California has a lot of great things going for it. It’s beautiful, for one, and it has a mild climate along with a robust and diverse job market. But all these perks come at an incredibly high price . California is the second most expensive state in the U.S. (Hawaii is the first).
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That steep price tag is no problem for the many upper-class and ultra-wealthy folks who live in California, but it’s a major hurdle for lower-income people such as those living on a minimum wage income.
The minimum wage in California is $16 per hour for most hourly employees (though some minimum wage jobs can pay nearly $20 in cities like Emeryville). This is well above the national average of $7.25 per hour. Even so, it’s still tough to get by on low income in such an expensive state.
In a new study, GOBankingRates determined the 15 best cities to live in in The Golden State if you’re living on minimum wage .