Bakersfield most affordable U.S. city for minimum-wage workers

August 4, 2020 -- (Excerpted from Orlando Business Journal)

California’s ninth largest city — with the state's minimum wage set at $13.00 per hour — was the best out of 75 of the most-populated U.S. cities, according to Salt Lake City-based Move.org. The cities in the ranking were sorted based on their minimum wage and the affordability of a one-bedroom apartment. Bakersfield's average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $738.

Among California cities, Fresno was the only one besides Bakersfield that made the top ten most livable list, ranking No. 3. Two other California cities -- San Francisco and San Jose – were ranked among the ten least livable for minimum wage workers.

Affordability is among the factors businesses consider when they look to relocate or expand in a certain area.

The data also come as the cost of living is rising for households that are asset limited, income constrained and employed, or ALICE.

The survey looked at the 75 most populous cities according to the U.S. Census Bureau and gathered the following information about each:

Minimum wage (dollars per hour)
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment

Move.org then calculated how many hours minimum-wage earners living in these cities would need to work to pay for a small apartment.

Based on those calculations, Move.org ranked the cities from the least livable to the most livable for minimum-wage earners.

This is what the survey said about Bakersfield:

Bakersfield’s minimum wage is exceptionally high compared to its average rent prices, and you’d need to work just 13 hours a week to afford a single-bedroom apartment there. This makes Bakersfield the most livable city on our list for minimum-wage earners.

Hourly minimum wage: $13.00
Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $738
Hours you’d need to work each week: 13

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