This report takes a deep look at the rent prices versus wages.

Based on the report, the national minimum wage can't afford you rent anywhere in America. You'd have to work one and a half jobs just to afford rent.
If you want to find out the minimum wage needed to afford a two-bedroom housing situation at fair market rent in Michigan, take a look at the list below. Keep in mind this is the data from 2024, there's a chance this might go up this year.
The Minimum Wage You'd Need to Afford Rent in Every State
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