15 Best Cities Near NYC If You’re Living on Minimum Wage
Written by
Nicole Spector
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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New York City is known as one of the most culturally enriching and exciting cities in the U.S. It’s also one of the most expensive. The cost of living in NYC is 130% higher than the national average, according to PayScale. Housing costs are particularly steep — 412% higher than the national average.
The minimum wage in NYC is $16 per hour. Though that’s slightly more than double the federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour), it’s really not much in a city as pricey as the Big Apple, where the median rent in Bushwick in Brooklyn is over $3,000, according to Zumper. The median rent in Manhattan is $4,500, according to RentHop.
If you need to get to NYC for your job that pays minimum wage, where can you live without going broke or into major debt?
In an exclusive new study, GOBankingRates looked into this — bear in mind that these locations may not be exactly “cheap,” but they’re much cheaper than NYC and are a feasible commute. Here are the cities near New York City that are the best places to live while earning a minimum wage income.
15. Avonmore, Pennsylvania
- Total population: 1,079
- Household median income: $53,750
- Total cost of living annually: $33,426
- Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $18,346*
- Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $19,390
14. Blairsville, Pennsylvania
- Total population: 3,215
- Household median income: $46,082
- Total cost of living annually: $33,392
- Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $18,312
- Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $19,356
13. Carney, Maryland
- Total population: 29,352
- Household median income: $79,143
- Total cost of living annually: $48,908
- Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $17,708
- Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $19,868
12. Central City, Pennsylvania
- Total population: 1,045
- Household median income: $45,583
- Total cost of living annually: $32,693
- Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $17,613
- Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $18,657
11. Brookville, Pennsylvania
- Total population: 3,974
- Household median income: $57,807
- Total cost of living annually: $32,144
- Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $17,064
- Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $18,108
10. Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Total population: 43,821
- Household median income: $50,435
- Total cost of living annually: $31,560
- Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $16,480
- Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $17,524
9. Brackenridge, Pennsylvania
- Total population: 3,214
- Household median income: $49,388
- Total cost of living annually: $31,109
- Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $16,029
- Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $17,073
8. Tremont, Pennsylvania
- Total population: 1,679
- Household median income: $59,181
- Total cost of living annually: $30,465
- Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $15,385
- Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $16,429
7. Charleroi, Pennsylvania
- Total population: 4,222
- Household median income: $44,808
- Total cost of living annually: $30,404
- Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $15,324
- Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $16,368
6. Springfield, Massachusetts
- Total population:155,305
- Household median income: $47,677
- Total cost of living annually: $44,754
- Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $13,554
- Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $15,714
5. Parkville, Maryland
- Total population: 30,520
- Household median income: $79,661
- Total cost of living annually: $44,633
- Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $13,433
- Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $15,593
4. Phoenix, New York
- Total population: 2,440
- Household median income: $53,920
- Total cost of living annually: $40,646
- Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $7,366
- Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $9,670
3. Little Falls, New York
- Total population: 4,596
- Household median income: $51,009
- Total cost of living annually: $36,025
- Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $2,745
- Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $5,049
2. Camden, New Jersey
- Total population: 71,799
- Household median income: $36,258
- Total cost of living annually: $33,605
- Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $2,134
- Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $4,313
1. Bolivar, New York
- Total population: 1,050
- Household median income: $50,509
- Total cost of living annually: $30,065
- Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: -$3,215**
- Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: -$911
*Note that the cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income does not take holidays and vacations into account, while the adjusted numbers do.
**A negative amount means that you will have money left over.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities near New York City to find the best places to live while earning a minimum wage income. First, cities near New York City were located with an online map tool from FreeMapTool.com. For each location, a number of factors were found including; total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, and household median income all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. Using this data the percentage of the population ages 65 and over can be calculated. The cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and include the grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous cost of living indexes. Using the cost of living indexes and the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each location can be calculated. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for September 2024. Using the average single-family home value, assuming a 10% down payment, and using the most recent national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage can be calculated. Using the average mortgage and average expenditure costs, the average total monthly and annual cost of living can be calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes for each location. The minimum wage incomes were sourced from the Department of Labor and by assuming a person has 8 holidays per year, 10 vacation days per year, works 40 hours a week, works 5 days a week, and earns minimum wage, the average annual minimum wage income can be calculated for each state. The cost of living after the average minimum wage income was found for each city, with the cities being sorted to show the cheapest locations first. These represent cities near New York City that are the best places to live for people who earn minimum wage income. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Oct. 29, 2024.
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