What is the minimum income required to live alone in the 25 largest cities in the United States?

To live on your own in the United States' 25 largest cities, you'll need to earn around $25 per hour.

The amount of money required to cover a single person's basic expenses in cities varies. In cities like San Francisco or Boston, you'll need more money, while in San Antonio or Detroit, you'll need less. The estimates are based on the nonprofit Economic Policy Institute's Living Wage Family Budget calculator.

In nearly half of the 25 largest cities, the living wage is double the local minimum wage, which is less than $15 per hour in many markets. In some cities, the minimum wage is as low as $7.25 per hour, which is the federal minimum.

EPI's living wage estimates do not factor in other sources of income that many low-wage workers rely on, such as family or government assistance, to meet their basic expenses.

In the 25 largest U.S. cities, employer-sponsored health insurance can reduce the hourly living wage by approximately $2 for minimum-wage earners, according to EPI's estimates.

The 25 most populous metro areas are ranked according to their highest minimum wage required to meet basic needs.

1. San Francisco

Hourly wage needed to cover basic costs: $35.98
Hourly minimum wage: $18.07 ($20 for fast food workers)

2. Boston

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $34.02
Hourly minimum wage: $15

3. New York

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $33.58
Hourly minimum wage: $16

4. Seattle

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $31.93
Hourly minimum wage: $19.97 (for most workers)

5. San Diego

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $30.46
Hourly minimum wage: $16.85 ($20 for fast food workers)

6. Washington, DC

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $28.89
Hourly minimum wage: $17.50

7. Los Angeles

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $26.81
Hourly minimum wage: $16.90 ($20 for fast food workers)

8. Atlanta

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $26.63
Hourly minimum wage: $7.25

9. Denver

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $25.85
Hourly minimum wage: $18.29

10. Portland, Oregon

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $25.67
Hourly minimum wage: $15.45

11. Orlando

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $25.51
Hourly minimum wage: $12

12. Inland Empire, California

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $25.34
Hourly minimum wage: $16 ($20 for fast food workers)

13. Miami

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $24.97
Hourly minimum wage: $12

14. Phoenix

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $24.78
Hourly minimum wage: $14.35

15. Charlotte

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $24.48
Hourly minimum wage: $7.25

16. Tampa Bay

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $24.32
Hourly minimum wage: $12

17. Dallas

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $23.84
Hourly minimum wage: $7.25

18. Chicago

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $23.72
Hourly minimum wage: $15 (for most workers)

19. Philadelphia

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $23.39
Hourly minimum wage: $7.25

20. Baltimore

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $23.13
Hourly minimum wage: $15

21. Minneapolis-St. Paul

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $22.81
Hourly minimum wage: $15.57 (starting July 1)

22. Houston

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $21.56
Hourly minimum wage: $7.25

23. St. Louis

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $20.39
Hourly minimum wage: $12.30

24. San Antonio

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $20.29
Hourly minimum wage: $7.25

25. Detroit

Hourly wage to cover basic costs: $19.70
Hourly minimum wage: $10.33

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