What is the living wage in all 50 states of the U.S. in 2025? Hawaii is the most outrageous.

How much does a person need to live on minimum wage? GOBankingRates conducted a comprehensive survey based on the latest cost of living data in the United States, and the results are a bit heart-wrenching.

Difference between the most expensive and the cheapest:

• 🔴 Hawaii: $39/hour (annual salary $81,673)
• 🟢 Mississippi: $13/hour (annual salary $27,894)

The gap is nearly three times. Hawaii has the highest living wage in the U.S., primarily due to skyrocketing rent (annual $37,684) and expensive food. In contrast, several southern states (Oklahoma, Mississippi) have an hourly wage just over $13, making life quite tight.

Other places that are ridiculously expensive:

• Massachusetts: $29/hour (annual $59,520)
• California: $26/hour (annual $54,997)
• New York State: $23/hour (annual $48,849)

Survey Method: Calculate the annual essential expenses of single individuals (rent, food, utilities, medical, transportation), and derive the hourly wage based on 2,080 working hours per year. The data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor's 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey and the 2025 Cost of Living Index.

Interestingly, even if your state's minimum wage seems decent, when housing prices surge, the living wage can double. This gap is widening in coastal metropolitan areas and tech hubs.